Category Archives: Engineering

Forget the Medium Term

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Tim Newman

Royal Marine officer friend of mine, who took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003, explained to me how he coped during a particularly fierce action.  Paraphrasing: “Well, it was complete chaos and I didn’t really know what was … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering | 3 Comments

The Best Business in the World

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Tim Newman

I have heard the following quote attributed to both J.D. Rockefeller and John Paul Getty, although I have been unable to verify its actual source.  Not that it matters, as it’s as true as true can be: The best business … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering, Oil & Gas, Recruitment | 6 Comments

Buncefield Incident Revisited

Posted on December 31, 2008 by Tim Newman

Anyone remember the explosion at the Buncefield fuel depot in December 2005?  At the time I wrote this: Being a risk engineer in the oil and gas business and all that, here’s my take on it: the root cause is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering, Oil & Gas | 4 Comments

If oil companies ran resturants…

Posted on September 21, 2008 by Tim Newman

…they’d be something like this. (A middle-aged couple emerge from a taxi, smiling, happy, looking forward to an evening of good food and fine wines in each other’s company.  They enter the door of the restuarant, over which is displayed a sign reading: “11,541 Dishes Served Without … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering, Oil & Gas | 5 Comments

Engineering Consultants’ Standing Orders

Posted on August 17, 2006 by Tim Newman

(Based on Rogers’ Rangers Standing Orders)  1.  Don’t sign nothing. 2.  Have your CV clean as a whistle, job market scoured, 30 days notice given, and be ready to quit the project at a minute’s warning. 3.  When you’re late … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering | 5 Comments

If engineering consultants ran restaurants…

Posted on June 7, 2006 by Tim Newman

…they’d be something like this. Waiter: Evening sir!  Are you ready to order? Customer: Yes…I’d like the fillet steak please, done rare.  And a bottle of your red Chateaux Neuf de Pape to go with it. Waiter: (scribbling away) No problem, … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering | 8 Comments

Chernobyl and Nuclear Power

Posted on April 27, 2006 by Tim Newman

Normally I agree with Sean Guillory when he writes about Russian and ex-Soviet affairs, but I must take issue with the penultimate paragraph of his latest post: In addition, what is more disconcerting is that the lesson of Chernobyl and the dangers … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering, USSR | 7 Comments

UK Fuel Depot Explosions

Posted on December 11, 2005 by Tim Newman

Reports have been coming in about an enormous explosion at a fuel depot in Hemel Hempstead, north of London: Three large explosions have rocked a fuel depot near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire shooting flames hundreds of feet into the sky. … Continue reading →

Posted in Engineering | 15 Comments

Shake Zayed Road

Posted on November 28, 2005 by Tim Newman

Yesterday residents of the UAE we all excited about the occurence of an earthquake in Iran which was felt by those in the northern emirates and part of Dubai. This is interesting for me, because the company I signed up … Continue reading →

Posted in Dubai, Engineering | Comments Off