About Us

   COMPANY HISTORY

Most of our engineering staff has in excess of 25 years experience in the Natural Gas/Oil Industry and together, we have the know-how to solve your problems and assist you in taking advantage of your opportunities.

ENGINEERING STAFF

    MARK J. LANE, P.E.

   BRANDON R. BAKER

   CHRISTOPHER L. BROWN, P.E.

   RICHARD A. CADLE

   JIM M. CROLEY

   JOHNNY D. HARRIS

   GARY C. MCCOY

   JAMES R. MURFF, P.E.

   TED C. WATSON, P.E.

DRAFTING/DESIGN STAFF

Our CAD staff is experienced in the latest version of AutoCAD® and Piping Software available. We have the capability to convert hand-drawn board drawings and hand-drawn field sketches to AutoCAD®. NAI employs CAD Designers and CAD Operators.

   SAM S. HUSTON

   MORRIE HEADLEY

GIS STAFF

Our GIS staff is experienced in the latest version of ESRI ArcGIS® mapping software available. We have the ability to capture GPS and survey data for creating planning and permitting maps. Data can be used for both AutoCAD® and hydraulic system models.

   JAMES R. THOMPSON

   JENNIFER L. ALEXANDER

 


MARK J. LANE, P.E.

POSITIONS

PRESENT: President
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: District Mechanical Engineer - Sun Exploration & Production Company
Mechanical Engineer - Sun Gas Company

EXPERIENCE

Over 28 years experience in the oil and gas industry. Technical experience includes design, cost estimating, scheduling, equipment specifications, and construction specifications for pump stations, compressor stations, oil and gas production facilities, gas treating facilities, gas processing, and pipelines. Project management experience includes economic evaluation, engineering and construction management, and preventive maintenance programs. Technical support experience includes efficiency and optimization studies on compressors, pumping units, gas gathering systems, gas processing plants, pipeline upgrades and certifications, and air quality regulatory permitting.

EDUCATION

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 1980

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana
Society of Petroleum Engineers

 


BRANDON R. BAKER

POSITIONS

PRESENT: Senior Consultant
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: Senior Engineer, Engineer I and II - Devon Gas Services, LP

EXPERIENCE

Over 5 years in the oil and gas industry. Technical experience includes compressor, pipeline & pipeline facilities simulation, design, specification and construction and project management for a gas processing plant installation. Technical support experience includes facilities design, scheduling, and project management.

EDUCATION

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 2004

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Texas Board of Professional Engineers, EIT
Colorado Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, EIT

 


CHRISTOPHER L. BROWN

POSITIONS

Principle - Tower Concepts
Sr. Manager - Lucent Technologies
Sr. Manager - Fujitsu Network Services
Sr. Engineer - GTE International
Civil Construction Manager - Qwest
Civil/Structural Engineer - MCI Telecommunications
Civil/Structural Engineer - Grasis Corporation

PRESENT: Senior Consultant
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS:

EXPERIENCE

Over 30 years of experience working in the civil engineering field supporting various industries nationally and internationally. Technical experience includes civil engineering design and analysis of steel and concrete structures coupled with project and program management. Design experience includes lattice towers, masonry buildings, concrete foundations, and unique structures. Project management experience includes planning, design, and construction supervision of technical sites, including written detailed implementation plans. Operations management experience with all financial reporting, budgeting, scheduling, and purchasing of major capital project materials along with providing a liaison with Federal, State, and Local authorities regarding permitting, zoning issues, and legal testimony. Technical writing experience developing civil engineering specifications and standards documents.

EDUCATION

M.S. Engineering (Electrical Department), Southern Methodist University, 1992
M.B.A. University of Texas, 1988
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Missouri, 1977

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Registered Professional Engineer in Texas
American Society of Civil Engineers

 


RICK A. CADLE

POSITIONS

PRESENT: Senior Consultant
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: Director of GTL Engineering and Evaluation, Senior Principal Process Engineer - ARCO
Manager of Plant Engineering - American Quasar Petroleum
Senior Process Engineer - Cabot-Tuco

EXPERIENCE

Over 30 years engineering experience in the pipeline and gas processing industries. Technical experience includes process simulation, process design, equipment specification, and project engineering for the installation of gas gathering and dehydration facilities, field compression, gas treating, and gas gathering facilities. Related experience includes engineering management, plant and pipeline optimization studies, cost estimating, economic evaluation for new capital projects, and technical support for asset evaluation of gas gathering and processing properties.

EDUCATION

B.S. Chemical and Petroleum Refining Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1972

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Society of Petroleum Engineers

 


JIM M. CROLEY

POSITIONS

PRESENT: Senior Consultant
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS:

Senior Electrical Engineer, Design Electrical Engineer - Texas Instruments
Technical Sales Representative - Square D Company

EXPERIENCE

Technical experience includes design of low voltage power distribution and industrial controls, and design of low, medium and high voltage switchgear, unit substations and control devices. Project Management experience includes project coordination and budget management, and site utility management activities. 

EDUCATION

B.S. Electrical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University, 1977

 


JOHNNY D. HARRIS

POSITIONS

PRESENT: Senior Consultant
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: Project Manager - Devon Gas Services, L.P.
Chief Supervision Engineer - Universal Cayman, Inc.
Project Engineer - Gulf Interstate Engineering Company
District Engineer - Valero Natural Gas Companies / PG&E Gas Transmission Texas
Senior Engineer - Valero Transmission Company
Senior/Principal Engineer - Gulf Interstate Engineering Company
Engineer - Conoco

EXPERIENCE

Over 35 years in the oil and gas pipeline industry. Technical experience includes preliminary and final design, cost estimating, scheduling, equipment specification, construction specifications and service specifications for field gathering, metering and regulating stations, gas dehydration stations, gas treating, pump stations, terminals, and mainline pipelines; some were in severe environmental conditions (desert, arctic, and offshore). Project management experience includes preparation of proposal, preliminary planning, economic evaluation, investment feasibility studies, project organization, right-of-way and permits acquisition, and engineering and construction management. Operations management experience includes supervision of mechanical, construction, and corrosion personnel. Day-to-day activities included facilities design, scheduling, cost estimating, procurement of material and equipment, AFE preparation and approval, contractor selection, and AFE completion packages, and preparation of capital and O&M budget estimates. Technical support experience includes pipeline upgrade and certification, development of compressor maintenance and utilization plan, PSM compliance program, and emergency operating and evacuation plans.

EDUCATION

B.S. Civil Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, 1974

 


GARY C. MCCOY

POSITIONS

PRESENT: Senior Consultant
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: Operations Manager – David H. Arrington Oil & Gas, Inc./Peregrine Pipeline Company, LLP
Project Engineer, Sr. Process Engineer, Gas Operations Engineer – Sid Richardson Energy Services Co.
Senior Process Engineer – Cabot Corporation
Refinery Process Engineer – Hudson Refining, Inc.
Project Engineer – Monsanto Corporation

EXPERIENCE

Over 26 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Technical experience includes project management of pipeline and compression operations, construction and permitting, and pipeline simulation studies and design. Related experience includes process efficiency studies, feasibility studies, project economics, cost estimating, and generation of AFEs.

EDUCATION

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, 1978

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

 


JAMES R. MURFF, P.E.

POSITIONS

PRESENT: Senior Consultant
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: Engineering Manager/Project Manager - Regency Gas Services
Engineering Manager/Project Manager - ROC Gas Company (SandRidge Energy)
Project Manager/Project Engineer - Nicholas Consulting Group, Inc.
Process Engineer - REF-CHEM Corporation
Shift Supervisor/Process Engineer - Temple-Inland Beached Paperboard Mill

EXPERIENCE

Over 13 years in the oil and gas industry. Technical experience includes process simulation, process design, equipment specification, and project engineering for upgrades and installation of gas gathering & processing facilities, field compression, pipelines, and water injection facilities. Project management experience includes economic evaluation, permits acquisition, optimization studies, and engineering and construction management. Operations management experience includes supervision of engineering, construction, corrosion, and field personnel. Technical support experience includes facilities design, scheduling, cost estimating, procurement of material and equipment, cause and effect diagrams and SAFE charts.

EDUCATION

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, 1995

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Registered Professional Engineer in Texas
American Institute of Chemical Engineers

 


TED C. WATSON, P.E.

POSITIONS

PRESENT: Senior Consultant
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: Senior Project Engineer - Cantera
Senior Engineer - Star Natural Gas
Senior Project Development Representative, Senior Project Engineer - Enserch Processing
Senior Engineer - Halliburton Resource Management
Process Engineer - Hudson Engineering
Project Engineer - Lone Star Gas Company
Process Engineer - H.E. Wiese
Process Engineer - Fluor Corp.
Engineer - Shell Oil Company

EXPERIENCE

Over 35 years experience in the gas processing and engineering and construction business. Technical experience includes process design, equipment specifications, and project management for the installation of gas treating and processing plants, gas dehydration facilities, and field compression. Other experience includes the optimization of processing plants and the economic evaluation of capital expenditures and asset acquisitions in the gas gathering and processing industry.

EDUCATION

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University, 1962

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Registered Professional Engineer in Texas
Texas Society of Professional Engineers
National Society of Professional Engineers

 


SAM S. HUSTON

POSITIONS

PRESENT: Senior Designer
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: Designer - Forney Corporation
Self Employed Draft/Design Contractor - SSH Drafting Services
Designer - Grimm Engineering Inc.

EXPERIENCE

Over 15 years experience in the oil & gas and environmental business. Technical experience includes civil, electrical, and mechanical drafting/design. Generate Process Flow Diagrams, Isometric Drawings, Piping & Instrument Diagrams, and foundation drawings utilizing AutoCAD® software. Experience also includes generating 3D Plant Piping drawings utilizing COADE® CADWorx software.

EDUCATION

American Trades Institute - Career Training Center Dallas, TX, 1990-1991
Stephen F. Austin State University
Levelland Community College
Collin County Community College

 


MORRIE HEADLEY

POSITIONS

PRESENT: Senior Designer
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: Contract Principal Designer – WorleyParsons
Senior Designer II – MWH Americas
Contract Senior Piping Designer – Nofsinger, Inc.
Drafting Supervisor, Senior Piping Designer – Perry Equipment Co.
Contract Senior Piping Designer, Group Leader – Hoechst Celanese Chemical Corp.
Drafting Supervisor – Enertek, Inc.
Drafter II – Perry Gas Processors Inc.; El Paso Products Inc.

EXPERIENCE

Over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Technical experience includes piping/mechanical drafting/design. Generate Piping & Instrument Diagrams, equipment layout drawings, pressure vessel design drawings, and site plan design utilizing MicroStation and AutoCAD® software.

EDUCATION

B.S. Wayland Baptist University, 1996
A.S. Industrial Drafting, Oklahoma State Tech, 1975

 


JAMES R. THOMPSON

POSITIONS

PRESENT: GIS Analyst
Nicol & Associates, Inc.

EXPERIENCE

Technical experience includes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - (ESRI ArcGIS®), Map/Air Photo Analysis, Remote Sensing.

EDUCATION

B.A. English Literature, University of North Texas, 2004

 


JENNIFER L. ALEXANDER

POSITIONS

PRESENT: GIS Analyst
Nicol & Associates, Inc.
   
PREVIOUS: CAD Operator - Nicol & Associates, Inc.

EXPERIENCE

Technical experience includes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – (ESRI ArcGIS®) and AutoCAD® drafting.

EDUCATION

B.B.A. Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management, University of North Texas, 2001
Graduate Studies in GIS, University of Texas at Dallas, present

 

Thank you for your interest. We look forward to hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, please email us at: nicol@nicolandassoc.com