About Us

  Charles K Piper, Jr.  

2008-2017  Piper Automation and Controls LLC, Danbury TX  

Owner and Lead Geek

  Responsible for all aspects of the automation and controls sales, quoting, budgets, project management, documentation, development, commissioning and associated R&D projects.  Duties include new product and controls system development, technical specification writing and overview, quotes, customer technical sales proposals. Specialized in PLC and OPC based distributed I/O drilling controls projects. Project management including costing, scheduling, document control, change order processing, manufacturing and purchasing interface, automation hardware, software and network development, software and system testing, customer/third party inspection and certification, international and domestic startups and commissioning, after sales technical support and field service.  New product designs including Drill Chair and Console design, pump controls (Mud and Cement), Drawworks, Top Drive, Rotary Table, Pipe Handling, Iron Roughneck controls, Crane Operator Chair and Digital Controls conversion, Instrumentation, Zone Management, Solids Recovery Systems, Fluid Handling and VFD Based Level Controllers, Mud Monitoring systems, Data logging, Touch screen and analog controls, Redundant processor and I/O systems, PROFIBUS, PROFI-Net, DeviceNet, Modbus TCP/IP and Ethernet TCP/IP networks. Extensive loop tuning and loop check background as well as instrumentation and controls troubleshooting, application and specification. System upgrades and reconfigurations.   Typical project;  $50K – 750K+, AC (encoder and encoderless feedback) and DC drives (series and shunt motor applications), motor field controls for dynamic load sharing and field weakening, dynamic braking, generator controls and protection, control consoles, automation network design, HMI, general purpose and classified area designs. Electro mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic controls  

2011-2017  IEC Systems (IDE), Houston TX  

Director of Technical Products, Sr. Controls and Automation Engineer  

Responsible for all aspects of the automation and controls sales, quoting, budgets, project management, documentation, development, commissioning and associated R&D projects. Departmental management of a 10 person team responsible for all aspects of the duties listed below. Duties include new product and controls system development, technical specification writing and overview, quotes, customer technical sales proposals. Specialized in PLC and OPC based distributed I/O drilling controls projects. Project management including costing, scheduling, document control, change order processing, manufacturing and purchasing interface, automation hardware, software and network development, software and system testing, customer/third party inspection and certification, international and domestic startups and commissioning, after sales technical support and field service. Technical show product development (OTC).  New product designs including Drill Chair and Console design, pump controls (Mud and Cement), Drawworks controls, Top Drive controls, Rotary Table controls, Crane Operator Chair and Digital Controls conversion, Instrumentation, Zone Management, Solids Recovery Systems, Fluid Handling and VFD Based Level Controllers, Mud Monitoring systems, Data logging, Touch screen and analog controls, Redundant processor and I/O systems, PROFIBUS, PROFI-Net, DeviceNet, Modbus TCP/IP and Ethernet TCP/IP networks. Extensive loop tuning and loop check background as well as instrumentation and controls troubleshooting, application and specification. System upgrades and reconfigurations.     Typical project;  $150-1.5M+, AC (encoder and encoderless feedback) and DC drives (series and shunt motor applications), motor field controls for dynamic load sharing and field weakening, dynamic braking, generator controls and protection, control consoles, automation network design, HMI, general purpose and classified area designs. Hydraulic, pneumatic, analog and digital controls. Multiple vendor interfaces.

2008-2011  S&P DAC Services LLC, Houston, Tx 

Director of Technical Products, Sr. Controls and Automation Engineer

Responsible for all aspects of the automation and controls sales, quoting, budgets, project management, documentation, development, commissioning and associated R&D projects. Departmental management of a 10 person team responsible for all aspects of the duties listed below. Duties include new product and controls system development, technical specification writing and overview, quotes, customer technical sales proposals. Specialized in PLC and OPC based distributed I/O drilling controls projects. Project management including costing, scheduling, document control, change order processing, manufacturing and purchasing interface, automation hardware, software and network development, software and system testing, customer/third party inspection and certification, international and domestic startups and commissioning, after sales technical support and field service. Technical show product development (OTC).  New product designs including Drill Chair and Console design, pump controls (Mud and Cement), Drawworks, Top Drive, Rotary Table, Pipe Handling, Iron Roughneck controls, Crane Operator Chair and Digital Controls conversion, Instrumentation, Zone Management, Solids Recovery Systems, Fluid Handling and VFD Based Level Controllers, Mud Monitoring systems, Data logging, Touch screen and analog controls, Redundant processor and I/O systems, PROFIBUS, PROFI-Net, DeviceNet, Modbus TCP/IP and Ethernet TCP/IP networks. Extensive loop tuning and loop check background as well as instrumentation and controls troubleshooting, application and specification. System upgrades and reconfigurations.   Typical project;  $150-1.5M+, AC (encoder and encoderless feedback) and DC drives (series and shunt motor applications), motor field controls for dynamic load sharing and field weakening, dynamic braking, generator controls and protection, control consoles, automation network design, HMI, general purpose and classified area designs. Hydraulic, pneumatic, analog and digital controls. Multiple vendor interfaces.

2005-2008 Letourneau Power Systems, Oilfield Electric Marine (OEM)  Houston, Texas 

Sr. Controls and Automation Engineer  

  Responsible for all aspects of the automation and controls department and associated R&D projects.  Duties include new product development, technical specification writing and overview, customer technical sales proposals. Specialized in PLC and OPC based distributed I/O projects. Project management including costing, scheduling, document control, change order processing, manufacturing and purchasing interface, automation hardware, software and network development, software and system testing, customer/third party inspection and certification, international and domestic startups and commissioning, after sales technical support and field service. Technical show product development (OTC).  Extensive background in both the land and marine (Semi, Jackups and ship) drilling fields. Including Drill Chair and Console design, pump controls (Mud and Cement), Drawworks controls, Top Drive controls, Rotary Table controls, Winches, Cranes, Instrumentation, Mud Monitoring systems, Data logging, Touch screen and analog controls, Redundant processor and I/O systems, PROFIBUS, PROFI-Net, Devicenet, Modbus TCP/IP and Ethernet TCP/IP networks. Extensive loop tuning and loop check background as well as instrumentation and controls troubleshooting, application and specification. System upgrades and reconfigurations.   Typical project;  $150-1.5M+, AC (encoder and encoderless feedback) and DC drives (series and shunt motor applications), motor field controls for dynamic load sharing and field weakening, dynamic braking, generator controls and protection, control consoles, automation network design, HMI, general purpose and classified area designs. Hydraulic, pneumatic, analog and digital controls. Multiple vendor interfaces.

2005 M&I Electric Ind, Inc. Houston, Texas 

Project Engineer    

  Responsible for multiple low and medium voltage switchgear and drives projects. Markets included both international and domestic and were land, marine drilling as well as industrial.    Duties include new product development, technical specification writing and overview, customer technical sales proposals. Specialized in PLC and SCADA based projects. Project management including costing, scheduling, document control, change order processing, manufacturing and purchasing interface, automation hardware, software and network development, software and system testing, customer/third party inspection and certification, international and domestic startups and commissioning, after sales technical support and field service. Technical show product development. ISO 9000 procedures and policy development.    Typical project;  $150-1.5M+, MCC’s, AC and DC power distribution boards, AC and DC drives, generator controls and protection, control consoles, automation network design, HMI, general purpose and classified area designs. Multiple vendor interfaces.

2002-2004 Keeshan & Bost Chemicals Manvel, Texas 

I&E Dept Mgr, Staff Automation & Controls Engineer  

  Responsible for daily maintenance and upgrade of 6 unit Batch distillation chemical plant, waste water treatment systems, 105 tank storage farm, 9 dual fuel fired  boilers, 3 cooling towers, 4 custody transfer loading/unloading stations (land &  rail) and their associated controls. Budgeting, purchasing, staffing, supervision, training and scheduling of a 5 person technical team.   Duties include development, documentation and maintenance of all new installation automation and control systems. Maintenance and documentation of numerous legacy systems including DOS based QBasic PC control systems. R&D for new unit and boiler controls according to company, State and Federal regulatory needs. Upgrading existing control systems to modern technology. Documentation of all electrical systems, from 3 phase utility feeders to 120VAC receptacles and all points in between. Plant was built in the 60s and no documentation existed on the electrical or control systems, requiring reverse engineering for task completion and system troubleshooting. Multiple network design and troubleshooting including PROFIBUS, Devicenet, Modbus, K-Sequence, legacy RS232/485. Development and installation of plant wide central alarm system for various plant wide critical condition signals. Motor control center specification and installation. AC drives technology implementation to complement automation systems and eliminate need for older control valve technology. Sensor specification and implementation including, DP flow and level sensors, sonar level sensors, flue gas analyzers, oxygen/NOX analyzers, thermocouples, RTDs, coreolis mass flow meters, intrinsically safe digital and analog alarm and sensor signals. This job presented many challenging and unique experiences to numerous to list in this resume. 

1998 - 2002 M&I Electric Ind, Inc. Houston, Texas 

Project Engineer   

  Responsible for multiple low and medium voltage switchgear and drives projects in both the international and domestic marine and industrial markets.    Duties include new product development, technical specification writing and overview, customer technical sales proposals. Specialized in PLC and SCADA based projects. Project management including costing, scheduling, document control, change order processing, manufacturing and purchasing interface, automation hardware, software and network development, software and system testing, customer/third party inspection and certification, international and domestic startups and commissioning, after sales technical support and field service. Technical show product development. ISO 9000 procedures and policy development.    Typical project;  $150-1.5M+, MCC’s, AC and DC power distribution boards, AC and DC drives, generator controls and protection, control consoles, automation network design, HMI, general purpose and classified area designs. Multiple vendor interfaces.

1993 – 1998 Fluid Data Inc. (ONYX Process Analysis) Angleton, TX  Project Engineer    

  Responsible for multiple analyzer system house projects in the international industrial markets.    Duties include new product development, technical specification writing and overview, customer technical sales proposals. Project management including costing, scheduling, document control, change order processing, manufacturing and purchasing interface, automation hardware, software and network development, software and system testing, customer/third party inspection and certification, international and domestic startups and commissioning, after sales technical support and field service. ISO 9000 procedure and policy development and implementation.   Typical project;  $50K-500K, multiple gas chromatography analyzer system, system house design,  customer/vendor DCS/network interface testing, automation network design, HMI,  general purpose and classified area designs.