Dear Big inch, Little inch and other Pipeline consultants, 17

[JoseEnb]

Dear Big inch, Little inch and other Pipeline consultants,

I have gone last 80 threads in the forum and admired your in depth of knowledge in theses field. It’s really a big lesson learned on those topics (Hats off to you Pipeline gurus).

My question is how I will achieve this depth of knowledge by next 20 years as a pipeline Engineer.

Thanks
JoseEnb

 

[katmar]

With each job you do and each problem you solve the depth of your knowledge will increase mm by mm. Sometimes big ones and sometimes little ones and eventually one day you will realize that you have been around the block so many times that you are starting to recognize the scenery.

Katmar Software - AioFlo Pipe Hydraulics

http://katmarsoftware.com

"An undefined problem has an infinite number of solutions"

 

[Gator]

Big and Little are so much more knowledgeable because they accumulated expertise 25.4 times faster than those metric guys.

Piping Design Central

 

[zdas04]

Actually Gator, I think they both live in the UK now, but great idea.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[IRstuff]

"My question is how I will achieve this depth of knowledge by next 20 years as a pipeline Engineer."

One thing that will help TREMENDOUSLY is to attempt to answer questions, rather than just lurking about. Your depth of knowledge is proven and tested when you can answer questions. Do not be afraid to make mistakes; the cautious one makes no mistakes, but no progress, as well. It's one thing to read the posts, but participating and taking the intellectual risks is where your self-interest will force you to really understand problems that you're trying to solve.

In my case, if nothing else, my typing has gotten a lot faster...

TTFN
faq731-376

Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529


Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
There is a homework forum hosted by engineering.com:

http://www.engineering.com/AskForum/aff/32.aspx

 

[zdas04]

I couldn't agree with IRstuff more. Every time I say something stupid in a technical forum (several times a week) someone will call me on it and I'll dig into the details and generally never make that mistake again. If you don't put yourself out there for our highly informal and highly effective peer review you just won't get better.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[BigInch]

Jose,

I'll say thanks very much on behalf of all of us here... not only in the Pipelines Forum. There's a cornucopia of knowledge across every forum at Eng-Tips and many dedicated people behind it. And thanks for taking the time to say thanks.

The only dumb question I ever knew was the one that I didn't ask.

Consider every "why" an opportunity to learn. Never stop learning. The more I learn about something, the more I find I don't know. In fact the unknown grows exponentially. I now realizse that there's so much stuff out there that I know I don't know, I know I'm never going to finish in time.

Yes I am in London now, not too far from LI actually and after having worked at least 2 years each in about 8 different countries since leaving Texas in 1990, I'm not bad in SI units (fluent, but hate kPa and tonnes/annum), habitually look left and unconsciously mind the gap, so I'm now working on ... my spelling.

 

[LittleInch]

I'll echo BI and say that I am only one of many here, zdas04 is also prolific here and I'm sure there have been many before I started here a while ago.

To take the question seriously, I have been thinking about this and see my pearls (grains) of wisdom below.

1) Recognise that especially for pipeline engineering, there is rarely a single correct answer, that's one of the joys of this branch of engineering
2) Understand why you have the design or operation you have. Don't question everything, but if you run into an answer of "because we've always done it that way" then start to do some investigations yourself
3) Try and get experience in as many activities and places. Scratch most of us and you will find we've worked for operators, designers, construction, commissioning and in a number of different countries and transporting all manner of fluids.
4) Pipeline engineering is really a multi disciplinary system - get involved in control, power, mechanical devices, valves... it's not all about the pipe.

I do sometimes wonder where current graduates and new engineers are going to get the experience from now that the oil companies take the top 2% instead of the top 20% like they used to, but as BI says, ask questions and look for information all the time.

Good luck and try answering a few questions - you will be surprised what you know.




Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[rconner]

When I first read this thread the other night I was touched in more ways than one. While the question deserves more than platitudes the more thoughtful responses of BigInch and others reminded me of a quote (I thought of Einstein) that is good to keep in mind, and I never did find a source except for some notes so I hope I can quote it now halfway accurately, "The difference between the most learned person and the least is trivially insignificant in comparison to what is unknown to mankind". In the process though I came across many others I think worthwhile and attributed to that great brain e.g.:

“The only source of knowledge is experience.”
“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” [By these measures and the countless folks I have seen helped over the years by the most envied handle on our forum, even a few of whom have awarded him “stars”, all of us have gained from these exchanges. While I suspect many of us like to contribute to these forums and feel it is worthwhile simply as we learn a lot therefrom, it should be remembered none of us are perfect, most of this stuff is volunteered, and for most of us contributions are otherwise quite thankless and payless efforts.

As to the statement of LI also that simple answers are hard to come by, particularly when so little to go on is often provided by the OP, Einstein even said,
"When the solution is simple, God is answering." (maybe not us!)

80 threads on these forums is barely scratching the surface. Also, if you get to the point where you can help many others 20 years in, I think you will have done a remarkable job. The fact that these forums are readily searchable means however ​you can by just digging a little with the search feature borrow on a literal wealth of knowledge at least once you separate the wheat from the chaff,​ to perhaps better know what to ask. If I would leave you with one more thought that may be at least a little more original that those quoted above (though admittedly prompted by the also good response of zdas04), let me assure you that while embarrassment hurts some, in the world of piping it is generally far better to say/ask something stupid than do something stupid, as the stakes re the latter can be surprisingly high.

On a personal note, as all of us are tax/rate payers and also consumers (even to the point when we are no longer productive in this field), I am heartened when younger folks ask such questions and clearly want to get to where they can also help others. While there may not be a whole lot of shortcuts, the most positive public figure I can remember in our country and my lifetime once said, "Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known." While he might not have been entirely original in these thoughts (borrowing some from Sir Isaac Newton, and later Ayn Rand?), seeing the world today our children must start out in after his passing, I hope in the end Mr. Reagan was right. All have a great weekend!

 

[Latexman]

As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it.

One of my favorite quotes. Very true!

Good luck,
Latexman

Technically, the glass is always full - 1/2 air and 1/2 water.

 

[JoseEnb]

Last few days I was thinking how to conclude this thread but I left out of words.
Thanks a lot for your wisdom and your time.
One thing sure joseEnb after few years will become Bigfoot and Little foot.

Jose