WEST pioneered the business of 3rd-party assessments of well control equipment and is still the preeminent leader in this field, with thousands of BOP/well control surveys. WEST is also an industry leader in survey assessments of drilling systems on rigs of all kinds, from ultra-deepwater to land rigs. These assessments cover a wide range of equipment and activities, such as:
Nothing is more frustrating than having new equipment and then finding that it does not work as you envisioned. Highly experienced WEST personnel will oversee, commission and accept new construction. When needed, WEST's engineering expertise may be called upon. Project management services are also available. Working with manufacturers, integrators and shipyards, these WEST personnel ensure that the equipment is fit for your purpose.
Meet Our People
WEST Engineering Services consists of almost 200 field surveyors, technical experts and support staff. To better serve the needs of clients around the world, WEST has strategically stationed our highly experienced surveyors and company representatives across the globe. At the same time, a group of engineers with extensive professional experience in drilling equipment complements and supports those in the field. Current staff includes six licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.s) and a number of others with engineering, technical and advanced degrees. Given this expertise, WEST has been licensed as a corporation to provide engineering services, re. registration certificate # F-004672. These groups are coordinated by experienced project and support staff who ensure that client deadlines and requirements are met.
The following team members form the core of our organization:
Raleigh Williamson, P.E.
Senior Vice President - Operations
With an MBA, as well as a BS in Mechanical Engineering, Raleigh brings to WEST over 27 years experience in the industry. Raleigh is involved in work scope development, estimating, management, and planning for well control equipment and drilling system inspection on all types of rigs worldwide. He authored a paper for ETCE/OMAE 2000 Joint Conference entitled “Deepwater Drilling Risk analysis, Considering Drill Through Equipment Reliability.” He co-authored a prior study for the MMS entitled “Evaluation of Secondary Intervention Methods in Well Control.” Raleigh has managed many of WEST’s efforts on many different projects.
Raleigh’s career began at Brown & Root as a Project Manager. Raleigh then moved to Reliance Consulting Group (RCG) as Senior Project Manager, managing consulting group efforts for RCG that resulted in numerous successful projects. At RCG, he was actively involved in organizational studies, financial evaluations, planning and computer modeling for various companies, including Union Pacific Insurance, Federated Stores, Firestone and Ashland Oil, Inc. Raleigh then went to AES/Shady Point, Inc. where he participated in the financial management of a $475 million power plant and related facilities. In 1988, Raleigh managed the consulting group at Ashland Oil, Inc., where he was responsible for planning, scheduling, cost forecasting and conducting valve engineering on selected construction projects. Prior to joining WEST, Raleigh worked independently as a consultant for nine years.
Jeff Sattler, P.E.
Senior Vice President - Engineering
A 33-year oil and gas veteran, Jeff has worked the spectrum within this vertical. Jeff began working with WEST Engineering Services in 1993, developing technical systems and processes related to equipment inspections and rig surveys worldwide. After earning two degrees in Chemical and Petroleum Refining Engineering, Jeff spent 15 years in a variety of positions with Shell. After initial assignments in various refinery units, including working with state-of-the-art on-line computer control systems, he was assigned as a startup engineer for a $600MM plant expansion, working closely with operating staff. He next moved to E&P, working in a number of gas plants to design and install projects to improve operational efficiency and process stability. After operational management assignments involving supervision of up to 55 people in an existing plant and a new plant startup, Jeff worked as project engineer and manager on various facility improvement projects in Texas, New Mexico and Alaska. His last assignment for Shell was as the Mid-Continent Division engineer responsible for advising all Division units in the implementation of OSHA's Process Safety Management Law 1910.119. Working for WEST Engineering Services for the past 18 years, he now serves as the Sr. Vice President for Engineering, directing the company’s technical efforts, as well as leading the systems and controls, engineering, and compliance groups.
Greg Childs, P.E.
Vice President - DTE
Vice President, is generally recognized as being among the world's leading experts in the design, manufacture, maintenance and repair of Cameron blowout prevention equipment. Greg earned a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, and has completed the Advanced Management Institute course at Rice University. Greg's experience in the petroleum industry exceeds 30 years, most of which he spent at Cameron Iron Works, where his last position was as Head of Blowout Preventer Repair in the Drilling Business Unit. Prior to that, he managed the Drilling Products Engineering department. Greg joined WEST in 1996 and specializes in operations, engineering and technical issues. Greg also assists in various training efforts, technical writing, equipment failure investigations, design reviews, and risk assessments on BOP stacks and control systems. In addition to managing well control equipment and systems inspection for all types of rigs worldwide, he has served as an expert witness in legal matters involving drill-through equipment. He is the holder of five patents covering ram BOP equipment, including Cameron's Flex-Packer® and Super Shear Rams.
Ed Lewis
DTE Operations Superintendent
Ed Lewis has over 32 years in the industry. After working for 18 years for Cameron in service and training of DTE and controls, he worked as Subsea Superintendent, then Manager of Pressure Control Equipment for Penrod drilling, with responsibility for 90 rigs. After six years with WEST, he returned to R&B Falcon to work as Subsea Superintendent for two years, where he participated not only in day-to-day operation and troubleshooting of DTE, but also worked in the design and specifications for DTE and related systems for their new build and upgrade projects. Through his experience, Ed has acquired expertise in many areas, including design and troubleshooting of BOP control systems, and preventative maintenance and problem solving of drill-through equipment. Ed's responsibilities at WEST include developing and upgrading Assessment Testing and Inspection Testing Procedures, providing technical support to field surveyors, reviewing/editing assessments, and other technical reports and products. In addition, Ed maintained primary technical support responsibility for Pride Africa, Pride Angola, Jack Ryan, Discoverer Deep Seas, Deepwater Discovery and Sedco Energy, as well as conducting well control equipment and systems inspections for all types of drilling rigs worldwide.
Leon Schwartz
DTE Manager
Leon Schwartz worked for 15 years on deepwater, semi-submersible drilling rigs after obtaining his Petroleum Engineering degree. During his time working as a subsea engineer, he developed expert troubleshooting techniques, beginning with the first-generation rigs through the current fifth-generation, MUX, DP rigs. One of his last assignments before coming to WEST was assisting with the commissioning and startup of the Discoverer Enterprise drillship. His knowledge of DTE equipment, troubleshooting methods and technical writing skills have been welcome additions to WEST.
Dorrith Dishaw
Drilling Systems Manager
Earning an MS in Petroleum Engineering, Dorrith has over 15 years of experience in the industry. Her career started at Sedco-Forex, where she worked her way up through the engineer training program to Assistant Rig Manager. She also served as a project engineer during the construction of a fifth-generation, dual-activity drillship. Ms. Dishaw’s responsibilities at WEST include coordinating client requirements for rig assessments, developing equipment-specific acceptance procedures, providing technical support to surveyors, and researching industry standards and regulations to ensure appropriate application for clients. Ms. Dishaw also works on special projects, including the management of third-party inspection services for rig commissioning, acceptance of 5th-generation semi-submersibles and 6th-generation drillships, and a maintenance assurance project.
Mike Van Gemert
Systems & Control Manager
Mr. Van Gemert is currently leading the Systems and Controls business unit at WEST Engineering Services.
Mr. Van Gemert has found a niche working in highly complex consulting engagements driving challenging initiatives. With over 18 years of experience in the front lines of technology, consulting for some of the world’s leading global organizations, Mr. Van Gemert has served in numerous technical leadership roles including VP IT/CIO at Susser Holdings, diagnostic consulting to the COO at VMware, rig technology consulting, and leading the Systems and Controls team at WEST Engineering Services. Mike is a member of the Houston, Texas, CIO Leadership Network.
Shon Johnson
Quality HSE Manager
Shon Johnson began working with WEST Engineering Services in 2008, maintaining the ISO 9001 Quality Management System and HSE program. In this role, he has overall responsibility for WEST’s global quality systems, ensuring that the organization advances its quality and compliance strategies. Mr. Johnson drives the continuous improvement of established quality procedures, to ensure that processes and products meet high internal standards and regulatory requirements and ultimately deliver high-quality, cost-effective services to clients. Throughout his career, Mr. Johnson has served in numerous quality and safety roles working in the Air Force, airline and oil & gas industries. His formal education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle, and an MBA from the University of Houston.
Tracy Nobra
Project Manager
Tracy has worked with WEST since 2001 and is knowledgeable about multiple aspects of the organization. She currently manages the contracts, mobilization and scheduling areas. She holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree, and coursework towards a Master’s in Human Resource Management from the University of Houston. Previously, she worked in Corporate Communications with Air Liquide, Event Scheduling and Management with Epic Special Events, and as a Data Management Marketing Specialist with Schlumberger. Tracy is the go-to person for scheduling BOP surveyors, and assists clients with proposals and issues involving invoicing, as well as project cost reporting, mobilizations and visas. She is also WEST’s point of contact for insurance-related issues and audits.
