Project approach

Stork on- and offshore experience in the execution of large, medium size projects in the oil and gas industry has resulted in some principles, which have proven there success. Depending on the complexity of projects we will suggest some of the principals in order to ensure a professional execution in safety, time, quality and cost.

Early involvement

In more complex projects or projects with long lead time involvement of the organisations involved is essential. Involvement during the first step of engineering and the conceptual project phase can lead to new ideas and or creative cost reducing solutions.

The creation of combined project team with stable members and clear responsibilities will ensure an effective process with minimum task doubling.

Early involvement will mostly be based on reimbursable cost and can be combined with fixed priced or unit rates for other project parts.

Project execution control

Stork has developed an in-house software tool which enables a full project control for execution. Within the project execution system PRINCE an integrated control of all activities is ensured. Engineering data form the input for the system which then will monitor all progress of work preparation, sub contractors, prefabrication, execution and will form the basis for daily progress reporting. Due to some double check function for mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and support services production and execution will be according to the engineering information.

For the execution of projects Stork will make use of the PRINCE software and the cost will be an integrated part.

Planning based on perfect delivery

Perfect delivery can be realised by integrated planning and gate keeping function. The responsibility for the integrated planning will be with the final execution team, in order to avoid any unplanned or unorganised offshore work, and run a final check on labour, materials, tools and space, etc. The integration of planning will incorporate logistics, sub contractors, labour, etc.

Clustering

Early planning and organisation will ensure effective maintenance execution and low back logs and sustain the integrity of the installation.

Change proposals and modifications can be clustered and be dealt with as medium size projects executed by one multi-discipline project team. Effective execution and overall cost savings can be realised by use of the project principles.

Competence assurance

Well skilled and experience labour are reasonable scare in the Netherlands and thereby increasing the changes on unsafe situations and project losses and /or OPEX overruns. Storks market position, size and labour conditions enables us still to recruit the right labour for offshore works. However Stork will develop its professional position by further development of the competencies of our work force. This is realised by the development of the competence assurance process which consists of three processes: skills, experience and behaviour.

Skills

Skills will be tested in special training facilities. Anyone before starting working offshore for Stork will have to perform a technical test based on the skills.

New skills will be developed in alliance with personnel development plan.

Under skills Stork also defines management or leadership skills of foreman and supervisors. Specific work shops, tests and training’s are developed to unify the work-processes and expectations of these disciplines. Only after successful passing of the tests foreman and supervisors will fill there new position and be closely monitored for the first three shifts.

Experience

Experience is both related to experience in skills as location/installation knowledge. Experience will be monitored by the type of works/projects executed and at locations/installations. The newly to be installed planning program will automatically monitor these and automatic select the most appropriate team combination. Until ½-2004 this will be done by hand.

Experienced team-members can be support by inexperienced who will be coached and mentored. Thereby we can increase our install base of highly skilled and experienced offshore labour.

For each installation or operator Stork will develop a dedicated multi-skilled core team, which is available on a semi permanent basis. The team size, availability and disciplines is related to the yearly work load.

Behaviour

Behaviour is mainly a natural gift and can be influenced but nearly not be changed. Therefor Stork runs official tests based on an objective personnel scan, related to the function. Additional personnel’s performance in different projects help us to determine which type of work better fits, were Stork distinguishes in routine maintenance, shutdowns, trouble shooting, change proposals/modifications and projects.

Routine maintenance
Work executed by a fixed team in a stable surrounding with little changes. Mostly executed by multi-skilled or multi-tasked labour of several disciplines. Team spirit and companionship are essential.
Shutdowns
Shutdowns are compressed projects with a strict planning and require problem solving and creative capacities combined with multi-skill/tasking and single skilled team members. The teams can vary and will be built around the core team. Performance pressure and working towards deadlines are the challenges of the team.
Trouble shooting
Specific highly technical skilled work mostly executed by one person support by the present fixed crew. Technical challenges and overview combined with individual, creative and flexible behaviour are required. Dealing with the unexpected is normal.
Change proposals/modifications
Clustering of small projects, mostly execute during operations and in combination with very short production shutdowns. Technical creativity and installation knowledge are essential. Performed by the core team, support by single skilled labour. Working towards deadlines and exceptional and technical flexibility are required. 
Projects
Large groups of single skilled labour under the responsibility of the a project manager and the incorporated the core team. Repeating work and marginal improvisation is needed. Execution controlled by progress reports and realisation controlled by milestone achievement. Large team performance depending on the quality of foreman and supervisors. General team spirit and time pressure are common in the work.