Drilling & Production (Onshore - Surface) Expert Witnesses: 2

Neil K. Earnest, PE, is the President & Chairman of the Board of Muse, Stancil & Co. with over 35 years of Energy Industry experience.  Mr. Earnest provides customized consulting services to the downstream energy industry, focusing on offering an integrated combination of technical and business expertise.  

As a consultant, Mr. Earnest has worked on a broad range of assignments in the downstream sector around the world.  His experience with the Canadian crude oil markets is extensive. Prior to joining Muse in 1991, Mr. Earnest was with Phillips Petroleum Company for 11 years in a variety of refinery and headquarters positions.  

Mr. Earnest holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. from University of Houston – Clearlake.  He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Texas.

Litigation Support -  In addition to his industry consulting engagements, Mr. Earnest has provided expert testimony in international and domestic arbitration, U.S. Federal court, U.S. state court, and the English High Court of Justice.  He has also provided extensive expert testimony in regulatory proceedings in front of the National Energy Board of Canada, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and U.S. state regulatory agencies.

Mr. Earnest has been deposed and/or testified in over 45 cases. His services are available to attorneys for both plaintiff and defendant and include thorough reporting, deposition, and trial testimony as needed.  

Areas of Expertise:

View Muse, Stancil & Co.'s Consulting Profile.

Mr. Melan was also past chairman of the API workgroup which developed the API 1163, “In-Line Inspection Systems Qualification” standard, and past chairman of an ad-hoc committee established at the request of the USDOT Office of Pipeline Safety (currently PHMSA) in creating the frameworks for API 1163, NACE SP0102, and ASNT ILI-PQ (In-line Inspection Personnel Qualification and Certification). While on assignment in the UK, he participated in the creation of Parts 4 and 5 of British Standard PD8010 (Code of Practice for Pipelines).

Litigation Support - As a Pipeline Construction, Operations, and Maintenance subject matter expert witness, Mr. Melan provides services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant. His In-line Inspection evaluation services allow him to evaluate pipes and pipelines using non-destructive examination techniques to detect and size internal and external damage.  He has been retained domestically and internationally. Mr. Melan's services include on-site inspections, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony.  

Areas of Expertise:  

View Tide Water Integrity, LLC's Consulting Profile.