I’m not job hunting; I love my refinery upgrade project
Tom KirkmanIndependent Project Manager
Please note I’m *not* job hunting.
I totally *love* my current role as the PM for a refinery upgrade project, which should finish in Spring 2027.
Recently, I watched some livestream videos here about the changes to LinkedIn algorithms, and what LinkedIn is transitioning to (it wants to become a “trusted news source” with opinions about current events viewed through the lens of “trusted professionals”.
Mostly I write here off the cuff for my own amusement, and banter with the regulars and joke around.
But I *do* sometimes write serious stuff about oil and gas and energy and its intertwined global politics.
And sometimes quantum mechanics.
And of course, my assorted absurd surreal topics like Time Travelling Duck, Electric Cow, Quantum Bunny Rabbit, Liquefied Natural Electricity (and its healther vegan version, Deep Fried Electricity).
And my ongoing fun with the AI censors here 😁
Anyway, I asked Grok AI to do a serious summary:
“Please make a summary for:
“Tom Kirkman oil and gas”
Please look into content from YouTube, LinkedIn, professional oil and gas forums, news media, etc.”
AI came up with a lengthy overview, much more than I expected.
Intro below, the full summary is in the link.
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“Tom Kirkman is a veteran international construction/project manager and industry commentator with over 25 years of hands-on experience delivering complex energy infrastructure projects in oil & gas, pipelines, refineries, petrochemicals, offshore platforms, and related sectors (including high-voltage transmission and substations).
He is known for pragmatic, experience-based perspectives on energy realities, a prolific LinkedIn presence with satirical/humorous commentary, and past roles as a volunteer moderator on major professional oil & gas forums.
● Professional Background and Expertise
Kirkman has worked with major oil companies across ~30 countries, with significant international time in Asia (e.g., Petronas Malaysia) and extensive U.S. project work.
His portfolio includes offshore platforms (e.g., Murphy Oil, Talisman, Shell, Petronas), refineries, petrochemical plants, customized valve systems (10 years focused on emergency shutdown valves/ESD and proprietary monitoring like “Valve Watch”), natural gas pipelines (including urban/live operations), and controls/project management functions such as forecasting, earned value management (EVM), change management, risk registers, safety/quality plans, permitting, traffic control, and compliance.
He emphasizes global standardization in oil & gas (API and international specs for materials, testing, and interoperability), safety culture, and practical delivery under real-world constraints (e.g., equipment shortages, decommissioning/”return to grass” requirements).
He authored a comprehensive technical Valve Glossary (industry reference, compiled ~25 years ago and made available online). …”