Conversion of Biomass Waste to Jet Fuel ▫ Halker Consulting

Case Study

Conversion of Biomass Waste to Jet Fuel

Scope

Biofuels, Renewables, Biomass

Location

Oregon

The Challenge

Our client owns a process to convert carbon containing feedstock into syngas. This specific technology was selected for application at a Biofuels project in Lakeview, Oregon, which was designed to convert waste woody biomass into renewable jet and diesel fuels. Our client was having difficulty progressing their portion of the design with their original engineering contractor and was looking for a nimble engineering firm to help facilitate completion. Halker stepped into the project at the point of ~80% engineering completion to finalize the design. Halker interfaced with the client and the previous engineering contractor to establish outstanding engineering tasks to support project completion. During the transition, a few major design changes to interconnecting systems occurred that affected the operation of the water treatment system, as well changes to the utility systems.

The Solution

The client was responsible for the design of the feed solids handling, pyrolysis and water treatment portions of the Biofuels facility. Prior to Halker’s involvement, the design was partially complete but Halker identified additional areas that required further engineering and design development to support our client in delivering a final IFC package. The following list is a brief summary of the major tasks Halker performed to finalize the design of these sections of the facility:

Completed PSV sizing
Managed outstanding recommendations from completed PHAs as well as remaining systems
Designed a modular water treatment skid using the client’s proprietary technology
Finalized P&IDs
Performed stress analysis of various piping runs
Provided input to overall facility cause and effect matrix
Completed structural and foundation designs
Reviewed mechanical equipment packages
Finalized instrumentation and controls specification and selection, and assisted with procurement
Finalized tie point list at scope breaks

The Result

With Halker’s help, the client was able to complete their portion of the design ahead of the rest of the plant. Due to the aggressive schedule and dynamic nature of the project, changes to interconnecting systems and supporting systems needed to be reviewed promptly and potential effects to other systems identified. Halker continuously collaborated with technical and management teams to ensure design changes, operational concerns, and safety shortfalls were identified and addressed with limited schedule delays. Halker provided a targeted approach to issuing deliverables, such as identifying changes to key items that could affect overall project schedule and budget and issuing any changes / updates to vendor packages before issues could cascade into future deliverables. In one instance, Halker reviewed control valve sizing of previously ordered valves and identified potential operating concerns based on new COS. Halker was able to identity these changes early in the schedule to avoid change fees or delays in schedules.

Download PDF: Conversion of Biomass Waste to Fuel

Noelle Ford, PHR, SPHR

Director of Human Resources

Noelle Ford graduated from the University of Colorado (Go Buffs!) with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and also has her PHR and SPHR. Her oil & gas career began in 2009 with a recruitment firm specializing in the oil & gas and mining sectors. She joined Halker as the resident human resource and recruiting specialist in 2014 and has been a part of Halker’s growth and success over the last 10 years. Noelle brings a great balance of professionalism and a sense of humor to the office culture, which makes her both approachable and respected among her team mates.

Noelle is a Colorado native and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She loves seeing movies, plays and travelling around the world.

Matt Halker

Founder

Matt Halker, founder and CEO of Halker Consulting, earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Matt is a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Colorado, and several other states. He is an E&P professional with engineering and construction experience in the oil and gas industry, spanning the Gulf of Mexico to the Rocky Mountains. He began his professional career as an offshore engineer for Vastar Resources before he moved to Durango and managed compressor and pipeline projects throughout the SW Colorado area. Beginning in 2003, Matt became a project engineer for CBM gas field operations at Thunder Creek Gas Services, working on various pipeline and compressor station projects in Gillette, WY. Matt resigned and made his next moves as an entrepreneur in 2006. Halker Consulting and Dry Creek Petroleum were founded in 2006 as mechanisms to work engineering consulting and oil field operations opportunities. Halker’s consulting and engineering services became Matt’s full-time pursuit after 2008.

Since 2012, Matt has founded multiple companies including EIS, SWEVCO-SABW, Slipstream Environmental Services, and most recently Halker Smart Solutions. Throughout his career he has managed many aspects of oil and gas business including commercial M&A, operations, engineering, construction and commissioning. A few notable projects include a helium recovery plant, a solar powered-pump off a separator solution, a microscale-liquid hydrocarbon recovery project, the first Econode production facility, and an aboveground, downhole casing R&D simulator.

Despite market fluctuations, Matt’s commitment to grow and execute Halker’s mission has remained strong. Today, Halker’s full-service Energy engineering services encompass multiple aspects of upstream and midstream projects including feasibility studies, project management, economic analysis, oil, gas and water handling facility design, pipeline design, among many other oil & gas, power and renewable engineering activities. Matt is always looking to the future of energy and will continue to be an innovator and industry thought leader.

Matt, Gretchen and their 4 children live in Colorado and enjoy indoor and outdoor activities, including team sports, off-road motorcycle riding, skiing, hiking and road tripping.

Andrew Depperschmidt

CEO & President

Andrew Depperschmidt is a graduate from the Colorado School of Mines with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He has experience in a variety of construction and facilities projects including both upstream and midstream natural gas and crude oil processing. He joined Halker in January of 2015 as the Mechanical Department Manager and has since taken on several different responsibilities with the firm, including General Manager and Vice President. Over the course of his time with Halker, he has overseen the company’s growth, helped develop the management team, and helped structure operational processes around project execution for maximum quality. He’s inspired by Halker’s outstanding team daily and takes pride in being people-focused while driving the company’s progressive and forward-looking culture.

Andrew and his wife have four children. Their family loves doing things together, whether it’s running a 5K or spending the day sailing at the reservoir. Andrew enjoys trying new things and is always learning a new hobby or building a new project around the house. His favorite hobby, though, is undertaking new entrepreneurial opportunities. He’s also a loyal Denver Broncos fan – go orange and blue!

Mike Czuchna

Director of Facilities Engineering

Mike Czuchna is a licensed professional engineer and graduate of University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 2001. He has more than 18 years of experience in Engineering consulting firms in the Mining, Power, and Oil & Gas industries working on numerous projects. Additionally, he has worked on the upstream Oil & Gas producer side of the business. He has brought his experience to Halker’s Upstream Facilities & Process Department since 2024 ensuring that our upstream clients receive exceptional quality and value in facility engineering and design.

Kathryn Goodman

Director of Mechanical Engineering

Kathryn Goodman graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2011. She is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas and brings over a decade of mechanical and pipeline engineering experience to her role. Throughout her career, Kathryn has worked on both small and large-scale oil and gas projects in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.

Since becoming Director of Halker’s Mechanical Department in 2022, Kathryn has been instrumental in ensuring high quality of execution on all projects, drawing on her diverse background to enhance the team’s performance.

Originally from Austin, Texas, Kathryn now resides in Houston with her husband and three children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, playing games, and traveling with her family.

Jeff Wellen

Vice President of Operations

Jeff Wellen graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in business and economics in 2002. Jeff is a licensed professional engineer with over 22 years of project management, project engineering, and mechanical engineering experience. Most of his professional career has been in the Oil & Gas industry with a wide range of experience across various types of projects including gas treating, LNG, well pad sites, cryogenic processing, biofuels, and more. He has also worked as a field engineer to support construction, as well as in a fabrication shop to oversee module/pipe-rack assembly. As a member of the Halker team since January 2018, his breadth of involvement in various projects provides Jeff a strong basis to provide operation execution support for successful project execution teams through the trials and tribulations when executing any type of project ranging from technical studies to full EPC projects in the rapidly evolving midstream and upstream industry sectors. Jeff was named an Engineering News Record (ENR) Top Young Professional in 2018 for the Mountain States Region.

In his free time, Jeff loves all things outdoors including hunting, camping, and ice fishing. He has lived in Colorado since 1980 with his wife and twin daughters, who also love to go fishing and camping and root for the Nuggets and Broncos! Jeff’s biggest piece of advice for new college grads interested in joining the energy industry is to always work hard to grow and maintain a professional network!

Matthew Koch

Director of Environmental Engineering

Matthew (Matt) Koch has 8 years of environmental engineering experience in the areas of remedial construction management, regulatory compliance, process design and evaluation, sustainable infrastructure assessment, waste management, site characterization, due diligence, groundwater studies, and hazardous waste investigations. He has served as project manager and principal engineer, serving clients in the construction, agricultural, solid waste, commercial development, wastewater treatment, mining, and oil & gas industries. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and a minor in Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Matt is a certified Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) and a licensed professional engineer in the states of CO, NM, and WY.

Jeremy Montoya

Director of Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls

Jeremy Montoya graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with an Electrical specialty focus in 2010. Jeremy is a licensed professional engineering in multiple states and has over 14 years of experience in consulting engineering and has working in nearly every sector or the business, from oil and gas to food and beverage, mining, pharmaceuticals, commercial and residential applications. Jeremy joined Halker in 2021 and has brought a passion to build up and support staff as they provide quality engineering and design services to every client we have the opportunity to work with. With an eye for detail, value and confident support- our EI&C group will continue to grow and be recognized for their expertise, attentiveness, and quality deliverables in every project. Jeremy has also volunteered engineering services abroad, helping with the design of water/wastewater treatment facilities and medical facilites in Kenya, as well as master plans for facilities in Mexico.

Jeremy and his wife Audrey have 2 children and love traveling and doing anything outdoors. Jeremy loves to hike, play basketball, or ride his electric skateboard.

Adam Zwickl

Director of Projects

Adam Zwickl is a licensed engineer and graduate of Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2005. He has 17 years of experience in Engineering consulting firms working in the Oil & Gas and Nuclear industries working on a diverse set of projects. His experience spans Advanced Biofuels, Upstream, Midstream, and Gas Treating. He has brought his diverse experience to Halker’s Projects Department since 2023 ensuring that the projects group provides EPC clients with exceptional quality. Adam also serves as a PE/PM on various projects to help with their execution along all aspects of EPC.

Tor Vestad

Director of Process Engineering

Tor Vestad is a graduate of Colorado School of Mines with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical engineering in 2003 and a Masters in 2005. Since 2007, Tor has worked on a diverse set of projects in the Oil & Gas industry. His experience spans Advanced Biofuels, Low Carbon Power, Refineries, Upstream, Midstream, Gas Treating and Acid Gas removal. He has brought his diverse experience to Halker’s Process Department since 2021 ensuring that the Process group provides clients with soundly engineered designs and deliverables.

Originally, from Yakima WA, Tor grew up on an apple and pear orchard and came to Colorado to attend CSM where he met his wife and settled down.

Russel Ferne

Director of Structural Engineering

Russel Ferne graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a Civil specialty in 2011. He is a licensed professional engineer in multiple states. He has more than a decade of structural engineering experience on small and large projects in industries such as oil and gas, pharmaceutical, microelectronics, industrial manufacturing, and mining. These industries have given him a strong background in high-seismic design, complex structural steel design, deep foundation design, and many other aspects of structural analysis and design.

Russel grew up in the Denver area but has lived in Greenville, South Carolina for 13 years with his wife and now their newborn son. He enjoys spending time gardening, cooking, and learning about astronomy and physics.

Austin Dean

Manager of Process & Mechanical Engineering – Billings, MT

Austin Dean graduated from Colorado School of Mines in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. He has experience in engineering design projects for well pad facilities, gathering systems, and midstream natural gas facilities. Starting his career at Halker in 2014, his roles and responsibilities have spanned Process Engineering, Project Engineering, Project Management, and Facilities Engineering. He specializes in jet pump artificial lift surface facilities and dynamic hydraulic modeling. Austin brings an E&P perspective to the Halker team, with a focus on project economics and larger implications of design decisions.

When he is not in the office, you can usually find Austin on the golf course, searching for a poker game, or enjoying time with his wife and two young children.

Paul Brennan

Director of Automation

Paul Brennan is an industrial automation specialist, PLC programmer, business manager and product development professional. He graduated from Colorado Mesa University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Paul now has over 25 years of experience providing industrial automation solutions and large-scale automation integration projects for oil & gas, water/wastewater, irrigation, and greenhouse industries in the US and Eastern Europe. Paul’s career has been spent developing leading edge, revolutionary automation products, and in the process, he has obtained several US Patents. Paul has notably designed products such as PADPro, PADManager, PROView and QLogiX for upstream oil & gas facilities, utilizing state of the art technologies with PLC’s and high-powered single board computers to provide advanced data collection and data processing at the well head.

Paul has a knack for being able to create logical solutions for industrial processes, dedication to hard work, and his relentless drive distinguishes him as an industry leading expert. He describes his greatest achievements around his ability to identify, manage and drive talented individuals and contractors towards a common team goal. In his spare time, Paul is a hot rod enthusiast and enjoys building and restoring classic cars. You can also find him outdoors year-round hunting, fishing or playing golf.

Dan Sirridge

Director of Piping Design

Daniel Sirridge graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2003. Starting his career in architecture, he worked on various project types ranging from religious and educational projects to large government projects. In 2009 Dan continued his career, transitioning to the Oil and Gas Industry, starting work at Halker Consulting. Through the years, Dan has been a key contributor and design-lead for many various upstream and midstream oil and gas projects. These project types include: salt water injection facilities, well-pad facilities, compressor stations, and plant retrofits.

In Daniel’s free time he enjoys being part of a pool team, playing disc golf, and enjoying Colorado and everything that the state has to offer.