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James Welch

James Welch

Accomplished technical professional with over 30 years' experience in design and drafting

Talent
BeaumontMember since June 13, 2026
Design & DraftingField WalksConstructabilityAutoCADNavisworksAutoCAD Plant 3DDigital TwinPlant 3D
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Design & DraftingField WalksConstructabilityAutoCADNavisworks

About

Accomplished technical professional with over 30 years' experience in design and drafting of all aspects of construction in the onshore (Gas Plant and Refinery) and offshore (TLP, FPU and FPSO') oil and gas sector working on Greenfield, Brownfield and Surveillance Projects using Aveva E3D PDMS/AutoCAD/SME, supports multidisciplinary (offshore/onshore) construction site teams on resolution of a wide range of TQ, MOC, DCN, RFI and field design issues. Work collaboratively with all engineering disciplines on layout and design of mechanical piping systems and rotating, utility and process equipment ensuring operability, maintainability, constructability while including human factors and ergonomics to ensure ongoing operational safety and HSSE compliance.

Experience

Offshore Construction Representative- Offshore URSA TLP - Tailing Inspection and Training Services LLC

(2022-03)

Projects/Major Maintenance/TAR's campaigns

  • Responsible for QA, QC installations and sign off Work Packs completion.
  • Responsible for maintaining schedule and field changes
  • Responsible for issuing and sign off on construction work Permits
  • Responsible for coordinating with SIMOPS
  • Responsible for HSSE construction team
  • Worked with Offshore Engineer (OSE) on PSSR (Process Star-up Safety Review) sign offs
  • Worked with OSE getting work packs and MOC's updated in Digital Twin world

Mechanical Designer - EDG Engineering - Metairie, LA

(2021-11 - 2022-03)

  • Design Lead, responsible for Standards, QA, QC and Checking
  • Field Walks for P&ID's
  • Plant 3D, Navisworks, AVEVA E3D (PDMS)
  • Mentor and Coaching
  • Brownfield and Major Maintenance campaign (Chevron)

Mechanical Designer - ISC Engineering - Baton Rouge, LA

(2021-04 - 2021-11)

Honeywell and BP

  • Design Focal for Honeywell Projects, responsible for Standards, QA, QC and Checking
  • Field Walks for P&ID's
  • Plant 3D, Navisworks
  • Mentor and Coaching
  • Chemical and Downstream (Honeywell and BP)

Field Construction Engineer - SHELL OIL DOWNSTREAM - Deer Park Refinery, TX

(2018-12 - 2019-12)

Capital Projects, Big Block Turnaround - Deer Park Refinery, TX

  • Ensured completion of long lead items and held meetings for BBTA-pre-T/A work scope, working in collaboration with Project Engineering and C&P
  • Led the Capital Projects Construction Team turnover process for ensuring completion of all deliverables and project readiness for PSSR (Process Safety Startup Review) and turnover to T/A organization
  • Lead Safety onboarding process of contractors hired for Big Block Turnaround Shut-Ins.

Project/Construction/Field Engineer (Offshore) - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM - New Orleans, LA

(1989-07 - 2018-12)

Capital Projects, Topside and Hull Floating Systems - New Orleans, LA. Appomattox Floating Production Unit (FPU) Project - New Orleans, LA

  • Created and executed PTWs and JSAs for construction along with CSU punch list items requiring construction support
  • HSSE Offshore Leader - Supported Goal Zero by training teams on Shell's construction safety 'Wisdom' pack, actively participating in daily Safety Walks/JSA/Toolbox Talks and leading safety meetings
  • Collaborated with engineering disciplines and Construction Inspectors to resolve Technical Queries and RFIs, using various PDMS design model reports to validate topside design discrepancies and issues for all disciplines
  • Worked jointly with Mechanical Completions to create integration and offshore work packages and to review/walk down hydrotest packages, supporting prompt resolution of associated outstanding punch list items
  • Supported quality focus areas, ensuring adherence to construction quality plan through regular quality walks and engagement with workforce on equipment preservation and cleanliness and identification of fabrication defects

PDMS Construction Field Support Engineer - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM - Onshore Construction Site

(1989-07 - 2018-12)

Appomattox Floating Production Unit (FPU) Project - design while building approach

  • Onsite PDMS SME on a 'design while building' approach, provided swift resolution of design/constructability issues
  • Maintained a redlined master set of P&IDs and regularly communicated changes back to New Orleans HQ
  • Collaborated with engineering disciplines and Construction Inspectors to resolve Technical Queries and RFIs, using various PDMS design model reports to validate topside design discrepancies and issues for all disciplines

Design Drafting Power Module Mechanical Design Lead - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM - New Orleans Design Office

(1989-07 - 2018-12)

Appomattox Floating Production Unit (FPU) Project

  • Headed design drafting/constructability for power module and gas turbine packages, interfacing with all disciplines

Design Focal for Topside - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM - New Orleans Design Office

(1989-07 - 2018-12)

Mars B Tension Leg Platform (TLP) Project

  • Maintained design consistency to ensure compliance with Shell Deepwater and DEP Design and Drafting Standards
  • Worked with Worley Parsons/IST project teams on steam turbine package to ensure adequate coverage of interfaces

Design Drafting Project Lead/Mechanical Design Lead - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM - New Orleans Design Office

(1989-07 - 2018-12)

Mars B Tension Leg Platform (TLP) Project

  • Headed all aspects of the project from set-up, organization and scope definition through to asset handover and acceptance with a drafting team of 6-8, designating man-hours and reporting on progress to Project Lead
  • Worked with Project Engineering to map out work process for issuance of P&T construction and topside as-built drawings for P2A handover process

PDMS Construction Field Support Engineer - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM - Onshore Construction Site

(1989-07 - 2018-12)

Mars B Tension Leg Platform (TLP) Project

  • Similar role to Appomattox PDMS CFSE above

Design Drafting Mechanical Lead - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM - New Orleans Design Office

(1989-07 - 2018-12)

Mars B Tension Leg Platform (TLP) Project

  • Designed Well Bay and Gas Lift Manifold Module and drafted AFC deliverables, coordinating with drill rig contractor (Noble Energy) tasked with design of drilling rig, to ensure effective interfacing

PDMS Construction Field Support Engineer - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM

Mars A TLP Recovery Project

Design Drafting Mechanical Lead - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM

Nakika FSO Hull Noise Remediation Project, Ram Powell TLP Gas Lift Injection Compressor No2 and Restage Project, Ursa TLP Gas Lift & Princess Waterflood Project, Bonga FPSO Project

P&ID Coordinator/Team Lead - SHELL OIL UPSTREAM

8 years/Contract

  • Headed a team of 8, overseeing quality AutoCAD creation of P&ID's, GA's and MMS Critical Drawings for numerous surveillance and Brownfield projects
  • Executing P&ID walkdowns for critical drawings both onshore and offshore

Education

Associate Degree - Applied Science: Industrial Technology

Associate Degree - Applied Science: Computer Aided Drafting & Design Technology

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