By Tracy Sadowski with contributions from Rick Hoffman, Joseph Jacobs, Mel Larson, and Andrew Last Buying, upgrading, or selling an industrial asset – be it a refinery, chemical plant, or renewable fuels facility – comes with big decisions and even bigger implications. Financial due diligence gives you the numbers, but it’s technical due diligence (TDD) […]
By Tracy Sadowski with contributions from Rick Hoffman, Joseph Jacobs, Mel Larson, and Andrew Last Investing in a new technology – whether it’s a renewable fuels process, a carbon capture innovation, or a breakthrough chemical route – is exciting. But with all that potential comes uncertainty. Will the technology scale? Is it economically viable? Are […]
Situation: An owner/operator of coal fired electrical generating facilities in Turkey was required to retrofit 2X150 MW power stations with wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) to meet 2020 EU SO2 removal and stack emissions limits. They were considering the purchase and relocation of 3 wet FGD units from a retired 500 MW facility in Texas, […]
Situation: A global financial group considering a major equity investment in a North American midstream terminal and logistics company requested a technical and environmental due diligence. Action: Reviewed data of existing terminal condition and operations assessment. Conducted benchmarking reviews on 9 sites spanning 4 distinct regulatory environments. Becht Assessed the strengths and weaknesses with focus on impacts […]
A key element in an effective Due Diligence study is to be able to quickly identify the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) on a current, historical and projected basis. These KPI’s include safety statistics, operational performance, status of maintenance programs and overdue activities. The KPI’s can be presented in numerical or graphical format however it is […]
Just the Facts Ma’am The famous phrase, “Just the facts, Ma’am,” was often linked to Los Angeles Police Department Sargent Joe Friday who wore badge 714 on the TV show Dragnet. However, according to several sources, the facts are Joe Friday never said this exact phrase on the long running TV show. The statement “Just […]
or “Kidnapped By My Own Business Team” A number of years ago I worked closely with an Operating Company Business Team and Mergers and Acquisitions group performing due diligence assessments. I often led these assessments and my input on reliability, maintenance, mechanical integrity and inspection was incorporated into a multi discipline team of legal, environmental, […]
A few years ago I conducted what might be the world’s cheapest, fastest and most cost effective due diligence study ever done. This study took one hour and cost the client about $500. I was approached by two new members of a well-recognized financial institution. They were assigned to evaluate opportunities to capture low cost […]
In many cases operating companies and financial institutions utilize Due Diligence studies for critical input on “Go/No Go” decisions for plant acquisitions. Once the decision is made to purchase the plant, the Due Diligence study is often put on the shelf. The company purchasing the new asset then faces significant challenges integrating the asset into […]
Acquiring a Petrochemical Plant, Refinery or Other Major Asset? It’s always important to have expert advice when you buy anything — from a new car to a wide screen television. Normally, there are many sources of information to determine which products provide the best value, reliability and that will last. However what do you do […]
The right expert witness can significantly reduce litigation cost and risk by identifying root causes early, shaping legal strategy, and preventing weak or unnecessary claims. Technical experts with industry and project execution experience often uncover critical issues faster than legal teams working alone. Key takeaways Litigation costs escalate quickly without early, technically grounded expert insight. […]
Joseph “Joe” Jacobs has over 30 years’ experience in refining, process optimization, and operations leadership, with a strong track record in profitability improvement and strategic project execution. He has been known to enjoy a round of golf or taking in a baseball game with the family. Joseph has evaluated FCC performance for over 25 units […]
In a recent interview with Inspenet, Chuck Becht IV and Chuck Becht V discussed some history, projects, and the future. History and Evolution: Becht was founded by Charles Becht III in 1964; he did so as he wanted to have more control over his destiny. He envisioned a large company which is why he […]
Scott M. Sayles has over 49 years of experience as a refinery manager, engineer, and consultant in the renewable fuels, petroleum refining and petrochemical industries. His experience in leading technical due diligence for emerging technologies, alternative feedstock selection, and balancing operability/reliability for assets continues to bring successful projects on line and increase client profitability. Owner’s […]
