Bison is a multi-disciplined engineering firm specializing in failure analysis, forensic engineering and fire sciences with a team of P.E.'s who have performed thousands of forensic assignments including in excess of 1,000 fuel gas investigations.

Legal professionals turn to Bison to scientifically conduct investigations to determine the cause of destructive events. Forensic Engineers provide expert testimony and consultation. Investigations include explosions, fires, carbon monoxide incidents, electrical fires and failures, structural failures, mechanical failures, accident reconstruction, specialized testing, and courtroom presentations:

Fuel Gas Incidents: Fire and Explosion Causation; Propane Explosions, Natural Gas Explosion, Gas Delivery Systems; Carbon Monoxide Testing and Evaluation, Production and Migration Investigations; Plant & Pipeline, Piping Evaluation; Operational Analysis; Appliance Evaluation; Code Compliance; Soil Gas Migration; Vapor Dispersion

Fire Investigation and Explosion Analysis: Cause and Origin, Scene Documentation; Collection of Evidence; Certified Fire Investigator

Electrical Engineering: Electrically Related Fires, Electrical Service and Wiring Failures, Production Facility Service and Controls for Chemical, Petroleum, and Distribution Facilities, Electrical Contacts, Electrocutions; Lightning Strikes

Mechanical Engineering: Equipment Design and Operation; High-Pressure Oilfield Equipment; Pump Design and Operation; HVAC Systems; High and Low-Pressure Seals; Plastic Part Design and Manufacture, Industrial Equipment

Accident Reconstruction: Accident Sequence Reconstruction; Speed, Time and Distance Calculations; Crush Damage; Braking; Steering and Mechanical Analysis, including Tires; Electrical System / Electronic Failures; Mechanical and Fuel Systems; Airbag and Seatbelt Fatalities/Injuries; Staged Vehicle Impact

Failure Analysis: Industrial Equipment, Vehicle Impacts, Airbags and Seat Belts; Elevator Failures; Helmet and other Protective Equipment Failures; Infant Crib Design Inadequacies; Carbon Monoxide Investigations, Crane Failures, etc.

Metallurgical Engineering: Metal Fatigue of Gas Compressor Components; Electrical Contact Evaluations; Cracking of Structural Plastics; Chemical Analysis; Corrosion & Stress Evaluation and Analysis; SEM Analysis; Electron/Optical Microscopy; X-ray Examination

Bison's clients argue their cases with confidence, secure in the knowledge that their claims are based on unbiased, scientific data.

Douglas C. Buchan is an energy expert with over 40 years expertise in the gas and petroleum industry.

Mr. Buchan served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy, and as a consultant for the United States Government as a gas and petroleum expert. He served as a member of the White House, Special Assistant to the President for Public Liaison and the Special Assistant to the President for Consumer Affairs teams.

Successful Case Completion

Over 300 Natural Gas and Propane Gas Related Fire, Explosion and Carbon Monoxide Cases

Over 150 Petroleum Product Cases, Gasoline, Diesel Fuel and Hazardous Materials Related Cases

Areas of Expertise:

Regulations and Standards, Policy and Procedures Operations and Maintenance

Management

Training

Installations

Safety and Oversight

Fire and Explosions Origin and Cause related to fuel gases

Jason R. Babcock, PhD - Chemistry and Materials Consulting

Dr. Babcock has formal training in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and materials property analysis. He has specialized throughout his career in the role that materials contribute to the limitations and failures of products and systems. He has substantial experience in a variety of materials, corrosion, measurement instrumentation, materials testing, materials processing and processing equipment, chemistry, R&D practices, and project management. Dr. Babcock has a broad General Chemistry knowledge that is invaluable to understanding the interaction of materials on a molecular level. He has extensive experience designing and building experimental apparatus and performing analytical testing of a wide variety of materials, interpreting the results, and providing detailed reports summarizing the findings. He can provide practical and comprehensive testing that is independent and unbiased. He has practical experience performing a broad range of tests to determine the strength, physical, chemical, and wear properties of metals, ceramics, composites, and plastics. Dr. Babcock is the author of over forty technical papers and holds five patents. View Curriculum Vitae.

Richard J. M. Bidwell, PE - Chemical, Industrial Incident Investigator

Ric Bidwell is a Licensed Professional Chemical Engineer that brings to ITC Expert Services nearly 30 years of multidisciplinary engineering experience. He has fully utilized his diverse hands-on experience in the national and international investigations of fires and explosions involving residential, commercial, chemical industrial facilities and heavy equipment. He has also been responsible for failure analysis and incident investigations relating to industrial and chemical processes or process equipment, chemical exposure, industrial accidents and safety.

Mr. Bidwell has nearly two decades of experience in all engineering aspects of chemical processing and industrial plant operations, including design, maintenance, safety and bulk material handling and transportation. Clients have included major petroleum and chemical producers, fuel gas companies and suppliers, the United States Chemical Hazard and Safety Board (CSB) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Mr. Bidwell Specializes in:

Fire and Explosion Investigation Natural Gas, LP and Propane Systems Chemical and Industrial Processes Industrial Incident Investigations Chemical Release and Exposure Bulk Material Transportation Incident Investigation

Plumbing, Piping and Pumping Systems Combustion & Heating Equipment Industrial and Commercial Safety Industrial and Heavy Equipment HVAC and Refrigeration Equipment

View Curriculum Vitae.

Kevin Pedersen, CFI, CFEI - Director, Fire Investigations

Mr. Pedersen, an investigator for over sixteen years, has extensive training in fire and explosion investigation techniques and experience in many forensic disciplines. He is certified in fire, explosion and arson investigation, holding both CFI (Certified Fire Investigator) and CFEI (Certified Fire and Explosions Investigator) certifications from the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI), respectively. He is an Illinois licensed Private Detective, a Wisconsin licensed Private Detective, and a trained and accomplished evidence photographer. He has worked on investigations for both civil and criminal cases involving industrial accidents, traffic accidents and fires involving injuries, fatalities and property damage. He has also worked on criminal investigations involving surveillance, assault and battery, and homicides occurring during shootings, cases of arson, and bombings. Mr. Pedersen spent five years as a major crimes investigator for the City of Chicago Police Department in their Bomb and Arson Unit where he investigated over 1,000 incidents involving many major crimes. His experience includes incidents and explosions involving natural gas and propane, as well as residential and industrial fires, and fires in machinery and appliances. View Curriculum Vitae.

Florida Office:
Andrew Avalon, PE, PSP
President
8633 Willow Kane Court
Orlando, FL 32835
T: (407) 445-0825
F: (407) 445-0821

Long International provides expert claims analysis, dispute resolution, and project management services to the Process Plant Engineering and Construction industry worldwide. Our primary focus is on petroleum refining, petrochemical, chemical, oil and gas production, mining/mineral processing, power, cogeneration, and other process plant and industrial projects. We also have extensive experience in hospital, commercial and industrial building, pipeline, wastewater, highway and transit, heavy civil, microchip manufacturing, and airport projects.

Richard J. Long, PE, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Long International has over 40 years of U.S. and international consulting experience involving construction contract disputes analysis and resolution, arbitration/litigation support and expert testimony, project management, engineering / construction management, cost and schedule control, and process engineering. As an internationally recognized expert in the analysis and resolution of complex construction disputes for over 25 years, Mr. Long has served as the lead expert on over 300 projects having claims ranging in size from US$100,000 to over US$1 billion.



Andrew Avalon, PE, PSP is President of Long International and has over 28 years of engineering, construction management and claims consulting experience. He is an expert in the preparation and evaluation of construction claims, business interruption claims, schedule delay analysis, arbitration/litigation support and dispute resolution. He has prepared more than thirty CPM schedule analyses, written expert witness reports, and supported attorneys in depositions, cross-examinations, mediations and settlement negotiations. Mr. Avalon has analyzed construction schedules for owners and contractors to determine the causes of construction delays and to equitably allocate responsibility for delay-related costs.

W. Tom Thweatt is a Principal with Long International and has over 40 years of engineering, construction, and management consulting experience. He has extensive experience in major U.S. and international refining, chemical, petrochemical, pipeline, infrastructure and thermal / hydroelectric power generation projects ranging from US$40 million to US$1.8 billion. He has worked extensively in projects that were executed by multi-national joint ventures on both the owner's and the contractor's sides. Mr. Thweatt has served on Joint Venture and Consortium Executive Committees and has participated directly in claims negotiations and settlement agreements in excess of US$100 million.

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S. Douglas Devoy has over 30 years experience in Marine and Offshore Oil and Gas Industry acting as Senior Vice President / Director of Matthews-Daniel Company, Houston, Texas with worldwide group responsibility for Marine Surveys. He supervises staff and performs all types of Marine related Surveys including Wet and Dry Ocean Transport of Rigs, Structures, Modules and Equipment, Trip-in-Tow Surveys, Loss Investigations, Safety and Valuation Surveys or Marine Equipment and Warranty Surveys, and Location Approvals.

Mr. Devoy has Coordinated Salvage Efforts and Negotiated Salvage Contracts on behalf of Underwriters and Owners. He has also supervised all aspects of Ocean Tows / Voyages including all Engineering Aspects. Adjusting Marine and Energy Related Losses.

Areas of Expertise Include:

Marine Surveying of Offshore Oil and Gas Industry

Marine Accident Investigation Naval Architecture

Marine Engineering

Engineering Technology

Accident Investigation and Loss Adjustment for Offshore Oil and Gas Industry

Valuations for Offshore Oil & Gas Industry Assets

Michael A. Jacobs has over 40 years experience in the Maritime and Offshore Oil and Gas Industries including an Active Seagoing Career as an Deck Officer on Tankers and Bulk Carriers, Terminal Controller in a Container Terminal responsible for the Loading and Discharging of Ocean-Going Container Vessels, and Master / Offshore Installation Manager of Semi-Submersible Drilling Rigs. Capt.Jacobs is also a Marine Surveyor involved with all types of surveys in the offshore industry including Towages, Heavy Lift Transportation, Damage Surveys, Installation of Oil Related Structures, Modules and Equipment, Rig Move Attendance and Rig Location Approval.

Areas of Expertise Include:

Marine Operations in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry Admiralty; Accidents Involving Dock, Shipboard and Offshore Cranes Anchor-handling, Towing and Mooring Incidents Swing Rope and Personnel Basket Worker Transfer Accidents Pipeline Damage Cargo and Cargo Container Damage

Hurricane and Heavy Weather Damage Mooring System Failures Anchor-handling Operational Failures Towing System failures Rig Moves Mobile Offshore Drilling Units Collision

Mr. D.E. Hansen, M.E. founded Piping Analysis Incorporated (PAI) in 1972 as a full service Engineering Company specializing in Piping, Mechanical, Machinery, and Civil / Structural Design Problems. Originally serving the local Gulf Coast region (Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi), PAI has seen tremendous growth in its business and now solves complex engineering problems all over the world. The results of their work are presently operating throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

PAI understands that efficiency loss and shut-downs cut deeply into the bottom line. PAI will work around the clock to provide the correct answers as quickly as possible and you can expect the most workable, cost-effective solution.

Areas of Expertise:

Piping Stress & Flexibility Finite Element Analysis CFD & Fluid Flow Heat Transfer Vibration Failure Analysis

Plant Design Civil & Structural Construction Drawings Project Scheduling Design Review Construction Follow-Up

James A. Polk, PE is an Executive Level Consultant with comprehensive Business Management Experience, including Marketing, Sales, and Manufacturing for the Asphalt, Energy and Petroleum Industries. He is noted for building high performance teams which generate increased profit and continuous improvements in cost, quality, and service.

Mr. Polk was employed in petroleum, asphalt and energy related businesses by Oldcastle Materials and Chevron Corp. At Oldcastle, he was responsible for the manufacturing, acquisition and distribution of raw materials and energy for a $2.7 billion revenue highway construction and materials business. Mr. Polk also managed business acquisitions for the western US and provided business consultation to European operations.

James Polk is currently the President of Polk Associates, LLC and a full time Petroleum Industry Consultant.

Associations:

• Former Director of The Asphalt Institute
• Member American Society of Mechanical Engineer
• Member Airplane Owners and Pilots Association
• Accredited Senior Appraiser - American Society of Appraisers
• Accredited Senior Appraiser - National Aircraft Appraisers Association

View Mr. Polk's Expert Witness Profile