Power Plants
Long International personnel have been involved in numerous claims and project consulting assignments associated with all types of power plants in the United States and internationally. We have significant experience with coal, gas, and nuclear power plant construction, and have also performed assignments on geothermal, biomass, and hydroelectric power facilities.
BiomassBiomass Power Plant California Performed an analysis of operating performance problems and cost overruns for the lending bank on a cattle manure-fueled power plant and several agricultural waste-fueled power plants. - Coal
Coal-Fired Power Plants Arizona Prepared the detailed schedule for a 500 MW coal-fueled power plant. Arkansas Analysis of EPC schedules for an $880 million coal-fired power plant. Evaluated schedule metrics, reviewed schedule logic, and assessed the reasonableness of the critical path. Canada Assisted the general contractor in $2 million dispute with the owner of a 200 MW Power Plant in New Brunswick regarding increased labor costs associated with late delivery of owner supplied equipment, late design information, and defective design information. Case was settled during negotiation on terms favorable to client. Indiana Prepared a $1 million claim involving the installation of new Low NOx and boiler reheater facilities on a power plant project. Montana Performed an audit of the reclamation procedures and costs of a western coal producer/supplier for a major central U.S. power company. Nebraska The project centered on the contract to design and build a 663 MW sub-critical pulverized coal fired plant addition to an existing brown field facility. This was a full EPC contract involving multiple stakeholders including a joint venture between the major contracting entities and power island suppliers. Management of team engaged to provide risk management and claims avoidance advisory and training services to the on-site project teams. Services also included claims avoidance management both on a term and “as required” basis to facilitate early settlement of project problems and avoid lengthy disputes. The project was completed with no major claims or dispute issues. Tennessee Performed an analysis of a major mechanical contractor's $11 million claim against an engineering and construction contractor involving the installation of new pollution control equipment on a power plant project. Texas Retained by a Texas utility and power company to evaluate contract terms and conditions, and to participate in an evaluation and risk analysis of a contractor’s technical and commercial proposals for construction of a multi-million dollar bag house retrofit project for a coal-fired power plant. Work also included a review of the contractor’s cost estimate and trade-offs between acceptable financial risks and contract incentives. Thailand Prepared a detailed schedule for a 2 unit “hybrid” power plant consisting of fluidized bed boilers, steam turbines, combustion turbines, and heat recovery units. Also developed multi-currency project cost systems to report consistent financial information in US dollars while individual contracts fluctuated in multiple currencies. Virginia Developed the detailed schedule and project control system for a 2x400 MW coal fueled power plant. Created and maintained an accounting and reporting system to track the financial participation of 4 consortium partners. West Virginia Provided schedule delay, loss of productivity, extra work, and damages testimony in State Court of West Virginia regarding a $3 million claim on a $100 million Waste Coal Power Plant. The testimony resulted in a jury award slightly greater than client's settlement offer. - Cogeneration
Cogeneration Power Plants Connecticut Provided analysis in defense of a $7.1 million claim brought by the mechanical erection subcontractor for increased scope, delay, extended overheads, and lost productivity on a $189 million simple cycle cogeneration plant. Florida Prepared an entitlement analysis and a preliminary analysis of schedule and damages associated with delays and disruptions experienced by an insulation subcontractor during the construction of a cogeneration project. Kentucky Provided schedule delay, loss of productivity and damages deposition testimony regarding a $7.5 million claim on a $100 million cogeneration power plant. The case was settled prior to the start of the trial. - Combined Cycle
Combined Cycle Power Plants California On behalf of the owner, furnished CPM scheduling services for a 2x1 combined cycle power plant in San Jose. California Developed contractor’s $21 million delay and disruption claim against the owner of 4x2 combine cycle power plant in Romoland. The scope of work included a detailed CPM Schedule analysis to determine delay and acceleration responsibility. Connecticut Assisted insurance company against claim by the EPC contractor on a project involving the design, procurement and construction of a new 550 NW combined cycle power plant. The contractor claimed that an insured accident caused over $30 million in impact costs including 6 months of project delay and loss of labor productivity and increased support costs in attempts to accelerate to overcome delays. Performed a schedule delay analysis to demonstrate that actual impact of insured accident was negligible and concurrent with delays caused by the EPC contractor. Case was settled just prior to hearings. Indonesia Prepared the detailed schedule for a multi-block combined cycle conversion project. Louisiana Performed an analysis of a contractor’s $9 million delay and disruption claim against the owner of 4x2 combined cycle power plant in Eunice. The scope of the work included a detailed CPM Schedule analysis to determine delay and acceleration responsibility. Massachusetts Performed an analysis of a contractor’s delay and disruption claim against the owner of 2x1 combined cycle power plant in Boston. The scope of the work included a detailed CPM Schedule analysis to determine delay and acceleration responsibility. Massachusetts Provided schedule delay, loss of productivity and damages deposition testimony regarding a $60 million claim on a $300 million Combined Cycle Power Plant. The case was settled successfully in arbitration. Massachusetts Assisted supplier of air-cooled condensers in preparing and presenting $6 million claims for project delay and loss of labor productivity on a project involving the design, supply and construction of two (2) - thirty cell air-cooled condensers to support a new 500 NW combined cycle power plant. Delays, disruptions and interferences were caused by lack of progress in overall project and the directed acceleration of supplier’s efforts when defendant EPC contractor knew the client’s work was not on the project critical path. New Jersey Performed schedule delay and damages analyses and prepared an expert’s report for the subcontractor performing the cooling tower design and construction on a combined cycle power plant project. New Jersey Assisted the mechanical contractor for a 300 MW combined cycle power plant in a $7 million dispute with the EPC contractor over additional costs associated with delays, disruptions and loss of productivity arising from: 1) changes in the scope of work, 2) late delivery of EPC contractor-supplied materials and equipment, and 3) late delivery of necessary design information. New York Performed an analysis of a contractor’s delay and disruption claim against the owner of 4x2 combined cycle power plant in Athens. The scope of the work included a detailed CPM Schedule analysis to determine delay and acceleration responsibility. New York Provided scheduling support to estimating team on the $250 million Poletti 500 MW Power Plant Project. Developed pre-bid schedule over 12-month period and multiple proposals through contract award. This project required extensive analysis including resource leveling through the use of resource histograms. Pennsylvania Performed an analysis of a contractor’s $8 million delay and disruption claim against the owner of 2x1 combined cycle power plant in Redding. The scope of the work included a detailed CPM schedule analysis to determine delay and acceleration responsibility. Pennsylvania Performed an analysis of a contractor’s delay and disruption claim against the owner of 3x1 combined cycle power plant in Philadelphia. The scope of the work included a detailed CPM schedule analysis to determine delay and acceleration responsibility. Texas Performed an analysis of a contractor’s $8 million delay and disruption claim against the owner of 4x2 combined cycle power plant in Fairfield. The scope of the work included a detailed CPM schedule analysis to determine delay and acceleration responsibility. Texas Performed an analysis of a contractor’s $22 million delay and disruption claim against the owner of 3x1 combined cycle power plant in Baytown. The scope of the work included a detailed CPM schedule analysis to determine delay and acceleration responsibility. - Gas
Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Power Plants Connecticut Analysis of a $50 million delayed start-up claim on a 500 MW power plant. Evaluated project delays and cost impacts related to the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) collapse. Oregon The project involved disputes between the owner, main contractor, and joint venture power island equipment supplier regarding damage to the combustion turbine (CT) caused by through projectiles in the power stream. The multi-party dispute involved both contract and insurance claims for delay, disruption, liquidated damages, and direct damage reparation works to the CT start-up operations. Management of claims team engaged to consult on both the contract and the insurance claims for the main contractor which involved delay, disruption, and damages analyses for a series of settlement negotiations and mediation. Ultimately the completion of the damaged CT works had to be factored into the process and the plant restored to full operational capability. Settlement talks were ultimately successful and formal litigations proceedings were avoided. Pakistan Engaged by the owner to prepare and submit to the insurer a $43 million Delayed Start-Up claim on a 175 MW combined cycle low BTU gas fired power plant. The claim included a detailed project delay and cost analysis related ten insurable incidents of which six were serial failures of the gas turbine due to design errors in the fuel nozzles. The delay analysis was complicated due to issues involving alleged concurrent delay, betterment, corrosion, and the impacts of policy extensions and modifications in coverage and waiting periods. Rhode Island EPC design build of a 500 MW gas fired power plant. The project was significantly delayed and disrupted due to local unavailability of labor resources despite union agreements to provide the required manpower for construction. Prepared a force majeure claim based on lack of available local labor and other resources. This involved considerable research into area and regional labor usage, related area and regional construction facilities, and union services interfaces. A heavily researched paper was submitted to the client including supporting CPM analysis and contract entitlements to facilitate settlement negotiations. The main contractor was successful in recovering additional monies and avoiding liquidated damages. Singapore The project centered on disputes between the major contractor and the mechanical/electrical subcontractor on alleged delay and disruption impacts during the construction of a 380 MW power facility due to alleged late information, delayed procurement, and changes. Project completion was significantly delayed and the subcontractor claimed the contractor caused the negative schedule impacts, subsequently submitting an REA and filing for arbitration. Team Leader engaged to consult on the main contractor's defense of the claim both during the contract execution works and the post completion arbitration events. This involved day-to-day contract administration, claims preparation, and overall management of claims team, outside counsel and experts. United Kingdom EPC design build of a 280 MW gas fired combined cycle power expansion to a refinery brown field site. Managed and directed contract administration and claims procedures team, as well as defending and negotiating a series of owner/subcontractor claims against EPC contractor. Dispute management also included preparation of a major force majeure weather impact claim. Gas-Fired Heat Recovery Generator Florida, Thailand Analysis of the fabrication of piping components as an element of the fabrication and erection of Heat Recovery Steam Generators including the identification of aspects of the delay resulting from the actions of the various parties included in the project. Prepared Expert Report which led to settlement of the matter. Gas-Fired Power Plants California Performed an analysis of contractor’s $0.9 million delay and disruption claim against the owner of 1x1 peaker power plant in Yuba City. The scope of the work included a detailed CPM schedule analysis to determine delay and acceleration responsibility. Kentucky Testified regarding damages on behalf of a HRSG manufacturer on a gas-fired power plant project. Analysis work and testimony related to the independent analysis and rebuttal of significant cost overruns alleged by the prime contractor for schedule delays and changes. Michigan Retained by a HRSG manufacturer on a three-train gas-fired power plant project. Visited the construction site and assessed the impact of delays related to HRSG rework, and the affects of concurrent delays resulting from prime contractor completion work, and delayed owner startup and commissioning activities. Texas Provided dispute resolution services to a general contractor in support of $50 million of impacts against a turbine/generator manufacturer on a new power plant project. Worked directly with the general contractor’s field and office staff to research contemporaneous project records in support of project issues and impacts. Analyzed the delays stemming from hundreds of late change orders, late and inadequate responses to RFIs, wet and muddy conditions, filter house fire, land ate and incomplete delivery of materials and equipment by the turbine/generator manufacturer. Utilized retrospective CPM schedule delay analysis methodology to successfully demonstrate and quantify impacts to the critical path for a 2,500 activity schedule. Applied retrospective CPM schedule delay analysis methodology to correctly calculate entitled time extension as well as prove constructive project acceleration. An amicable settlement for the contractor was achieved. Gas-Fired Power Plant and Heat Recovery Steam Generator Alaska Performed an analysis of change orders, delays, acceleration, and loss of productivity impacts associated with the relocation of an existing gas-fired turbine generator and the construction of a new heat recovery steam generator in an existing industrial plant. This project involved the defense against the contractor's claim and preparation of the owner's liquidated damages counterclaims. Testified in mediation, which resulted in a successful settlement of the dispute. - Geothermal
Geothermal Power Plants California Performed schedule delay and damages analysis, prepared expert reports, and presented testimony in deposition for the design/build turnkey contractor in claims against the owner on two geothermal power plant projects in the Salton Sea area. California Provided damages and schedule analysis and claims assistance for the electrical and instrumentation contractor on a geothermal power plant project. Indonesia Performed an evaluation of the integrity of a contractor's schedule and analysis of delay and loss of productivity claims associated with the design and construction of a new geothermal power plant project. contractor alleged delays associated with late drawing comments by the owner, customs clearance problems, and scope of work changes, and that the contractor had to accelerate to overcome the delays. Issues involving the schedule being “at large” were also analyzed. - Heat Recovery Steam Generators
Heat Recovery Steam Generation California Performed an analysis of the HRSG manufacturer's responsibility and liability for delays, scope of work changes related to increased piping quantities, and back charges from the general contractor on the installation of four waste heat recovery steam generators. Illinois Performed an analysis of EPC contractor’s $35 million claim regarding a lump-sum contract to design and build a gas-fired power plant. Assessed the EPC contractor’s allegations regarding the constructability of the heat recovery steam generators and the delay and disruption impact of those problems on its work. Louisiana Performed an analysis of a contractor's claim for delay, acceleration, scope of work changes, and loss of productivity on the installation of three waste heat recovery steam generators. - Hydroelectric
Hydroelectric Power Plants Colorado Prepared a schedule analysis and claim on the assembly of turbine generators on a hydroelectric power plant project. Participated in mediation to resolve the dispute. Pakistan Prepared a schedule delay analysis on the construction of a hydroelectric power plant. Delays were caused by site access delays, an increase in the structures and excavation quantities, structural steelworks delivery delays, and delays in the construction of a railway bridge. West Virginia Provided entitlement analysis and evaluation for back charges, for a contractor, related to the supply of equipment for a hydroelectric power plant. - Nuclear
Nuclear Power Plants Arizona Performed a prudency audit of a large nuclear power plant including the evaluation of the justification and causes for scope and cost growth as well as the origin, components and reasonableness of $1.3 billion of start-up and commissioning cost overruns. Canada As a result of a potentially insured event, evaluated whether other causes of schedule delay to the construction of a nuclear power plant would have caused delay to the project. Indiana Provided damages analysis for the Federal Government on a major nuclear power plant litigation involving the investigation of damages resulting from alleged antitrust and racketeering activities by several major electrical contractors. Work included database research, discovery and deposition support, issues research, and incurred cost, schedule, productivity, and estimate analyses. Analysis emphasized the evaluation of both estimated and actual electrical commodity quantities, material unit costs, labor unit productivity rates, labor rates and extensions, and global estimate basis assumptions, adjustments, conditioning and productivity factor considerations. The cost evaluations also comprised numerous comparative analyses of project information against industry standards and other nuclear power plants. Louisiana Provided litigation support of a nuclear power plant project involving assessment of cost overruns, delays, inadequate QA/QC documentation, and defective electrical and instrumentation installations. Michigan Performed document research and database management, litigation and deposition support, technical problem/entitlement analyses, and cost, schedule, and labor productivity analyses on a $500 million nuclear power plant litigation. The cost analysis focused on the detailed evaluation of base estimate, change order, actual, trend and forecast costs and man-hours for all construction disciplines. The cost analysis involved cause-effect analyses of cost and man-hour growth, labor productivity analyses, quantity growth analyses, and evaluations regarding the consistency or lack thereof between estimated and forecast man-hours, various production and construction factors, and the project schedule durations, logic, and the mechanical completion date. Ohio Performed an analysis of entitlement, schedule, and cost issues on litigation arising from the termination of a nuclear demolition contractor by the construction manager. Prepared an affirmative claim valued at $2.3 million and rebutted the contractor’s counterclaim valued at $1.5 million. Ohio Provided damages analysis for a nuclear reactor vendor to defend against claims alleged against the vendor by a nuclear power plant owner. The damage analysis focused on the evaluation of the basis for, and reasonableness of, numerous large claims for direct and time related damages resulting from alleged scope growth, labor inefficiencies, and schedule delays attributed by the owner to NSSS design and operational defects. The damage analysis comprised detailed evaluations of estimated and incurred time-related costs and the costs for all construction disciplines such as civil, structural, equipment, piping, electrical and instrumentation. Cause and effect analysis, WBS cost matrix analysis, and schedule analysis techniques were employed to evaluate and refute the alleged damages. Some of the alleged damages were found to be attributable to estimate errors and performance problems for which the owner was responsible, and remaining damages were found to be largely unsubstantiated or very excessive. Ohio Performed an analysis of schedule delay, productivity loss, and direct damages totaling over $1 billion allegedly resulting from problems related to hydrodynamic loads on a nuclear power plant reactor building. Texas Assessed the management performance and analyzed cost overruns on the South Texas Nuclear Project. Presented testimony in the prudency hearings conducted by the Texas Utility Commission. United Kingdom A government controlled nuclear management company required a third party review and upgrade analyses of its bidding processes and contract conditions for the de-commissioning and new construction of nuclear power plants. Reviewed the contract/bidding documents and provide an independent risk management report covering best practices, PMBOK application, project success goals, and general procedures for upgrading contractor performance. - Power Plants – Other
Electrical Transmission Lines California The project centered on the installation of a 230 kV transmission line: 24 miles underground and 3.5 miles overhead, through an extremely diverse and environmentally sensitive and challenged series of districts. The major infrastructure subcontractor alleged major delay and disruption impacts caused by the main contractor. Engaged to provide claim support services to the main contractor against the subcontractor’s claims. A defense position paper was prepared involving CPM analysis, disruption analysis, and contract entitlement to rebut the subcontractor's expert report which ultimately resulted in mediation proceedings and a series of settlement negotiations. Also claims avoidance training and lessons learned reviews were given to the main contractor construction team to facilitate improved management of future similar projects. Louisiana Performed an analysis of labor productivity costs associated with repair of damaged electrical transmission lines following Hurricane Rita. Fossil Fueled Power Boiler Erection Florida The EPC contractor designed and supplied two 300 MW Circulating Fluidized-Bed (CFB) boilers to replace the oil and gas fired boilers, as well as boiler islands on two units. Engaged to prepare a schedule delay analysis related to a claim filed for an equitable adjustment of the contract price on behalf of the EPC contractor, against the owner. The project team later made a presentation for mediation to the owner on the EPC contractor behalf. Fuel Gas Desulphurization Unit Ohio The EPC contractor installed a wet type fuel gas desulphurization unit to an existing power facility utilizing combustion turbine scrubbers. The project involved coordination or works around existing operating plant and a tight site with regard to construction and storage space facilities. Prepared defense for the main contractor from sub-contractor and critical vendor supplier claims involving delay and disruption impacts and the application of liquidated damages. The project also suffered from prime contract delays caused by owner interference and local labor regulations and rules instigated by the owner post contract signing that severely impacted the main contractor’s ability to manage the subcontract craft workers. Provided CPM schedule, cost, and change order analyses to support the main contractor’s claims against the owner. Gas Turbine Generator Arkansas Design, supply, and supervision of installation of a 153 megawatt combustion turbine and generator. Managed the site-based commercial and contract aspects of the project, reporting to the project management team. Contract value: US$50 million. Colorado Provided dispute resolution services for a general contractor in defense of $2.5 million in assessed liquidated damages by the owner of a power plant. Evaluated contemporaneous project records to identify project impacts. Identified and quantified critical path delays and lost productivity impacts caused by the late delivery of equipment and materials, late responses to RFIs, and last minute changes by the owner’s turbine/generator supplier on a new power plant project. Used retrospective CPM schedule delay analysis methodology to demonstrate delays caused by the identified impacts. CPM schedule delay analysis successfully supported general contractor's defense against owner’s assessment of liquidated damages against general contractor. General contractor and owner ultimately reached a negotiated settlement. Nuclear Fuel Storage Containers Massachusetts Assisted original principals in defending a $6 million claim by the acquiring firm regarding a project that manufactured long term storage containers for spent nuclear fuel. The purchasing firm alleged that the principals of the original firm for misrepresented relevant financial information related to the project’s progress and forecast costs at the time of the change in ownership. Assisted original principals in substantiating that actual performance of the work in progress was in fact consistent with projections and the only exceptions were due to a substantial change in the definition and allocation of overhead burdens, and other business decisions made by the acquiring firm subsequent to the transfer of ownership. Claim was settled prior to hearings and on terms very favorable to defendant client. Nuclear Waste Storage Facility Nevada Developed CPM schedule on a U.S. Department of Energy nuclear waste storage facility construction project for an international heavy civil contractor. Power Supplier/EPC Contractor California The executive management of this EPC contractor desired to make its project financial forecasting more robust after suffering a number of project write downs. Having verified that this was more than an accounting exercise, the EPC contractor wanted an independent third party to evaluate its bidding and execution practices, benchmark them against industry practices, and develop an integrated project risk management/project governance system that executive management could rely upon. Engaged to evaluate the written procedures and practices of each of the four divisions against industry practices. After the steps required to make those procedures and practices more robust were defined, the team worked with the client to revise the procedures and adjust its practices to make the output of the bidding and execution processes more reliable and transparent to management. This work also involved developing a client custom project governance program to identify high-risk bids and projects during execution and define the tools/staff needed to address these high risk situations. Re-Powering of Power Plant Ohio The mechanical subcontractor executed a contract with a power contractor to complete outage work and re-powering 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. A schedule delay and productivity analysis was produced 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. Resource Recovery Facility Maryland Provided deposition testimony on schedule delay, loss of productivity, extra work, and damage claims of $2 million on an FGD installation for a Resource Recovery Facility. The case was settled in mediation prior to a trial. Waste Shipping Facility Colorado Provided an independent analysis and evaluated subcontractor change orders for the construction of the Building 440 Addition, TRU Waste Shipping Facility. In addition, prepared budget estimates for the construction of a Gas Generator Testing System and for the installation of the TRU waste container lid stands.