Chevron Scientists Share Outstanding Inventor Award

HOUSTON, June 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Two Chevron scientists are being honored by the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association (HIPLA) for their work on hydrogen-related technologies.

Vesna Mirkovic, manager, electrical, controls and information technology, Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV), and William Spencer Wheat, decision analysis consultant, Chevron Energy Technology Company (ETC) Process Planning, will receive the Outstanding Inventors Award today at the HIPLA monthly luncheon meeting. The award recognizes the pair for their outstanding work in developing and commercializing practical hydrogen applications.

Chevron is participating in federal and state projects demonstrating practical applications of hydrogen energy technologies. CTV has built two hydrogen energy demonstration stations to fuel fleets of fuel cell buses and light-duty vehicles.

Mirkovic and Wheat developed an automated control system that enables unmanned operation of Chevron's hydrogen energy stations.

"With this automated control system, an engineer in Houston can sit at his computer and observe the operations of a station in California," Wheat said. "This provides a safe, accurate means for quick collaboration."

The system operates at stations in Oakland and Chino, California, and will be implemented in up to four additional hydrogen energy demonstration projects in North America.

"It's gratifying to be part of a team that is implementing alternative and renewable energy sources in real-world settings," Mirkovic said. "We're part of an effort to help diversify the world's energy supplies."

Mirkovic, of Pearland, Texas, is a native of Serbia. She holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a Master of Business Administration in international business from the University of Houston. In addition, she also received a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Belgrade. Mirkovic began working for Chevron in 2002 and is currently a manager for CTV, electrical, controls and information technology. She worked for Texaco from 2001 to 2002 as an applications development engineer and prior to that was based in Singapore working on syngas gasification projects.

Wheat, of Missouri City, Texas, received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University. In addition, he received a Master of Business Administration in global business management from Duke University. Wheat is currently working as a decision analysis consultant for Chevron ETC Process Planning. He managed hydrogen technology development for CTV from 2003 to 2005. Prior to that, Wheat worked for Texaco as an application development manager.

About Chevron Technology Ventures

Chevron Technology Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation , identifies, develops and commercializes emerging technologies and new energy systems including hydrogen-related technologies, advanced energy storage technologies, renewable energy and nanotechnology. Chevron is one of the world's leading energy companies. With more than 53,000 employees, Chevron subsidiaries conduct business in approximately 180 countries around the world, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas, and refining, marketing, and distributing fuels and other energy products. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information on Chevron is available at http://www.chevron.com/