Operations & Maintenance

Plant Operations and Maintenance Contracting Services

Assisted Caspian based independent oil and gas company in negotiating an operations and maintenance contract with a third-party operator for a newly constructed, company-owned gas processing facility.  Developed plant performance criteria and associated bonus/penalty structure for plant availability and liquids recovery.

Analysis of Refinery Performance and Operating Practices

Participated in projects for both domestic and international clients analyzing refinery performance gaps relative to peer refineries that were similar in size and complexity.  The completed analyses resulted in target setting for multiple maintenance and operating improvement initiatives aimed at achieving cost savings and gross margin increases.  The work involved site visits, employee interviews, final reporting, and presentations to company management. 

Operations Review of Cryogenic NGL Plant

On behalf of a gas gathering and processing company, conducted an operations review of an 86,000 Mcf/D cryogenic NGL plant and a separate 100,000 Mcf/D field compression facility, and examined the effect of excessive compressor engine downtime on the operation, maintenance, and profitability of the two facilities.  The review culminated with the delivery of a report which included observations, results of analysis, estimated lost income associated with engine downtime, and the estimated cost of replacing the existing plant compressor engines.

Petroleum Product Pipeline Failures

Reviewed operation, maintenance, and inspection procedures and relevant history for refined products pipeline which suffered failures and subsequent release of their contents and resulted in litigation.

Power and Steam Producing Utility Reliability Improvement

Led a team that performed a critical analysis of incidents, operating design, and operating practices for an integrated power plant providing steam and electricity to a major petrochemical complex.  Results of the efforts led to modifications in operating practices and equipment redesign that increased production reliability.

Environmental Contamination From Chemical Plant Site

Evaluated operating and maintenance practices, both current and historical, that led to ground and groundwater contamination at chemical plant site.  Provided expert reports and testimony.

Refinery Environmental Operations Performance Improvements

Led a team that re-engineered the normal operations monitoring practices for a large water treating and environmental operating center.  The multi-phase effort led to improved levels of treatment quality and lower volumes, a capital investment that economically eliminated the production of a large hazardous waste stream and lower operating costs. 

Supervisor Exemption Under California Labor Laws

Reviewed roles and responsibilities for maintenance supervisors and machinery specialists at refineries.  Dispute involved challenge to exempt position status by personnel requesting overtime compensation.

Gas Treating Plant Corrosion

Prepared gas plant volume balances to determine lost processing volumes due to plant shutdowns from corrosion related problems in plant's amine unit.   Prepared report and provided expert testimony in Canadian court to support methodology and results.

Refinery Safety

Regular involvement in safety issues including standards and procedures updates, work permit audits, near miss and accident investigations, safety in design reviews, and HAZOPS.

Refinery Turnaround Performance Improvement

Led the evaluation of multiple refinery turnarounds on crude, fluid catalytic cracking, coking, and hydrocracking units.  Evaluated existing practices and resulting performance relative to the “best” performers in industry.  Provided management assistance in setting goals and objectives which targeted significant financial savings and unit availability increases.

Coal Gasification Combined Cycle Plant

Responsible for unit and equipment performance analyses, technology assessment, and development of operating and maintenance procedures at a 100 Megawatt (MW) coal gasification combined cycle demonstration plant.

Pipeline Easement Dispute

Served as expert witness on pipeline installation, monitoring, testing, and repair in a dispute concerning development of property transected by existing pipelines.

Review of Plant Operations and Maintenance History

Evaluated historical operating and maintenance practices that impacted maintenance and inspection work schedules during an extended refinery downtime.  Prepared expert report and provided deposition testimony.

Environmental Contamination From Former Refinery Site

Evaluated historical operating and maintenance practices that led to ground and groundwater contamination at refinery site in Illinois with emphasis on developing a range of possible types of wastes and quantities of waste generated during the six decade operating lifetime of the refinery.  Provided expert report and testimony.

Natural Gas Asset Strategic Initiative

Prepared job descriptions and qualifications for new organizational strategy of a fully integrated natural gas division.

Petroleum Coke Fired Circulating Fluidized Bed Facility

Prepared an operations and maintenance mobilization plan for an existing petroleum coke fired circulating fluidized bed co-generation facility which was previously operated by a third-party O&M service provider.  This plan included staffing levels, estimates of consumables and a long-term prediciton of major maintenance costs.