Founder, HSE Engineering LLC
Process Safety Engineer, Author, and Educator
About Me
I’m Danny White, a chemical engineer and process safety practitioner with more than four decades of experience in refining, chemical manufacturing, upstream oil and gas, and offshore deepwater drilling and completions. Most of that career has been spent in direct support of operating facilities, helping organizations manage major-hazard risk through sound engineering, effective management systems, and practical execution.
Throughout that work, my focus has been the connection between management systems and operating reality. I have translated regulatory and technical requirements into systems and practices that work from the control room to the executive level.
Today, through HSE Engineering LLC, I provide process safety consulting and develop practical training and tools for operating companies. I am the author of Process Safety Excellence: A Practical Reference for Operating Companies and publish the Frontline Process Safety newsletter.
Professional Experience
CITGO Petroleum
Corporate Manager, Process Safety and Risk Management
2019–2026
During seven years as CITGO’s corporate process safety and risk manager, I advised executive leadership and board members on process safety strategy, risk management, and capital priorities. I led enterprise programs for OSHA Process Safety Management and EPA Risk Management Program compliance, along with corporate process safety standards.
My work included modernizing HAZOP/LOPA, safety instrumented systems, facility siting, incident investigation, and risk-prioritization systems. I also led a $300 million facility-siting program across three refineries.
HSE Engineering LLC
Senior Process Safety and Risk Engineer, Consulting to Chevron
2016–2019
Lead process safety engineer for commissioning of Chevron’s Big Foot deepwater platform, a 75,000-barrel-per-day facility. I also rationalized instrumented protective functions across Chevron’s deepwater assets.
BHP Billiton
Lead Process Safety Engineer, Drilling and Completions
2014–2016
Modernized HSE risk management for deepwater and unconventional drilling and completions. This work included bow tie diagrams, critical controls, performance standards, and campaign risk registers.
BP
Refining and Deepwater Offshore Roles
2000–2014
Lead process safety engineering role for the Whiting Refinery Heavy Oil Upgrade mega project. Process safety engineer for deepwater drilling, completions, and interventions following Deepwater Horizon. My work included safety and environmental management systems, safe operating limits, process surveillance, inherently safer design, HAZOP/LOPA, and barrier management.
Earlier Engineering and Consulting Experience
1980–2000
My earlier career included engineering and consulting roles with ExxonMobil, RMT/Jones & Neuse under Dr. Sam Mannan, Rohm and Haas, ARCO Chemical, Ashland Petroleum, Columbia Gas, and Tennessee Eastman.
Technical and Investigative Experience
My technical work spans:
- Process safety management systems and regulatory compliance
- Hazard and operability studies and layer of protection analysis
- Safety instrumented systems and protective functions
- Bow tie analysis, critical controls, and barrier management
- Facility siting and risk prioritization
- Incident investigation and Human and Organizational Performance
- Major capital projects and commissioning
I have also supported legal and investigative teams following major industry incidents, including BP Texas City and Deepwater Horizon, bringing engineering judgment and technical clarity to complex regulatory and operational issues.
Education, Credentials, and Industry Contributions
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, University of Kentucky
- Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas — Chemical Engineering
- Certified Safety Professional
I served on the author team for the CCPS book Bow Ties in Risk Management, chaired the AFPM Human and Organizational Performance Subgroup, and remain active on API committees.
Why I Do This Work
My goal is to pass on hard-earned lessons from a career working around hazardous process operations so operators, engineers, and leaders can make sound, defensible decisions that protect people, assets, and reputation.
My book, training, and consulting all serve that purpose: helping people understand process safety and apply it in the decisions they make every day.
Based in Houston, Texas. For inquiries or to request my formal résumé, contact danny@hse2.com.