R.G. “Rick” Yates enlisted in the US Marines as a private and served with the Marine Support Battalion, Naval Security Group Activity, in Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba and in Okinawa, Japan, and also with Second Radio Battalion near Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. Sergeant Yates completed his four-year active duty term in 1976.
R.G. “Rick” Yates completed his BS in Chemical Engineering at Auburn University in 1980. His professional career in the petroleum refining industry continued for ten years while working for the “majors”. He also served with a process simulations company and an engineering and construction company. He returned to graduate school and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Tulsa in 2000.
Since graduate school, Dr. Yates has embarked upon several parallel business ventures and several start-up companies while simultaneously teaching at more than one college. He has also served as Director of Engineering in a manufacturing firm. Very conscientious and dedicated, Dr. Yates possesses organizational abilities and a firm but kind spirit that stimulates, motivates, and develops a team to complete work in a timely fashion. He embraces situations requiring change and pursues new challenges that require discovery, development, application, or implementation of creative solutions in a challenging growth environment.
| SUMMARY of QUALIFICATIONS |
| Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with an emphasis on Oil Field Site Characterization and Remediation |
| Ten Years Refining Experience |
| Start-up Business Experience |
| Consulting Experience |
| Teaching Experience |
| KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ATTRIBUTES | |
| Leadership | Flexible |
| Work well alone or in a team environment | Planning & Development |
| Self Starter | Decision Making |
| Process Troubleshooting & Engineering | Research & Development |
| Goal Driven | Economics |
| Problem Analysis & Solution | Teaching |
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Acquire new business
- Investigate potential new customers
- Strategize
- Prepare business proposals
- Create and Deliver Presentations
Mandated Fast Response Concept in an Old Style Manufacturing Facility
Through personal example, created a proactive, responsive, and positive corporate culture
Enhance cost reduction and increase profitability
- rework and efficiency loss minimization
- bid parts and kits to vendors, including Internationally
- improve production flow through reorganization of machinery
- define and pursue Stretch Goals
- correct engineering drawings and bill of materials
- develop and incorporate inventions in products
- eliminate production losses associated with absenteeism
- improve cost and expenditure accountability
Assisted the development of Hybrid Carbon Fiber and Steel Moving Parts Race Car Engine Parts
Assisted the development of:
- chemically induced separation of hydrocarbons from tar sands
- recovery of quasi-hydrocarbons from oil shale
Served as sounding board and idea generator for CEO to develop a successful marketing strategy for company start-up and product sales
Site Characterization and Remediation
- defined and resolved long standing environmental issues associated with brine spills in oil field operations: dissertation Transportation of Brine Components and Revegetation of a Brine Spill Site in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
- participant in Weld County, Colorado hydrocarbon spill site characterization and remediation
- Seminole County, Oklahoma Surface Water Characterization
Developed field construction bid package and also the fixed price quotation response for a quasi-modular paper whitening plant to be installed in Salliatt, France for Pfizer Specialty Minerals, Inc. ($5 Million, not including major equipment)
Developed client-paid fouling model for heat exchanger train using Hextran and Datacon software
Developed rigorous models of client’s Distillation Units for demonstration of ROM advantages (with emphasis on achieving maximum profit) using Process and Datacon software
Resolved B-T Reformer semi-continuous excessive moisture problem, which contributed to premature catalyst coking
Developed mass balances for B-T Reformer and Thermal Dealkyllation Unit.
Coordinated team efforts to provide an acceptable Hydrogen System balance as a basis for future projects
Discerned trouble areas for poor reformer performance. Improved catalyst regeneration procedures by implementing appropriate changes where possible
Process Engineering Investigator for a $5 Million industrial incident
Defined 1500 HP and 7000 HP Dewaxing Plant Centrifugal Compressor Check-out and Operating Procedures which detailed emergency response, advanced control (including the surge and performance aspects), emergency shut-down, and interface with the Honeywell TDC-3000 process control computer
Pursued ex-situ catalyst pre-sulfiding for Lubes Hydrotreater (>$500,000 one-time incentives)
Studied and projected economic, yield, and quality control viabilities of higher sulfur, higher nitrogen crudes on the Lube Plant. Developed investment scenarios to $200 Million
Provided technical coverage for extensive area turnaround
Resolved long-time on-going Bright Stock haze product quality problem
Defined “mechanism”, coordinated technical involvement, and supervised on-line switch-over of control and non-control instrument loops from 1947 vintage Foxboro pneumatic instrumentation to Honeywell TDC-3000. Also, trained field operators and chief operators in process control technology prior to testing
Issued design for replacement of slop ponds with existing tankage ($500,000)
Initiated solvent loss reduction task force with goals to reduce solvent purchases by 75% ($1.75 Million annually) over next three years
Simulated and issued design for replacement of MEK recovery tower and associated system ($500,000)
Simulated and issued design for replacement, including metallurgical upgrade, of vacuum furnace transfer line. Simultaneously simulated and issued design for new vacuum distillation tower feed zone internals ($700,000)
Audited TDC-3000 claimed vs. actual credits while searching for new ways to improve return
Maximized use of computer control programs by properly interfacing with plant operators
Conducted root cause failure analyses and probable cause failure analyses on utilities boiler failures
Reduced electricity and maintenance costs and improved steam system reliability by developing project to replace old, inefficient boiler feedwater pumps ($400,000 annual return on $1.25 Million investment)
Reduced low pressure steam venting (70,000 pounds per hour @ $2.82/thousand pounds) through enhanced optimization techniques and high interpersonal emphasis on energy cost minimization
Reduced boiler feedwater treating costs by $60,000 annually by separate bidding of vendor service and chemicals
Audited drinking water system for compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
Audited fire water system for compliance with good engineering practices
Improved reliability of fire water system through piping replacement project ($ 1.45 Million). Reduced pipe and installation costs by using HDPE piping and slip-lining where feasible
Improved refinery reliability by eliminating failures on air compressor aftercooler bundles. Used Phillips Rod Baffle Heat Exchanger Bundle Design and proper metallurgy
Developed steam - air decoking procedures for furnace at catalytic dewaxing unit
Developed process design specification for wax tankage turnaround ($1.2 Million): tank had suffered extensive damage in temporary sulfuric acid service
Developed energy use guidelines for hydrofining, catalytic dewaxing, and vacuum pipestill units
Reviewed and updated inert entry and catalyst change-out procedures for the hydrofining and catalytic dewaxing units
Avoided public relations scandal. Determined and eliminated causes of excessive flare noise while interfacing directly with the public. Reduced noise complaints from >30/year to zero
Reduced flaring losses by $1 Million annually through flare gas recovery project
Coordinated Lube Plant cooling water requirement survey to determine need for cooling tower expansions associated with Accelerated Lube Expansion Program
Investigated sources of oil loss and lube oil downgrades in atmospheric and vacuum pipestill circuits
Debottlenecked Lube Deasphalting Unit through troubleshooting. Increased throughput from 18,000 to 20,500 barrels per day with no investment
Determined and eliminated causes of the highly visible and potentially catastrophic EXXON UNIFLO motor oil product quality difficulties
| PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS |
| · Provisional Applications for Patent {7} |
| Improved Push Rod Design (2) |
| Improved Intake Valve Design |
| Improved Combustion Chamber Inlet and Outlet Design |
| Improved Connecting Rod Design |
| Improved Piston Design |
| Improved Wrist Pin Design |
• Oral Presentations & Papers {3}
Impacts of Brine Spills in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve; R. Yates, B. Tapp, T. Harris, R. van Waasbergen, K. Sublette, and R. Hamilton; The 4rd International Petroleum Environmental Conference, San Antonio, September 9-12, 1997.
Correlation of Surface Water Quality and Oil Production in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve; R. Yates, K. Sublette, T. Harris, B. Tapp, R. van Waasbergen, and R. Hamilton; The 3rd International Petroleum Environmental Conference, Albuquerque, September 24-27, 1996.
Transport of Brine Contamination from a Recent Produced Water Spill; R. Yates, K. Sublette, T. Harris, B. Tapp, R. van Waasbergen, and R. Hamilton; The 3rd International Petroleum Environmental Conference, Albuquerque, September 24-27, 1996.
• Oral Presentations Only {5}
Natural Re-vegetation of Brine-Impacted Soil; Rick Yates, K.L. Sublette, Paul Buck, Tom Harris, and Bryan Tapp; The 6th International Petroleum Environmental Conference, Houston, November 16-18, 1999.
The Impact of Historic Brine Spills in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve; Ricky G. Yates, Bryan Tapp, Thomas M. Harris, Robert van Waasbergen, and Kerry Sublette; Symposium on Science in the Tallgrass; 53rd Southwest Regional Meeting, American Chemical Society, Tulsa, October 1-3, 1997.
Impact of a Recent Brine Spill on Soil and Pond Ecosystems in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve; Ricky G. Yates, T.J. McDaniels, Kerry Sublette, Ravi Kolhatkar, Thomas M. Harris, Robert van Waasbergen, Kerry Sublette, Emily Stanley, and Roman Lanno; Symposium on Science in the Tallgrass; 53rd Southwest Regional Meeting, American Chemical Society, Tulsa, October 1-3, 1997.
The Role of Aerial Photography in Characterization of Brine-Impacted Sites; R. Yates, B. Tapp, T. Harris, R. van Waasbergen, Kerry Sublette, and R. Hamilton; Symposium on Science in the Tallgrass; 53rd Southwest Regional Meeting, American Chemical Society, Tulsa, October 1-3, 1997.
Aquatic Invertebrates as an Indicator of Water Quality in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve; Lorrie Houston, Ricky G. Yates, T.J. McDaniels, Robert van Waasbergen, and Kerry L. Sublette;1997 Great Plains Limnology Conference, Stillwater, September 19-20, 1997.
• Poster Presentations {3}
Correlation of Surface Water Quality and Oil Production in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve; R. Yates, K. Sublette, T. Harris, B. Tapp, R. van Waasbergen, and R. Hamilton; HSRC/WERC Joint Conference on the Environment, Albuquerque, May 21-23, 1996.
Assessment of Brine Contamination of Surface Waters and Soil Using Ion-Selective Electrodes; R. Yates, T. Harris, and K. Sublette; HSRC/WERC Joint Conference on the Environment, Albuquerque, May 21-23, 1996, and also The 3rd International Petroleum Environmental Conference, Albuquerque, September 24-27, 1996.
• Other Papers, Publications, & Presentations: Yates Not Primary Author or Presenter {11}
Role of the Vadose Zone in the Natural Attenuation of as Condensate Hydrocarbons in a Contaminated Shallow Aquifer; Oral Presentation Only; Kerry L. Sublette, Rick Yates, Kathleen Duncan; Gary Trent, Ravi Kolhatkar, Greg Thoma, Lisa Geig, Joseph Suflita, John Harju; WERC 99 Conference on the Environment; Albuquerque; April 26-29, 1999;
Remediation of Brine-Impacted Soil with a Leachate Collection System; Oral Presentation Only; Tom Harris, Kim Sullivent, Rick Yates; Jason McConnell, Kerry Sublette, and Bryan Tapp; The 43rd American Chemical Society Pentasectional Meeting; Ponca City; August 15, 1998.
Survey of Surface Water Quality in the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Tom Harris, Rick Yates, Laurie Salyers, Shailesh Gadad, Jason Aamodt, Mickey Douglass; January 19, 1998.
The Role of Aerial Photography in Characterization of Brine-Impacted Sites; Oral Presentation Only; B. Tapp, R. Yates, T. Harris, R. van Waasbergen, Kerry Sublette, and R. Hamilton; Symposium on Science in the Tallgrass; 53rd Southwest Regional Meeting, American Chemical Society, Tulsa, October 1-3, 1997.
The Effect of Brine Contamination on Species Diversity of Aquatic Invertebrates in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve; Poster; Lorrie Houston, Ricky G. Yates, T. J. McDaniels, Robert van Waasbergen, and Kerry Sublette; The 4rd International Petroleum Environmental Conference, San Antonio, September 9-12, 1997.
Effects of Remediation on Soil Fungi Following a Brine Spill; Estelle Levetin, Melissa Sommer, Christine Rogers, Kerry Sublette, and Rick Yates; Paper submitted to Bioremediation Journal.
Immobilization of a Sulfide-Oxidizing Bacterium in a Novel Adsorbent Biocatalyst Support; K. Sublette,
A. Plato, M. Woolsey, R. Yates, C. Camp, and T. Blair; Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Seventeenth Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals; Editors C.E. Wyman and B.H. Davison; Vol. 57/58, p. 1013-1019; Humana Press, 1996.
Biotreatment of Refinery Spent Sulfidic Caustic; A. Kolhatkar, B. Rajganesh, K. Sublette, A. Plato,
R. Yates; Poster Presentation: The 3rd International Petroleum Environmental Conference, Albuquerque, September 24-27, 1996.
Interphase Transfer Kinetics of Thorium Using the Single Drop and Lewis Cell Techniques; D. Horner, J. Mailen, J.R Coggins, Jr., S. Thiel, T. Scott, N. Pih, and R. Yates; 2 publications: ORNL/TM-6903, November 1979.
I&EC Fundamentals, Volume 19, No. 3 , August 1980, Pages 287-291.
Interphase Transfer Kinetics of Uranium Using the Drop Method, Lewis Cell, and Kenics Mixer; D. Horner, J. Mailen, S. Thiel, T. Scott, and R. Yates; 2 publications: ORNL/TM-6786, May 1979.
I&EC Fundamentals, Volume 19, No. 1, February 1980, Pages 103-109.
COLLEGE CLASSROOM & TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Full Time Professor of Engineering & Chemistry:
| Rose State College | ||
| Spring 2005 | Differential Equations | Sophomore Level |
| Spring 2005 | Electric Circuits | Sophomore Level |
| Spring 2005 | Thermodynamics | Sophomore Level |
| Spring 2005 | Algebra | Freshman Level |
| Spring 2005 | Pre-Algebra | Freshman Level |
| Fall 2004 | General Chemistry 1 | Freshman Level |
Adjunct Instructor:
The University of Tulsa
Process Control
Adjunct Instructor:
| Tulsa Community College | ||
| Spring 2005 | Physics 1 | Freshman Level |
| Fall 2004 | Physics 1 | Freshman Level |
| Fall 1997 | Principles of Chemistry | Freshman Level |
| Spring 1998 | General Chemistry I | Freshman Level |
| Summer 1998 | General Chemistry II | Freshman Level |
| Fall 1998 | Engineering Physics II | Sophomore Level |
Lecturer: Mass Transfer Aspects of Biochemical Engineering
Nonisothermal Packed Bed Chemical Reactor Design
Expectations of the Chemical Engineering Graduate
Teaching Assistant: First Term Senior Lab Fall 1997
Tutor: Stoichiometry, Chemical Reactor Design, Thermodynamics, Process Component Design