Experience Matters

Retained by a major U.S. oil company to evaluate the status, record keeping, schedules, and costs relative to the design and construction of hulls and topsides for two oil and gas processing offshore platforms being constructed in Korea for installation offshore Angola. The evaluation followed a visit to the contractor’s fabrication yard and focused on the analysis of cost overruns, schedule delays, and entitlement, and an assessment of the potential for claims from the prime contractor.

On behalf of an equipment manufacturer, analyzed a $7 million claim by a contractor regarding extra work involving the structural steel installations on a new cement manufacturing plant. The analysis also involved the contractor’s claim that it constructively accelerated its work to overcome delays.

On behalf of an owner, analyzed alleged deficiencies in the design of a petroleum coke gasification and syngas plant that resulted in change orders, delay, and loss of productivity claims totaling $25 million against the owner of a refinery. The project involved the relocation of a coal gasification facility from California and redesign of the plant based on petroleum coke feed.

Assessed the delays a contractor experienced on a bridge renovation project. Provided delay analyses and opinions regarding issues that the contractor identified that caused impacts to the project final completion milestone and that the owner allegedly caused. The assessment identified which delays were attributable to the owner's actions or inactions and quantified the number of days for which the contractor was entitled to an extension of time.

Reviewed change orders, schedule delays, and pending disputes between a major U.S. chemical company and its mechanical contractor on a methanol plant in Texas. Advised the client as to its exposure regarding the technical issues involved in these issues for purpose of settlement negotiations.

On behalf of an insurer representing a contractor, prepared an expert report and provided testimony regarding the analysis of an owner’s property damage claim following a fire at an oil terminal, which damaged the tank areas, including associated equipment, piping, electrical and instrumentation. Also evaluated the validity of the owner’s warranty claims that existed prior to the fire and included in the owner’s alleged damages. Prepared an expert report and testified in deposition, which led to a settlement of the dispute.

On behalf of a drywall and painting subcontractor, provided analysis and quantification of schedule delay, labor productivity loss, and other damage resulting from change orders on a commercial facility in Colorado. Prepared and submitted an expert report. Parties settled prior to arbitration.

On behalf of a Japanese EPC contractor, prepared a claim, developed a document database, and analyzed costs and schedules for a $450 million fertilizer plant. Prepared a $100 million claim against the owner, which was abandoned as a result of the Gulf War. Successfully negotiated one Turkish and two Korean subcontractors’ claims against the Japanese prime contractor.

Provided a claims prevention training seminar for a U.S. contractor that specializes in the design and construction of HRSGs.

On behalf of an insurance company, analyzed a $50 million loss for property damage and business interruption resulting from cracking to a reactor vessel at a glycol process plant facility in Alberta. Prepared deposition questions and assisted loss adjusters and counsel for the underwriters with cost and schedule analyses.