Our Integration Model

Client/Contractor/Consultancy Relationships: The Way It Is

Traditionally, oil companies (client) work directly with mainstream consultancy companies in the early phases of the field development lifecycle, and with the design contractors in the latter phases:

The key characteristics associated with the model are:

• All aspects of the field development lifecycle are managed wholly by the client
• There are no perceived responsibilities/accountabilities beyond concept selection for the consultancy
• There is no input by the design contractor prior to the FEED
• There is no liaison between the consultancy and design contractor throughout the appraise, feasibility, concept and FEED phases.

The potential outcomes of this model are:

• In a globally buoyant marketplace which is compounded by slimmed down and streamlined oil companies, client project teams can often be stretched beyond their limits in both management and technical resources.
• Opportunities exist for Consultants to focus too much on "a well packaged" pre-FEED study without sufficient consideration given to further down the lifecycle (i.e. implementation and operation).
• Lack of a communication link between Consultant & Design Contractor can lead to an increase in overall scope.

The Integration Model offered by ClerkMaxwell mitigates these potential issues.

ClerkMaxwell's Integration model is set up so that we can provide a supporting role throughout the entire lifecycle of a field development, with particular attention to each phase up to and including the FEED phase. Particular attention is given to these front end activities where engineering has more influence in the key decisions that will shape the respective projects going forward.

Appraise & Feasibility

ClerkMaxwell will provide the key skills required to assist the client in developing ideas at the embryonic phase of a potential field development. ClerkMaxwell will support, or fully execute, an assessment of any of these ideas both from a technical and economical perspective in order to establish feasibility. Once the feasibility of idea(s) have been established, ClerkMaxwell will take an active role in the transition of these ideas into the conceptual phase.

Key Outcomes:

• Clerkmaxwell will support  the Client team to relieve technical and managerial resource constraints.
• Exact fit of expertise will be provided for Appraise and Feasibility Studies taking recognition that "one size does not fit all"
• ClerkMaxwell will integrate with the client to operate as one team and not to operate in semi-isolation.
• Access to a wider range of specialised skills via the ClerkMaxwell head office.

Conceptual

In the conceptual Phase, ClerkMaxwell will build on the existing team used during the appraisal and feasibility phase. The integration typically will be as a technical and management supporting role with the actually execution of the day-to-day engineering still being performed within the ClerkMaxwell skills pool.
Towards the end of this phase it is equally important that all the work is collated to allow seamless communication as the field development moves into the next phase. ClerkMaxwell can enhance this process by supporting early development of Basis of Designs, Scopes of Work, and where required, ITT documents. ClerkMaxwell can, providing there is no conflict of interest, also assist in reviewing ITT responses for FEED contractor selection.

Key Outcomes:

• Continuity of expertise and retained project specific knowledge.
• Access to a wider range of specialised skills via the ClerkMaxwell head office.
• Early communication with design contractor(s) leading to their better understanding of the client scope and requirements as well as an understanding of the contractors drivers and capabilities.

FEED

The integrated model within the FEED phase has significant impact, as this is the project phase where there will be a step change in resource requirements and the introduction of a new organisation in the form of a design contractor. These changes can potentially be problematic if communications between, and management of all parties are not kept robust. This is particularly relevant in the early phase of the FEED when there is a temptation for new people and organisations to impose preferential engineering at a significant cost and schedule impact to the project. With ClerkMaxwell involved through the earlier phases, the continuity of personnel and knowledge will assist in supporting the client and the project in preventing unnecessary change.

Key Outcomes:

• Continuity of personnel and project specific knowledge.
• Provision of  technical and project management expertise to the client.
• Effective and robust communication and management throughout.
• Support of the design contractor in executing the FEED.
• Mitigating against preferential engineering, and thus, minimising unnecessary change.
• Provision of FEED assurance and Access to a wide range of specialist FEED skills via the ClerkMaxwell head office.