December, 2004 to September, 2009
Employer : Fluor Kuwait Company (formerly Fluor International Ltd.) / Kuwait
Project Management Consultants (PMC) to Major Projects Group, KOC
Position : Planning Engineer
Reporting to : Projects Controls Manager
Fluor Kuwait Company is the local outfit of Fluor International and was awarded a 5 years contract by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) as PMC to manage the projects of Major Projects Group on their behalf. The contract was subsequently renewed for a similar term.
With the consultant (PMC) I was able to consolidate and strengthen my skills of planning and control from another perspective. Working for the Projects Controls Department, I was assigned to the project management team/s to manage and control modernization and expansion projects as well as new systems at various gathering centers (GCs) and allied oil/gas facilities in the oil fields of Kuwait for KOC. A pick of some essential tasks performed are as below.
- Review, verify and analyze contractor’s work schedules, resource plans, work and cost breakdown structures (WBS and CBS), progress measurement systems (PMS), cash flow plans and other planning related deliverables.
- Participate in bid evaluation sessions to review planning and manpower programs and provide assessment thereof. Review planning/project control procedures and dossiers.
- Review and verify contractor’s periodic progress reports, assessments, progress invoice submissions and provide assistance in evaluation of claims and variation/change requests.
- - Interface and coordinate with client planning group as well as internal departments as engineering, procurement, construction, contracts and finance to ensure their support and assistance in carrying forth projects controls tasks effectively.
- Support with inputs, the periodic budget/cost phasing exercises. Participate in budget/cost review /revision sessions with the costing department and in the meetings for the review of these with the client.
- Provide inputs and support in preparation of project management plans (PMPs) for the client. Support in value engineering exercises to optimize value of services/ output. Part take in risk mitigation exercises.
- Participate in periodic schedule/progress review meetings with the client and provide inputs. Arrange/ conduct meetings with the contractor/s towards problem solving and coordination on specific topics as shut-downs conduct, permits, material handling etc. as per situation.
- Prepare and issue periodic reports (weekly, fortnightly, monthly & quarterly) to the client collating and integrating information, data and statistics on individual projects. Prepare and issue to the client, the consolidated overall monthly performance report of the consultant.
Projects : 1. Capacity Expansion for Compression & Medium Crude Processing/ GC-28.
This was an expansion project meant to enhance the production capacity of the GC by an additional 25,000 bpd and called for the installation of new HP/LP & TV compression trains, separators and desalters, wet crude storage tank, smokeless TV flare, gas cooling system, vessels and pumps along with associated piping, mechanical, electrical & instrumentation systems. The EPC contract was executed by TECNICAS REUNIDAS of Spain, supported by local subcontractors.
2. New Desalter & Light Crude Train Modification & Capacity Expansion/ GC-27.
The project was for the modifications to the GC installing additional new desalters and associated systems and modifying the light crude train. Capacity expansion of effluent water separation & transfer system and upgrade of the related water injection plant was also part of the scope of work. Canadian arm of global contractor, SNC LAVALIN carried out this EPC job.
3. VSM Drive Crude Transit Pumps at 11 GCs & Power System Upgrade.
Essential scope of the project was the installation of electric variable speed motor driven transit and booster pumps at 11 different GCs along with the upgrade of electric power distribution system, additional MCCs and related power system improvements. The project was executed by local contractors.
4. Along with these, support and assistance were also extended to other projects as well that were in the early stages as engineering and contract action.