Brian Skeels, adjunct professor with the subsea engineering program at the University of Houston, received the 2018 Distinguished Achievement Award for Individuals at the Offshore Technology Conference – one of the biggest energy expositions in the world – on May 1.
“To be recognized with the giants of the offshore industry is truly humbling,” Skeels said. “My career has been filled with wonderful mentors and leaders, some of whom have been recipients of this award.”
The award recognizes Skeels for his pioneering new subsea completions in record water depths and the development of new tieback connections that have redefined industry standards. His innovative designs in subsea completions – systems of pipes, connections and valves on the ocean floor that gather hydrocarbons produced from completed wells – held world record water depths from 1986 through 2010 and established the first 10,000 pounds per square inch (psi) and 15,000 psi subsea completions in the Gulf of Mexico.