Services Offered

Consulting services have the most impact on cost and schedule when implemented during the early development of the project. At this stage recommendation, when implemented, prevent common problems from occurring, rather than treating them. After the project team has mobilized to site and construction is underway, consulting topics include a critical path plan to avoid or minimize liquidated damages.

Optimized Project Execution

Traditionally, EPC wait until total project Mechanical Completion before moving into commissioning. With the proliferation of completions software and if the project is logically systemized, commissioning can start in parallel with construction, also known as Optimized Project Execution. By assisting project with an optimized project execution plan early, we can create a balanced ratio of systems to start-up activities and determine the appropriate time to transition from bulk construction to system-based construction. In many cases project do not clearly identify this crossover and the result is a negative effect on time and costs.

Build it Clean/Build it Tight Programs

Build-It-Clean and Build-It-Tight programs are essential to maintain schedule. We work with project to establish guidelines that ensure process lines and equipment meet start up cleanliness requirements at the hydro-test/pneumatic tests stages of the project. The goal of this top-down approach is to keep costly secondary cleaning (post Mechanical Completion) to a minimum. A strict flange management program, Build-It-Tight, instituted early in the project life cycle will also yield high dividends at the latter part of the project.

Commissionability 

Project teams devote many hours to construct-ability and opera-bility, but rarely consider the practicality of starting up for the first time. By advising engineering we can foster an early understanding of how the facility will start up and identify problem areas and requirements for additional resources. Understanding FERC and Coast Guard requirements upfront will also save time and schedule.

Commissioning and Start-Up Document Deliverables

Document format and content quality are often misinterpreted by the EPC contractor and client. In many cases the client expects a much higher quality document than what the EPC contractor is willing to deliver. We can help align standards and expectations by introducing the client's operations team meet early in the project and come to an agreement as to what the documents will look like and how much detail the documents contains. We also make recommendation to the subcontracts department to ensure contracts include the same standards and form requirements set out in the prime contract. 

Commissioning Schedule Optimization

Once the start-up plan is clear it is vital that we revisit the start-up schedule on an ongoing basis. The EPC and client need to have an excellent understanding of the reasoning behind the time allotment for each star-up activity, and we will go over this in detail. As the project progresses changes occur that will have positive and negative effects on the start-up schedule. We can provide a project with strategies to maintain commissioning schedule optimization is and workarounds to put in place, providing there is a firm understanding of the intricate details of the start-up from beginning to end. 

Completions

We can assist projects in compiling industry standard Construction "A" Check Sheets and Commissioning "B' Check Sheets. We can also advise on turnover dossier format and contents to allow for quick and efficient review as well as punch-list coordination strategies. 

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

HSE is a top priority on almost all projects. We work with project teams to create effective and easy to follow procedures and practices for the following:

• Work Hours
• H.A.Z.O.P.S
• JHA / JSA
• Safety in Transition
• Permit to Work and L.O.T.O
• S.I.M.O.P.S
• Flaring
• Noise Control 
• Waste Management and identifying waste material

Commissioning and Start-Up Personnel 

Personnel selection is very important.  When selecting people take the extra time to verify that the experience they are offering is indeed true. We can provide criteria and questionnaires for projects to use during the hiring process to help with verification and selection. Retaining experienced people throughout the project life cycle may be challenging and we recommend considering retention incentives.

Operator Training 

Many EPC contractors offer operator training as part of the EPC package. We can advise which training modules should be produced in-house and which should be out-sourced to a training school. We can also recommend standard operator courses and specific vendor training such as that offered by APCI and GE. For in-house training, we can help projects acquire high quality vendor-supplied information and experienced writers to in-turn produce high quality training documents. We can also work to create a plan for On the Job Training (OJT), which the EPC must provide during commissioning and start-up.

Utilization of Company Personnel

In most cases the Client requests that their personnel participate in all pre-commissioning, commissioning, and start up activities. This ensures that the employee receives maximum exposure to the day-to-day start up activities which helps both parties smoothly transition to operations. We can help establish mutually-agreed upon utilization of company personnel policy at an early stage in the project. This permits the EPC contractor to take into account the company's technicians and engineers when planning manpower requirements. Utilizing company personnel is a win-win for both the EPC and the Client.

Vendor Support

Knowing when to keep work internal and when to seek a subcontractor or a vendor can save time and money at any stage of a project. We can provide assistance and recommendations for selecting line cleaning vendors, leak testing, nitrogen suppliers and many more. 

Procedures

We work with Clients and EPC to determine the number of procedures required for the scope of work, the format of each type of procedure, and the amount of detail necessary within. Procedures cover the following topics:

• H.S.E
• Pre-commissioning
• Commissioning
• Start-up
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Maintenance Procedures
• Performance Run

 We work with EPCs to help put together a technical writing team with a good mix EPC commissioning and client operations personnel. Creating an integrated team minimizes time consuming issue and review cycles. 

Substantial Completion

In preparation for substantial completion we can assist project teams in compiling a dedicated and prepared performance test team. As performance test must be completed at the end of a project, they are often forgotten about but constitute a major deliverable for the project. By working on this early, and having a dedicated team, we can help projects go through this final project stage fully prepared. 

We also work with project teams to determine a viable strategy for transitioning from commissioning to operations, including Final Operator Certification. Together with this strategy we make recommendation for day-to-day operation and supplementary operations and maintenance assistance.