Experience Matters

On behalf of a major oil company, reviewed its ITB package for preparation of the FEED for the design of the topsides facilities for an offshore deep-sea oil and gas production platform. Recommended clauses to resolve potential inconsistencies, ambiguities, and conflicts. Prepared clauses for cost and schedule control procedures.

The mechanical subcontractor executed a contract with a power contractor to complete outage work and repowering of CFB Unit #1. The power contractor caused project delays and interferences that delayed the required work to a period outside of the specified outage period and resulted in a shortage of manpower. The mechanical subcontractor accelerated work to maintain the work planned for the outage period. This required additional coordination of utilities and steam blows and functional tests of fuel system, oil-fired burners, CFB boiler, air ducts, flue gas system and stack, feed water systems, etc. Engaged to provide claims review services. Evaluated owner and contractor claims, including a review of the CPM schedule submittals. Produced a schedule delay and productivity analysis to determine responsibility for project delays. The claims team found that power contractor delays and interferences were primarily responsible for the acceleration effort and difficulties experienced by the mechanical subcontractor during the mechanical completion and operational testing phases of work.

Prepared detailed as-planned and as-built schedule analyses for a contractor on a dam project. Participated in negotiations between the contractor and the Province of Alberta.

On behalf of an EPC contractor, analyzed delays and time extension entitlement on a $75 million claim by the mechanical subcontractor involving the procurement materials and installation of process plant equipment and piping on a major petrochemical plant.

On behalf of an owner, analyzed a major international contractor’s $22 million delay and disruption claim on a $100 million refinery upgrade project. The project involved new hydrotreater and sulfur recovery units. Prepared a detailed schedule delay analysis and damage analysis and provided mediation testimony, which resulted in a successful settlement of the dispute.

Provided a claims prevention training seminar for a hydroelectric power producing company.

Performed project management audits of a gas-to-liquids facility to assist with evaluating the outstanding engineering and construction scope, assess restructuring of the project management team, and assist with the development of a Request for Proposal for the selection of a project management contractor.

Analyzed the expediting costs associated with the $320 million rebuild of a refinery in Alberta following a fire. Performed this work in support of an insurance company’s interest on a property damage claim that the refinery owner filed. Analyzed the trade-offs of increased time-related costs that would have been incurred had the work not been expedited compared to the increased costs as a result of a fast track schedule. Evaluated the results of the various scenarios using Monte Carlo calculations to derive a probabilistic determination of the range of costs as a function of the variables involved in the analyses. Analyses contributed to a successful settlement between the insurance carrier and the owner.

Assisted an EPC contractor with a $10 million claim against an owner for increased costs associated with increased scope of work, project delays and disruption, and loss of labor productivity arising from subsequent acceleration on the design, delivery and construction of an additional line for the production of polyester chips for use in plastic soda bottle manufacturing.

On behalf of an owner, provided litigation support, database management system development, and assessment of the technical design, cost and schedule overruns, and start-up problems of a coal gasification project.