END USER INTERVIEW
IOGP and the Oil & Gas Industry An Interview with Ayman Cheta , Engineering Team Lead , Shell
The International Oil & Gas Producers Association ( IOGP ) plays an important role in the oil & gas industry and its governing standards . IOGP Standards Committee and Subcommittees liaise with industry standards organizations such as API , ASME , ISO , and NORSOK to support the development of relevant industry standards , to help the member companies and the industry achieve the following : build and operate safe , reliable , and cost-efficient assets , in a socially responsible manner and respond to the Climate Change challenge ( CO 2
, Fugitive Emissions , Hydrogen , etc .).
Valve World Americas had the pleasure of speaking with Ayman Cheta , Engineering Team Lead at Shell , about his role as Chair of IOGP Piping & Valve Standards Subcommittee , the importance of maintaining these standards , as well as the value of connecting with others in the industry .
By Charlie Evans
As an Engineering Team Lead , Ayman Cheta works on a variety of projects for Shell . “ I am committed to several ongoing responsibilities involving technical assurance and leading engineering activities for various projects ,” said Cheta . One of his key responsibilities is overseeing his team and providing directions for design requirements . “ What is acceptable and what is not ? What will work best in the capacity of this project ?”
Cheta started his career in the oil and gas industry more than 36 years ago . He worked for Total , Amoco and bp , before joining Shell 18 years ago . His career spans roles in maintenance , reliability , inspection , and integrity , as well as technical support for operating assets and major multi-billion dollar projects .
Alongside his role as a Team Lead , Cheta is involved in a variety of industry committees dedicated to preserving the integrity of valves and the processes they operate in . “ I am the current Chair of the
THE PROVEN VAC POSITIONERS .
SIMPLE • RELIABLE QUALITY PRODUCTS
V200 D500
Since 2001 , Valve Accessories & Controls has built a reputation as a company comitted to quality products , and a commitment to service , second to none .
• Pneumatic , Analog , and Digital Positioners
• Wide selection of Mounting Kits
• No Phone Mazes to Navigate
• Experienced Staff
• Service and Technical Support
• Customer Focused Website
V100 & V200 MADE IN SWEDEN D400 & D500 MADE IN GERMANY
V100
D400
VALVE ACCESSORIES & CONTROLS , INC .
200 Jade Park Chelsea , Alabama 35043 TEL : 205.678.0507 VACACCESSORIES . COM
Serving the Positioner Industry for Over 20 Years
IOGP Piping and Valves Standards Subcommittee . I previously served as Chair of the ASME B16 Subcommittee C from 2014-2020 , and Vice Chair of API CRE Subcommittee on Piping & Valves from 2006-2009 . Also , I am currently chairing a test group to update API Standard 608 for Ball Valves ,” Cheta explained .
These roles , while outside of the scope of his day-to-day activities , are essential to the continued safe use of valves , in oil & gas production sites , refineries , and chemical facilities . “ The IOGP Standards subcommittee work takes up quite a bit of my time . We have almost daily meetings , trying to update the different standards and specifications , but most would agree that it is incredibly important work .”
Working With the IOGP
The IOGP is a group of integrated energy companies , national oil companies , independent upstream operators , service companies , and industry associations . IOGP members collaborate in several different ways . It affords the member companies the opportunity to cooperate and collaborate with one another in a way that will benefit the industry in a socially responsible manner . “ One of the Joint Industry Projects ( JIPs ) managed by IOGP is JIP33 – Standardizing Procurement Specifications , which aims at making engineering design and procurement of equipment more efficient by having a common set of procurement specification ,” said Cheta .
In 2021 , Cheta was handpicked to join the IOGP Piping & Valve Standards subcommittee , due to his extensive experience dealing with piping and valve standards . “ I started working in the industrial valve field in the late 1990s , and by the 2006 , I was Vice Chair of the API
CRE Subcommittee of Piping and Valves . Six months after joining IOGP Piping & Valve Standards subcommittee , I was elected as Chair ,” he continued .
Due to this wealth of experience and expertise , Cheta was deemed the appropriate person from Shell to Chair the IOGP subcommittee . “ Thanks to my years of hands-on experience I am able to recognize potential conflicts and propose ideas to narrow the gaps and resolve them , thereby overseeing the proceedings as we go .”
Immediately after accepting the position of Chair , Cheta drafted a new strategy ; he developed a vision and a mission statement for the subcommittee to align with industry needs and Climate Change challenges in a socially responsible manner .
“ In my role as a Chair , I draft ideas for what we should be doing for the next five years – essentially a five-year business plan . I must think : what are we trying to accomplish short term and long term ?” It begins with drafting initial thoughts and ideas , and soliciting ideas from other members , before bringing it to the subcommittee members during a meeting . From there , ideas are discussed and agreed upon before finalizing the plan and then seeking approval from the IOGP .
The IOGP Piping & Valve Standards Subcommittee serves the industry in several ways :
1 . Serving as a global network of the piping and valves specialists of IOGP members and other potentially invited parties . Share technical experience , align end user technical perspective , and agree input to the piping and valve standards work .
4 Valve World Americas | April 2024 • www . valve-world-americas . net