Experience Matters

On behalf of an owner, analyzed a claim for delays and cost overruns against the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor of a polyol chemical plant project.

On behalf of an owner, performed a detailed schedule quality assurance review of the engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up activities of a central processing facility (CPF). The CPF consisted of utilities, inlet separation, two oil trains, associated gas compressors, natural gas liquids and injection gas units. Identified logic problems and overuse of constraints, which made the indicated critical and near-critical paths questionable.

On behalf of an owner, analyzed its claim regarding defective designs and installations associated with an offshore gas production facility, pipeline, and onshore gas processing plant. Testified in arbitration.

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.

Provided claims prevention and claims analysis, claims management, contract administration, and dispute resolution services on behalf of the owner of a CAD$6.2 billion hydroelectric power and transmission line construction project.

On behalf of the owner, performed an independent preliminary review and assessment of the contractor’s claims and its entitlement for an extension of time on a central gas processing facilities project. During the review, analyzed relevant project schedules, documents, information, and particulars provided by the owner. Prepared a report evaluating the delay issues alleged by the contractor for use in anticipation of arbitration.

On behalf of an owner, performed an assessment of a Change Order Request for Labor Productivity Impacts and Extended General Conditions Cost. The assessment revealed that the contractor did not follow the MCAA instructions on the use of MCAA’s Labor Factors found in MCAA Management Methods Manual Bulletin No. PD2 (Revised 2011). The assessment also identified that the claim for General Conditions Cost was not supported by any schedule analysis and was a total cost claim even though there were numerous executed change orders, which included a 14 percent markup for supervision, quality control, and safety.

Provided claims prevention training seminars for a mineral processing engineering firm in Denver, Tucson, and Mexico City. Recommended clauses to resolve potential inconsistencies, ambiguities, and conflicts. Prepared clauses for cost and schedule control procedures.

Reviewed an owner’s contract for the EPC of a polyethylene plant. Recommended clauses to resolve potential inconsistencies, ambiguities, and conflicts. Prepared clauses for cost and schedule control procedures. Recommended changes to project management, scheduling, and project controls provisions to improve the owner’s visibility into project progress reporting.

On behalf of the operator of a chemical storage facility, evaluated a claim associated with delays and cost overruns caused by scope changes and hurricane impacts. Operator alleged that the cost of the facility significantly increased as a result of owner-caused changes and impacts from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and that the owner agreed to compensate the operator for the hurricane impacts. The owner alleged that the operator mismanaged the project and that the delays and cost increases were primarily caused by other problems not related to the hurricanes.