Construction Disputes
Crude Oil Pipeline Construction
Provided expert reports and deposition testimony on behalf of crude oil pipeline construction contractor in support of breach of contract claims made by owner. Conducted evaluation of contractor performance under a reimbursable target price contract including impact of right-of-way delays, scope changes, and weather delays.
Refinery and Pipeline Construction Arbitration
Analyzed numerous construction and design defect issues, on behalf of an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor involved in a lump-sum $1.6 billion dollar refinery and pipeline project in Mexico. Assessed additional work order and defect claims for new crude oil, product pipeline, and pump station construction in reference to contractual requirements and normal industry practice. Prepared expert reports including quantum analysis detailing the basis of opinions and findings and testified in International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration hearings.
Natural Gas Processing Plant Construction Delay
On behalf of a state-owned oil company, reviewed Engineering and Construction contractor’s claims of delay and disruption associated with a major debottlenecking project for a 2.4 billion standard cubic feet per day natural gas treating facility located in the Middle East. Claims were associated with the design and construction of a high-pressure DGA unit, a 535,000 ton per day sulfur recovery unit, and new high-pressure flare systems.
Utility Plant Dispute
Acted as technical expert in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract dispute in International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration over claims made by owner against contractor related to the design and construction of utility plant facilities supporting large refinery complex. Claims involved the design of asphalt fired steam boilers, a seawater desalination unit, seawater piping, corrosion, and other plant design issues. Conducted several site investigations, prepared expert reports, and testified before ICC Arbitration panel.
Gas Processing Plant Dispute
Prepared expert reports and testified in Australian arbitration on behalf of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor involved in engineering and construction of offshore platform, sub-sea pipelines, and onshore gas processing plant. Issues involved impact of change to feedstock design basis as well as numerous engineering and construction related defect claims made by owner.
Maintenance Turnaround Contract Dispute
Assisted industrial maintenance contractor in dispute over maintenance turnaround performed at a large gas processing plant in Wyoming. Dispute involved costs for change orders and extra work performed by contractor compared to turnkey contract scope of work. Evaluated maintenance contract and related documents, reviewed over 100 change orders, analyzed actual costs and schedule versus contract budget and schedule, and conducted investigation into contractor and owner pre-contract planning and development work.
Construction Dispute Litigation - Gas Plant
Assisted in a litigated dispute between Owner-Operator and Engineering and Construction Contractor over whether a cryogenic gas plant, as engineered, procured, and constructed, met the stipulated contractual performance guarantees; prepared expert witness rebuttal report with respect to relevant issues.
Combined Cycle Power Plant Equipment Failures
Reviewed and advised on the suitability of a contractor’s engineering design for an operating 500 Megawatt (MW) Caribbean power plant. Systems reviewed included the failed seawater cooling steel piping, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fuel handling and compression, and compliance with design and environmental standards and practices.
Natural Gas Storage Project Abandonment
Determined value of planned construction and start-up of salt cavern gas storage project. Cavern began leaking during construction of surface facilities, causing the project to be abandoned. Assessed the lost income from third party storage customers, and evaluated lost marketing, trading, and arbitrage profits of the project developer.