Michael Craven

Experience

• 

  Sasol

  Feb 2008 - Mar 2015

  • Commissioning of the Ethylene Tetramerization Pilot Plant, which include the following:o Gas clean up and feed preparation with absorbers, chemical dosing stations and feed tanks.o Ethylene gas compressor.o Ethylene condenser and cooling system.o Distillation columns, either in series or operated individually.o Flare system.o Gas chromatographs (GCs) and other analysers for plant operation.• Commissioning of site utilities including:o Ethylene, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Fuel gas, demin water, potable water, oxygen cylinders and fire water, deluge and flare systems.o Registration of new MOCs (Management of Change)o Pre-Start-up Safety Reviewo Ready for Commissioningo Ready for Operation and o Beneficial Operation.• Provide Technical support to maintenance personnel, engineers, technicians and technologists with respect to practical application of technical solutions.• Update Excel spread sheets, analyze and interpret the data and take corrective actions on the plant if it is required to keep the plant at stable operation.• Ensure safe plant start-up, normal operation and shutdown either as panel or field operator.• Minimize turnaround time during shutdowns• Keep record of all activities in a log and communicate clearly to everyone.• Take samples of various product streams for analysis.• Do problem solving on a continuous basis on the various plants and systems if required.• Assist maintenance personnel in tasks involving the plant by safe making of equipment and conducting risk assessments as well as PDA’s.• Writing and issuing of work permits• Give inputs on HAZOP studies, modifications and training modules.• Work as a team or individually to reach goals or targets allocated, and even help in other areas if possible, to do so.• Develop process flow diagrams (PFDs) and piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) ensuring all plant drawings are up to date and correct.• Act as shift foreman and team leader if needed. Show less • Supporting of Refinery group with commissioning and operation of the:o CatPoly pilot plant and micro reactors with benzene alkylation in petrol, assisting in data generation and analysis.o NHT (Naphtha Hydro Treating) pilot plant converting aromatic naphtha into diesel components by hydro-treating.o DeltaV and SCADA DCS systemso ASPEN Process Explorer• Injection and calibration of FID GC’s used for data generation.• Provide Technical support to maintenance personnel, engineers, technicians and technologists with respect to practical application of technical solutions.• Update Excel spread sheets, analyse and interpret the data and take corrective actions on the plant if it is required to keep the plant at stable operation.• Safely operate the plants according to SOP’s• Ensure safe plant start-up, normal operation and shutdown either as panel or field operator.• Safe product handling including:o Petrol and diesel cutso Various catalysts used on the fixed bed reactors.o Benzeneo DMDS (Dimethyl disulphide)o CTN (Coal Tar Naphtha)o Hydrocarbon waxes.• Report any deviations and incidents.• Keep record of all activities in a log and communicate clearly to everyone.• Manage self and be able to continue without the need to be instructed to do something specifically.• Writing and issuing of work permits. Show less • Supporting Fuels Research Blending and Logistics Team with the Secunda and NATREF clean fuels project by assisting with blending of the following:o Racing fuel for use around racetracks all around South Africa, containing a high-octane number.o New fuel mixtures for testing of new product specifications including: Additive performance Freeze point Cloud point D86 Corrosion performance Flash point Sulphur content Octane number, etc.o Collection of individual fuel components from commercial plants for blending projects at the Sasol Secunda refineries and NATREF refineries.• Safe product handling including:o Petrol and diesel cutso Benzeneo Butaneo Platformerso Petrol and diesel additiveso Various hydrocarbon products used to blend fuel componentso Fuel oil• Assist lab personnel in sample taking.• Make up blends according to a project scope of work and prepare samples.• Inject samples on various lab instruments for testing.• Update Excel spread sheets, analyze and interpret the data and take corrective actions.• Prepare samples for overseas shipping.• Dipping and ensuring correct stocking levels of above and below ground fuel tanks.• Assist maintenance personnel in tasks involving the safe making of equipment and conducting risk assessments as well as PDA’s.• Writing and issuing of work permits.• Ensure proper labeling of all sample containers and area demarcations. Show less • Safely operate plants in the slurry and synthol reactor areas:o Area containing: Gas clean up systems to remove impurities from the syngas like hydrogen sulphide and cyanide which damages the catalyst.• Water wash system• Guard bed system with activated carbon LTFT (Low Temperature Fischer Tropch) slurry phase piloting reactor systems. HTFT (High Temperature Fischer Tropch) fluidized bed piloting reactor systems. Gas compressors Online FID GCs (Gas chromatographs) Online MS (Mass Spectrometer) Chiller system for cooling water supply Flare system DeltaV DCS system Honeywell DCS system ASPEN Process Explorer• Working with a variety of chemicals including:o Iron & Cobalt catalysto Catalyst support materials, Alumina & Silica.o Paraffin’so Acetoneo Activated carbon.o Hot & Cold condensate o Reaction watero Waxo Synthol oil• Working with a variety of utilities including:o Fuel gaso Syngaso Hydrogeno Nitrogeno High, medium and low-pressure steamo Cooling watero Demin watero Fire water• Take samples according to SOPs and perform daily mass balances.• Ensure safe plant start-up, normal operation and shutdown either as panel or field operator.• Testing of new generation catalysts on pilot plants for commercial use, conducting baseline runs generating data to evaluating catalyst performances.• Run plants at different conditions according to a scope of work to test against baselines.• Assist maintenance personnel in tasks involving safe making of equipment and conducting pre-task risk assessments.• Providing technical support to maintenance personnel, engineers, technicians and technologists with respect to practical application of technical solutions.• Provide training to new employees.• Update Excel spread sheets, analyse and interpret the data and take corrective actions on the plant if it is required to keep the plant at stable operation.• General problem solving.• Write and issue work permits. Show less • Successful completion of all training theoretical and practical modules in both classroom and field activities.o Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business, national and international issues.o Use language and communication in occupational learning programs.o Understand applications of Physical Chemistry in a processing environment.o Represent analyze and calculate shape and motion in 2-and 3-dimensional space in different contexts.o Read/view, analyze and respond to a variety of texts.o Engage in sustained oral/signed communication and evaluate spoken/signed texts.o Apply knowledge of statistics and probability to critically interrogate and effectively communicate findings on life related problems. Show less • Successful completion of all training theoretical and practical modules in both classroom and field activities.o Perform one-to-one training on the job.o Interpret a variety of literary texts.o Write/present/sign texts for a range of communicative contexts.o Use operating instructions to control process plant conditions.o Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business and national issues.o Use language and communication in occupational learning programmes.o Solve operating problems in a process plant.o Respond to emergencies in a process environment.o Read and interpret process and instrumentation diagrams.o Perform statistical process control in a process environment.o Perform and support maintenance functions.o Investigate life and work-related problems using data and probabilities.o Interpret and use information from texts.o Identify and interpret instrument control loops.o Dismantle, assemble and install basic components in a process environment.o Describe, apply, analyse and calculate shape and motion in 2-and 3-dimensional space in different contexts.o Demonstrate understanding of the principles of kinematics in physics.o Demonstrate understanding of solid-vapour and surface-based separation processes.o Demonstrate understanding of employment relations in an organisation.o Demonstrate an understanding of the use of different number bases and measurement units and an awareness of error in the context of relevant calculations.o Apply safety, health and environment protection procedures in a process plant.o Apply quality procedures in a process plant.o Apply knowledge of chemical reactions in a processing environment.o Accommodate audience and context needs in oral/signed communication.o Use a Graphical User Interface (GUI)-based spreadsheet application to solve a given problem.o Use a Graphical User Interface (GUI)-based database application to work with simple databases. 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  • Junior Technologist

    Jul 2013 - Mar 2015

  • Junior Technologist

    Jan 2013 - Jun 2013

  • Junior Technologist

    Jul 2012 - Dec 2012

  • Learner Technician

    Feb 2011 - Jun 2012

  • Learner Chemical Operations Level 4

    Feb 2010 - Jan 2011

  • Learner Chemical Operations Level 3

    Feb 2009 - Jan 2010

  • Learner Chemical Operations Level 2

    Feb 2008 - Jan 2009
• 

  Sasol

  May 2015 - Jan 2022

  • Ensure site compliance to GMR 2.1 requirements as per OSHA.• Comprehensively manage installations & maintenance of laboratory instruments, equipment and utilities.• Working with different laboratory equipment to determine product properties and make-up, including Gas Chromatograms, Density, Viscosity, Energy Content, Cloud Point Pour Point and Flash Point.• Perform laboratory analysis on a variety of different fuel-based products including Petrol, Diesel, Jet Fuel, Fuel Oils and more.• Reading and interpreting technical documentation, performing daily mass balances.• Producing various reports, presentations, analyses, correspondence and other documentation.• Performing as a strong leader of a cohesive team with strict enforcement of health, safety and statutory regulations, quality standards, governance processes and compliance requirements.• Ensuring adherence to production schedules, record deviations.• Ensure safe installation and execution of MOCs in area of responsibility adhering to all procedures according to MOC procedures, HAZOP and Risk Studies.• Loading of maintenance requests on SAP and PPO, approving quotations, overseeing maintenance activities and keeping record of all activities taking place on site.• Establishing, implementing and overseeing effective systems, processes and controls like Permit to Work, Pre-Task Risk Assessments procedures, effectively managing service providers and contractors on site.• Updating of P&IDs and making sure all drawings are up to standard and indicating all relevant equipment and information.• Overseeing daily operations with meticulous attention to detail and providing regular feedback.• Supervising, coaching, training, motivating and mentoring personnel.• Building strong working relationships and effective communication channels with key stakeholders.• Handling emergency situations acting as Area Emergency or Floor Controller. Show less • Handle emergency situations (FER’s-Fires, Explosions & Releases) that could arise, by communicating to the factory, emergency services and works emergency team.o Testing public address system daily.o Weekly testing of factory fire and gas alarm systems.o Inform factory of adverse weather conditions.• Optimize and maintain site stability during site deviations, plant upsets or emergencies.• Coordinate and monitor distribution of gas, products and utilities in Sasolburg Operations.o Check plant statuses.o Use DeltaV DCS.o Use PI Process book historian.o Ensure adherence to production schedules, record deviations.o Daily feedback of previous day’s performance and production issues that will impact schedule.o Capture production data for ATOS/ATOP as per the daily assurance requirements.o Identify production threats and recommend actions and initiate communication protocol to mitigate risks.o Safely execute cutback/deviation philosophies during deviation conditions.o Safe start up and shut down of the Sasolburg 1 site.• Sustainably maximise Sasol’s profitability through structured execution and management of the production schedule.o Perform daily mass balances.o Active record keeping by using shift log sheets to keep track of all actions and deviations.o Identify open vents, flares and purge lines.o Recommend improvement opportunities to maximize plant production and/or stabilize processes.• Integration and optimisation of the production value chain.• Allocate flare losses according to established flare allocation philosophy• Areas of responsibility include:o Gas value chain and waxes (ATR, Rectisol, Ammonia, Methanol Reactor, Slurry bed Reactors, Wax Work Up and Solidification)o Nitro (Nitric Acid, Ammonium Nitrate and Prillan)o Solvents (Methanol, MIBKs, Paraffin’s etc.)o Phenolics (ATAR, TNPE, NBASE and Cresol)o Utilities (Air Products, Water Works, Steam and Power Stations, SGEPP and Fuel gas.) Show less Safely operate plants in the separation areas:o Glass area – Containing various glass distillation and liquid-liquid extraction columns for product separation. (Buchi, E2, Scheibel, Superfrac) Working with a variety of chemicals including, HOW (High Organic Waste), CTN (Coal Tar Naphtha), Benzene and various other hydrocarbons derived from the petrochemical industry.o Perform various fractionations from feed products according to project scope of work into different cuts according to product specification.o Take samples and run samples on GCs (Gas Chromatographs).o Ensure safe plant start-up, normal operation and shutdown either as panel or field operator.o Assemble glass columns according to required scope of work with correct internals and piping.o Assist maintenance personnel in tasks involving safe making of equipment and conducting pre-task risk assessments.• Providing technical support to maintenance personnel, engineers, technicians and technologists with respect to practical application of technical solutions.• Provide training to new employees.• Update Excel spread sheets, analyze and interpret the data and take corrective actions on the plant if it is required to keep the plant at stable operation.• Perform daily mass balances on the plant.• General problem solving.• Write and issue work permits.• Load electronic job cards or notifications on SAP for maintenance activities.• Provide input during HAZOP studies, modifications and writing of safe operating procedures.• Work as a team or individually to reach goals and targets allocated.• Develop process flow diagrams (PDFs) and piping and instrument diagrams (P&IDs), ensuring all plant drawings are up to date and correct.• Maintain process safety management (PSM) system for the shift and ensure all employees complete monthly inspections.• Lead potential deviation analysis (PDAs) on shift.• Act as shift foreman and team leader when needed. Show less • Ensure baseline risk assessments are conducted, implemented and effective in the R&T committees responsible for.• Ensure R&T risk profile is properly managed, up to date and maintained continuously with regard to the risks identified making sure controls are in place and effective.• Ensure R&T bowties are correct and effective and relate to R&T risk profile.• Partake successful SHE 1st, 2nd and 3rd party audits at R&T.• Conducting daily plant/lab/site visits monitoring daily activities, maintaining a safe environment for all employees and contractors on site.• Stopping any unsafe activities on the spot.• Reporting, recording and investigation of all incidents.• Raising and addressing any safety concerns.• Provide guidance to R&T personnel regarding any SHE related queries or referring them to the right people whenever he is unable assist.• Continuously building relationships with colleagues and contractors to ensure we maintain a safe working environment for all.• Sharing of learnings and insights of SHE related incidents.• Perform SHE standby duties on the R&T campus.• Actively participate in high risk task risk assessments and PDAs.• Conduct permit to work audits weekly.• Partake in housekeeping, management and committee cross inspections.• Provide assistance and guidance to pilot plant personnel with regard to IMS inspections and how to address deviations.• Participate in the pilot plant morning meetings.• Participate in SHE meetings and providing feedback when needed.• Provide weekly feedback to R&T management regarding SHE related activities on site. Show less • Initiation and implementation of modifications in the pilot plant environment.• Testing of new generation catalysts on LTFT (low temperature Fischer Tropch) slurry phase reactors at the pilot plants for commercial use, conducting baseline runs generating data to evaluating catalyst performances.• Successful operation and monitoring of LTFT slurry phase reactors supporting commercial plants and projects.• Ensure effective operation of pilot plants by providing technical support to operations and maintenance personnel, engineers, technologists with respect to practical application of technical solutions in the plant.• Update Excel spread sheets, analyse and interpret the data and take corrective actions on the plant if it is required to keep the plant at stable operation.• Conducting of daily mass balances on plants worked on and preparation of morning reports.• Ensure plants are run according to the project scope of work, liaising with clients.• Provide guidance to operations personnel on shift with plant operation.• Report any deviations and incidents ensuring incidents are properly investigated as part of a team.• Ensure sample quality and repeatability is maintained with proper monitoring, tracking and labelling system.• Writing of end of run reports.• Writing of month end reports on plants worked on.• Writing of SOPs related to modifications executed.• Writing and issuing of daily instructions to operations personnel.• Updating of plant run schedules planning runs, shutdowns, modifications and other activities related to the plant.• Take part in the morning meetings giving valuable input regarding daily activities, priorities and risks.• Participate in HAZOP studies, LOPAs and PSM related activities. 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  • Technologist

    Jun 2021 - Jan 2022

  • Process Coordinator

    Jan 2019 - May 2021

  • Junior Technologist

    Apr 2018 - Dec 2018

  • Junior Technologist

    Apr 2017 - Mar 2018

  • Junior Technologist

    May 2015 - Mar 2017
• 

  University of Southern Queensland

  Feb 2023 - Feb 2024

  - Assisted students with inquiries and provided comprehensive support on university-related matters.- Served as the first point of contact for student inquiries through various channels, including phone, email, chat, and face-to-face interactions.- Utilized effective communication skills to address student questions and concerns professionally and efficiently.- Demonstrated excellent problem-solving skills in resolving student issues and finding appropriate solutions.- Maintained a high level of professionalism while delivering exceptional customer service to ensure student satisfaction.- Escalating incidents and calls to the relevant teams when required to do so.- Guided students in selecting the right program, providing information on courses and classes.- Assisted students throughout the enrollment process, ensuring a smooth transition into their chosen programs. Show less

  • ICT Student Support Assistant

    Oct 2023 - Feb 2024

  • Masters Student

    Feb 2022 - Nov 2023

  • IConnect Concierge

    Feb 2023 - Sept 2023
• 

  CITEC

  Feb 2024 - now

  Graduate / Cloud Technician

  As a Graduate / Cloud Technician, I manage and optimize VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), vSphere, vCloud Director, and cloud automation projects. My work focuses on virtual infrastructure administration, automation scripting, cloud migrations, and service optimization, ensuring efficient and secure cloud operations for the Queensland Government.Key Responsibilities & Achievements:• VMware Administration & Cloud Infrastructure:o Manage vSphere, vCenter Server, ESXi, and vCloud Director to ensure system stability, performance, and security.o Lead patching projects for vCenter and ESXi clusters, implementing a structured change management approach.o Assist in migrating workloads from legacy environments to HPE Synergy running VCF, enhancing scalability and reliability.• Cloud Automation & Infrastructure Optimizationo Develop PowerCLI & Python scripts to automate VM provisioning, monitoring, and system configuration, reducing manual workload.o Implement automated workflows in VMware Aria Orchestrator, improving deployment efficiency and consistency.o Support Cisco UCS & HPE Synergy infrastructure, managing firmware updates and server profiles.• Service Management & Stakeholder Collaboration:o Manage incidents, service requests, and change approvals in ServiceNow, ensuring clear documentation and timely resolution.o Work closely with clients, internal teams, and vendors (Broadcom, HPE) to troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues.o Take initiative in cloud security administration, managing VCF password policies and access controls..• Key Projects & Successes:o Cloud Migration & Modernization: Assisted in migrating workloads from legacy VMware environments to HPE Synergy running VCF, improving performance and security.o VMware Automation Framework: Designed automated workflows for cloud services, reducing deployment times.o Security & Compliance: Managed password administration for VMware Cloud Foundation, ensuring compliance with best practices. Show less