Experience Matters

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 a contractor, evaluated defective design and project management performance problems associated with an offshore underwater gas extraction facility, offshore pipelines, and an onshore gas processing plant. The contractor was a joint venture of the design firm and the underwater pipeline installation company. Under a lump sum turnkey contract, the contractor was responsible for carrying out project design, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning. The owner terminated the contractor and sought damages recovery.

Provided expert testimony in arbitration, on behalf of the designer and module fabricator, regarding owner claims of faulty workmanship, delayed project completion, increased project costs, and the designer’s counterclaims of unpaid invoices and change orders related to the design and fabrication of modules and the construction of a gas processing facility. Provided deposition testimony regarding an expert witness rebuttal report.

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.

On behalf of an owner, analyzed an EPC contractor’s schedules for a multibillion-dollar GTL facility. Verified the schedule work scope against contract requirements. Evaluated schedule metrics, reviewed schedule logic, assessed the reasonableness of the critical path and provided recommendations for schedule optimization. Also evaluated a cumulative impact claim.

Provided analysis regarding schedule delay and cost overrun issues on an NGL processing project involving construction of central process and satellite facilities. Performed the analysis work on behalf of an owner to identify the magnitude and compensability of potential affirmative claims against a prime contractor.

On behalf of an owner, evaluated the project management performance, schedule delay, and cost overrun issues on an LNG facility. Developed report for evaluation by the owner as to the feasibility of recovery from the EPCM contractor of cost overrun issues on a reimbursable contract. Evaluated the integrity of the CPM schedules and cost reporting by the contractor. Evaluated change order and schedule delay issues that the construction contractors alleged.

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.

On behalf of an owner, participated in the preliminary analysis and evaluations of delay and disruption claims by an EPC contractor on a large LNG project in the southeastern United States. Evaluated multiple EPC contractor delay claim submissions and reports that included calculation of delay costs. The owner used these independent evaluations in pre-mediation discussions and negotiations.

Provided a claims prevention training seminar for Woodside Energy.