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PROJECT INITIATION PHASE

EACH PROJECT HAS A DEFINED START POINT AND DEFINED END STATE, WHICH PURSUES A DEFINED GOAL.

Every decision along the way impacts the project outcome and decisions made in early phases may have significant impact. 

 

Examples:

  1. Determining the fabrication facility and location for your equipment. What are the logistical risks,  limitations,  permitting, and  seasonal challenges? 

  2. Verifying concept equipment designs. Provide feedback related to proposed lift points (rigging fitment), saddle placement and design, study potential interference.  

  3. Management of equipment handover among the various contractors in the supply chain will result in less handling and cost. Coordinate and supervise adequate staging. 

  4. Sequencing of heavy lift heavy haul activities can easily result in major savings. Mobilizing and demobilizing of large construction equipment is costly, time consuming, and impact other site activities.  

  5. Determining how to lift the equipment. When it comes to heavy lifting, the first thing that comes to mind is utilizing cranes. There are however, several other options including trailers, gantries, jack and slide system, or a combination.  

Cetlla offers to work closely together with your project team to optimize your construction strategy concentrating on achieving the project goals safely, on time, and within budget. 

Cetlla’s consulting services are based on the following heavy lift heavy haul project success factors:

  • Define and mutually agree on clear project goals

  • Guarantee competent management and top-management support

  • Bring together a competent project team with consistent key personnel

  • Ensure sufficient resource allocation

  • Arrange for and stimulate effective communication

  • Implement a project control mechanism and value feedback

  • Having a Management of Change procedure in place 

CONSTRUCTABILITY STUDIES

Every decision along the way impacts a project outcome. During the constructability process, Cetlla identifies obstacles prior to project execution to reduce or prevent errors, delays, and cost overruns.

 

During the constructability studies, Cetlla concentrates on the following areas:

  • Review of execution and milestone schedule

  • Execution of clash checks in relation to proposed transport/set sequence

  • Verification of transportability of proposed items

  • Verification of required areas for project execution, mobilization, and demobilization

  • Analysis of availability of resources and redundancy

  • Analysis of independent factors with potential project impact, such as:

    • Weather: water levels, storm, seasonal limitations

    • Permitting: levee permits, rail permits, state and local permits

    • Utilities and signs: power lines, data cables, traffic lights and signs

The conclusions derived from the Constructability Study will address areas of concern and yield recommendations to prevent errors, delays, and cost overruns prior to the planning and execution phases of a project.

CONSTRUCTABILITY STUDIES
MODULARIZATION STUDIES
MODULARIZATION STUDIES

Modular construction is a process in which project equipment is constructed in modular sections, off-site, under controlled plant conditions, and per the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities.

Cetlla offers to assist in optimizing the construction strategy by researching the impact of Modular construction compared to conventional construction. 

Defining Budget Impact

  • Study pros and cons with your fabricators/equipment providers

  • Study shipping cost

  • Study onsite installation cost

  • Study cost overrun risks

 

Defining Schedule Impact

  • Study shipping routes and schedule

  • Study permitting schedule

  • Study weather delay risks

  • Study the impact on your construction schedule

 

Defining Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality

  • Study estimated manhours onsite vs offsite

  • Study environmental risks

  • Study availability of skilled workers

 

Once the research is complete, Cetlla can further assist you with the transport and lifting of the modular sections by completing Route Studies, Barging & Shipping Studies, and Lift and Rigging Studies. Completing these studies with Cetlla, will prevent and/or reduce potential setbacks in the completion of your project.

ROUTE STUDIES

Cetlla has extensive experience executing Route Studies, which will assist engineering, procurement, and construction in the planning and optimization of the design process of equipment and related delivery methods, fabrication locations, transport routes, and provide reliable shipping envelopes. Additionally, Cetlla can provide a detailed forecast on infrastructure limitations, transport configurations, expected subcontracting and 3rd party cost, and schedule.

The fabrication locations and delivery methods are key factors in determining equipment supply risk, including SHE-Q, budget control and schedule control. The following are examples of what is considered:

  • Potential for equipment damage during transition (dynamic loadings, handling, weather)

  • Contract management associated with involved entities.

  • Means of transportation (offshore, in-land waterways, on land, rail, road)

  • Auxiliary equipment, saddles, staging equipment

  • Overcoming physical obstacles and perform civil improvements

  • Potential weather/seasonal impact

  • Permitting complexity

  • Equipment fabricator qualifications

  • Reduction of onsite equipment handling

Cetlla services include performing physical route studies of potential transportation and heavy haul routes for physical clearance to provide assistance determining the recommended transport route and transport method. Studies include identifying barge roll-off locations, maps of routes, and any recommendations on required civil improvements. Cetlla further offers to identify all route obstacles and detailed mitigation plans to avoid obstructions.

ROUTE STUDIES
BARGING & SHIPPING STUDIES
BARGING & SHIPPING STUDIES

Cetlla offers to provide full barging and shipping studies. Studies include defining adequate ocean carriers for project cargo. Cetlla further determines the optimum barge dimensions, along with tugboat and mooring recommendations. Cetlla’s team of engineers is experienced performing fastening and ballast calculations and can assist researching the optimum Ro-Ro locations or ports. Services include providing technical support, budget support and contracts management.

LEVEE CROSSING STUDIES
LEVEE CROSSING STUDIES

Cetlla performs complete levee analysis and offers to go as far as preparing the permit application on behalf of the owner. Levee Studies start with identifying the optimal location to cross the levee for clients’ project cargo. Cetlla engineering evaluates the cargo, determines the transport configuration, and prepares the transport drawings, including Ground Bearing Pressures. Cetlla will obtain permit for soil borings and prepare the geotechnical analysis which will identify required civil improvements and whether an aggregate crossing or the design of a bridge structure is required. The full levee crossing application package will be prepared by Cetlla and issued to the Army Corps of Engineers requesting a Letter of Non-Objection. Cetlla will then coordinate a meeting with the Levee Board to acquire the permit.

LIFT & RIGGING STUDIES
LIFT & RIGGING STUDIES

The Cetlla team has extensive experience when it comes to preparing Lift & Rigging studies. Cetlla’s independent position allows objective advice on the best suitable crane for your needs. Our engineers will identify recommended crane types, size and placement. We will verify single crane lifts vs tandem lift cranes and determine the ground bearing pressures per scenario. These factors contribute to developing an accurate project budget and schedule.

 

Creating a strong lifting plan requires calculating safe working loads, preparation of drawings and consideration of safety factors in accordance with used standards. Based on that, our engineers will start with a thorough investigation of the load, surroundings, and soil conditions.

A complete lift plan includes a well-designed rigging plan. The lift points should be loaded accurately, and the load center of gravity needs to be considered ensuring level lifting of the load. Our engineers will calculate sling tensions and ensure all rigging components are well within the allowable safe working load limit. Capacity deductions (if any) will be incorporated in each rigging plan.

 

Cetlla engineers are familiar with and are trained on multiple software packages and tools to effectively develop lift & rigging studies and both 2D and 3D. 

The following data is studied and captured on Cetlla Lift & Rigging Studies:

  • The Load Dimensions, Weight, Center of Gravity, and Lift points

  • The Crane Type and Relevant Crane Details

  • The Crane Net Capacity, adjusted for setup (such as configuration, reeving, outrigger extension) and deductions (such as hook block, rigging, jib)

  • The Ground Bearing Pressures below the crane tracks or outriggers, and below the load spreading mats.

  • The Rigging Arrangement, applicable rigging capacity reductions and tensions.

  • Location and Clearances, including the lift location, rigging clearances, load path and identified obstacles in the crane operating area.

JACK & SLIDE STUDIES
JACK & SLIDE STUDIES

Cetlla offers to execute full technical and commercial independent Jack and Slide studies. We assist your team planning the operation well ahead of execution. Together with your team we maximize the execution schedule and identify any preparation work that needs to be performed. Cetlla assists with budgeting during early project phases and offers to provide contractual and technical consulting services during the project bid and execution phase. Cetlla jack & slide studies range from transformers and condenser change-outs to setting 1000 ton+ columns using gantry towers and strand jack systems.

Not sure if Jack and Slide is the optimal execution method? Cetlla assists defining what method fits your project criteria best by analyzing amongst others:

  • Site access:  Crane & Trailer access vs Jack & Slide access

  • Schedule:  Mobilization window, assembly, execution, and disassembly

  • Interferences:  Site and activity interferences

  • Civil requirements:  Ground Bearing Pressure optimization

  • Budget:  Mobilization, Execution, Demobilization, Variation Rates

HL/HH PLANNING & BUDGETING
HL/HH PLANNING & BUDGETING

It is safe to say that cost overruns in construction projects have become an industry-wide status quo. In fact, according to a study from KPMG, just 31% of all projects came within 10% of the budget in the past 3 years. Cost associated with heavy hauling, shipping and heavy lifting make up a substantial portion of the overall project cost. Additionally, there is a lengthy list of consequence cost, such as:

  • Site civil preparation

  • Equipment storage cost

  • Limitation of other work activities near heavy lift activities

  • Delay of other subcontractor activities and production

Cetlla can develop your project HL/HH cost estimate and schedule. Key areas our team concentrates on are:

  • A successful project requires cost control, which starts with developing an accurate budget. Years of experience have guided Cetlla’s team to develop accurate project estimates associated with Heavy Lift Heavy Haul.

  • Developing a Heavy Lift Heavy Haul Schedule prior to project execution is pertinent to cost control. Cetlla schedules are resource loaded and inclusive of key activities, milestones, and activity relationships.

  • Even if proper time and resources are accurately included in the budget and schedule, if the design plans are defective, you will inevitably be destined for cost overruns in construction projects. Cetlla’s strategy concentrates on eliminating Serious Project Design Errors.

  • Both internal and external factors may affect the project cost and schedule. Cetlla assists identifying these areas and provides recommendations to enable you to plan for Change Orders.

From the start, Cetlla provides Quality Control tools and to secure the project goals safely, on time and within budget. Quality control concentrates on identifying and resolving potential areas of concern at an early phase. Methods include identifying critical path activities, effective communication, and progress reports.

Additionally, it will lay down the ground work for an effective ITB/RFQ Development. To learn more on the benefits see ITB/RFQ Development. 

PRE-TAR PLANNING
PRE-TAR PLANNING

Plant Turnaround (TAR) is the process of shutting down a unit or component to perform either preventative or routine maintenance for a scheduled period of time. The plant downtime during TAR is costly - not just in terms of lost production while the unit is down, but in the many manhours and equipment hours devoted for the TAR.

As a result, proper risk management and planning is critical to maximizing efficiency, minimize risk, and minimize the overall turnaround duration. Cetlla offers to assist providing detailed heavy lift heavy haul turnaround packages in close cooperation with your turnaround group. Cetlla believes that the success of a planned TAR will hinge on the quality and comprehensiveness of the information provided in the packages.

 

Cetlla Pre-TAR services include:

  • Defining HL/HH execution methods and work areas

  • Defining HL/HH durations and schedule optimization

  • Defining pre-HL/HH activities, such as temporary removal of obstructions

  • HL/HH Risk analysis and Risk mitigation

  • HL/HH resource planning and budgeting.

Learn more about how we can assist during the TAR Planning phase under Project Planning.

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