Personnel

Mike Baxter, P. Eng., FS Eng.

Principal Engineer

Process Safety Engineering Ltd.

Overview

Process safety engineer with experience in a wide range of industries. The last 10 years have been spent in upstream oil and gas, but prior experience has included mining, chemical processing, pulp and paper and lumber manufacturing.

  • Certified as a Functional Safety Engineer (Process Hazard and Risk Assessment) by TUV Rheinland.
  • Experienced as a facilitator in process hazard assessment methodologies, including HAZOP, What If, and Operational Risk Assessment. Developed training materials and provided training to staff who facilitate/participate in risk assessments.
  • Facilitator for Overpressure Risk Assessments per requirements in AB-525.
  • Developed methodology for risk assessments for certifying work under single isolation.
    Proficient in the use of consequence modelling for fire, explosion and toxic release.
  • Experienced with the design, review, acceptance, inspection, testing and maintenance of fire protection systems. This includes requirements in the Alberta Building Code, Alberta Fire Code, NFPA standards, and the CAN/ULC Standards for Fire Alarms.

Process Safety Engineering Skill Set

Single Isolation Practice

  • Developed guidance document to meet requirements under Alberta OH&S Part 15 for isolation of piping systems with hazardous materials under pressure. The practice includes a methodology for risk assessment to allow engineers to determine the requirements for working under single isolation if double block and bleed or a system of blinding is not available.
  • Provided training to engineering groups who are responsible for certifying work under single isolation
  • CAPP positive isolation working group chairperson

Consequence Modelling

  • Use of PHAST modelling tool to estimate flammable gas releases, toxic gas releases, pool fire, jet fire, flash fire, BLEVE, and vapour cloud explosion as required.

Risk Matrix Development

  • Provided input to the process safety team members developing a new risk-matrix for use in evaluating process/operational risks in our facilities. Reviewer for the final draft of the Cenovus Operations Risk Matrix.
  • Provided training to employees, contractors and engineering design house staff on how to use the Cenovus Risk Matrix when conducting various types of Process Hazard Analysis (Hazop, What If/Operational Risk Assessment, etc.).

Process Hazard Analysis

  • Analysis of maintenance frequency for fixed detection systems (LEL, H2S, Flame Scanners) to determine change in reliability of devices if changed from a 3 month frequency to a four month frequency) using simplified IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 methods
  • Facilitate risk assessments and Hazops as required by the different business teams
  • Rewrote and updated the Hazop Manual – provided additional clarification on requirements for core team members during Hazop and risk assessments, requirements for safeguards, how much credit to take for safeguards, and Hazop revalidation requirements
  • Collaborated with training group to develop electronic training courses for risk assessment
  • Developed risk assessment training courses for participants and facilitators
  • Provided risk assessment training for facilitators and participants
  • Performed simplified analysis of probability of failure on demand of a basic process control system used as a burner management system vs an independent burner management system and a basic process control system
  • Collaborated with automation group to provide guidance on how much credit to allow for basic process control system in risk assessments vs safety instrumented functions, the requirements for independence and reliability in order to take two credits for instrumented functions in the basic process control systems

Overpressure Risk Assessments (ORA)

  • Worked with Process Engineering Group to develop a methodology for conducting ORAs to meet the requirements in ABSA’s AB-525 “Overpressure Protection Requirements for Pressure Vessels and Pressure Piping”.
  • Facilitated ORA reviews on existing pressure systems as required.
  • Provided training to groups in how to conduct ORAs per the new methodology to meet there requirements of AB-525.

Fire Protection Engineering

  • Review existing facilities for building and fire code compliance for life safety systems and property protection
  • Review designs for new facilities to ensure fire/explosion system design not only meets code but also addresses the hazards associated with the facility, which may not be covered by code
  • Review fire alarm system verification and annual testing reports
  • Conduct acceptance testing of new fire protection systems – this includes:
    • fire water tanks,
    • fire pumps,
    • fixed sprinkler systems (wet, dry, pre-action, deluge),
    • foam water systems,
    • hydrants
    • special hazard systems such as high pressure CO2, wet chemical systems, fixed storage tank foam systems, ICAF, etc.
  • Train personnel responsible for conducting regular inspection testing and maintenance of existing fire protection systems and assist with annual performance testing of systems.
  • Worked with Cenovus maintenance and scheduling department and the different asset maintenance teams to establish regular maintenance and testing requirements in Maximo for all Cenovus assets
  • Developed Cenovus standard for inspection, testing and maintenance frequency of life safety systems in process, infrastructure and camp buildings
  • Developed Cenovus standard for fire hydrants and hose sizes
    Participated as committee member in Enform’s Fire and Explosion Hazard Management Program Development Guide, June 2016

Work History

President/Principal Engineer – Process Safety Engineering Ltd. – February 2018 to present

Formed Process Safety Engineering Ltd. with the intent of working as an independent Process Safety Engineering Consultant.

Process Safety Engineer, Cenovus Energy, Calgary, Alberta — January 2009 – February 2018

Started as a contract engineer with Encana, which became Cenovus Energy. In 2010 became a full time employee with Cenovus.

Subject matter expert for Process Hazard Analysis. Rewrote the Cenovus Process Hazard Analysis Manual and provided training to Cenovus personnel on how to facilitate risk assessments. Currently working with Cenovus Learning Institute and a third party contractor on electronic training. Typically facilitate or participate in 40 process hazard analysis per year.

Subject matter expert on fire systems for Cenovus. Currently working with a team on a project to retrofit fire protection systems to Phase A-E at Christina Lake SAGD Facility.

Assisted project teams and operations with commissioning fire protection for Foster Creek SAGD Process Facility. Provide support to Emergency Services and Camps Group as required.

Regularly perform consequence modelling using PHAST program for toxic and flammable release.

Risk Engineer (Contract), CNRL Horizon Project, Alberta — May 2006 – December 2008

Responsible for coordinating commissioning of fire suppression systems for a 110,000 bbl/day crude oil upgrading facility, open pit mine, infrastructure areas and camps. This included conducting acceptance testing of fire pumps, fixed suppression systems and trouble shooting problems with the systems.

Participated in design and selection of fixed dry/wet chemical suppression systems for mobile mining equipment as well as reviewing final installation.

Conducted hazard identification, risk assessments and participated in HAZOPs as required.

Acted as the subject matter expert for process safety for the utilities and offsites dept during commissioning.

Risk Control Engineer, Marsh Canada, Calgary, Alberta — 1999 – 2006

Worked in the Engineering Risk Control Department for five years at Marsh Calgary. During that time I would travel to client facilities to evaluate hazards and protection systems associated with the facility. The goal of the visit would be to assist the client with reducing the probability of a loss and to prepare a report that was used to develop the industrial insurance program. Typical industries included upstream oil and gas, mining, and chemical manufacturing.

Completed a Business Interruption/Contingent Business Interruption Study for Burlington Resources for their upstream oil and gas production infrastructure in northern British Columbia and Alberta.

While working as a Risk Control Engineer completed the 12 Insurance courses required to achieve the Chartered Insurance Professional Designation with the Insurance Institute of Canada and obtain an Insurance Brokers Licence.  Mike spent approximately two years working as a commercial insurance broker in the Calgary office.

Loss Prevention Engineer, Factory MuTual Engineering — 1989 -1995 & 1997 -1999

Worked for Factory Mutual Engineering as a Loss Prevention Engineer shortly after graduation from the University of Alberta. Factory Mutual is the engineering division for a property insurance company that specializes in highly protected risks.  

Loss prevention engineers would be responsible for evaluating the hazards associated with a facility and ensuring that the protection systems for the hazards met the requirements set out by Factory Mutual.

A typical site visit would include inspection and evaluation of the clients test and maintenance program for protection systems to ensure that they would operate reliably. Loss prevention engineers would also prepare a report that was used by property underwriters to set insurance rates.

Initially Mike worked out of the Seattle District Office in Seattle, Vancouver and Prince George, BC. After moving to Calgary, Mike worked for the Toronto District Office for two years.

ENGINEER, AGRA EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAL, 1995-1996

Worked for approximately 1 year in the Prince George Office for AGRA E&E. The work consisted predominately of environmental remediation projects and some geotechnical projects.

Education

B.Sc. Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta in 1989

Membership

Professional Engineer APEGA
Functional Safety Engineer TUV Rheinland
Member Industrial Section NFPA