Experience Matters

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.

Retained by the owner of a natural gas liquids extraction and fractionation plant involved in arbitration with an electrical and instrumentation contractor. Analysis and opinions provided included contract review, determination of breach of contract, delay analysis, and calculation of cost reimbursements owed to the contractor and damages incurred by the owner.

Evaluated an owner’s project management and cost and schedule control procedures for performing major capital projects. Prepared stage gate project development procedures as well as created cost and schedule control procedures.

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, performed a comprehensive “cold eyes” contract risk analysis of the EPC contract documentation, including legal and non-legal exhibits and appendices, contained in the ITT. Provided a written list of recommendations with supporting justification of contractual provisions in the ITT that should be amended, deleted, and/or inserted so as to properly mitigate the client’s risk against spurious and/or undue claims/change orders. Also provided written recommendations as to what impact a project-wide incentive program would have on the contract contingency estimates.

On behalf of an EPC contractor, provided claims analysis, entitlement analysis, schedule analysis and assessment of $20 million in cost overruns on a lump sum, fast-track gas processing plant project. Issues included defective specifications, changes, and delays.

On behalf of an owner, analyzed rework costs caused by defective engineering and poor project management performance by the EPCM contractor of a LNG facility. Developed a basis for estimating the rework costs and prepared several comprehensive reports that the owner used to facilitate a large settlement against the contractor.

Provided claims analysis services for an insurance company regarding the reconstruction of a natural gas plant in British Columbia following an explosion. Performed a schedule analysis to determine when plant reconstruction could have been completed absent the improvements to the facility that the owner made.

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 the adequacy of a cost estimate and construction risks associated with the upgrade of an LNG facility.