Burns & McDonnell Project – Wynnewood Refining Company, LLC
My assignment as a Heavy Lift and Rigging Advisor was to observe and consult with the client onsite during the lift and assembly of the Process Tower (52-V01). My assignment was thought to be 14 days or less. The Project’s plan was to lift the base section of the tower and set on the foundation on Day 1, lift and tail up the top section of the tower on Day 2 and hold for 24 hours to complete dress out on Day 3 then lift the top section of the tower on Day 4. The plan required the crane to remain rigged to the top section of the tower until the circumference weld was complete inside and out and X-Ray was good.
However, Mother Nature had other ideas. The wind delayed the Day 2 lift then an Ice Storm a few days after the top section of tower was lifted delayed completion by a few days. Ice on the ladder rungs and platforms kept the tower crew grounded for two days delaying completion of the weld out of the circumference welds.
I became a member of the Lift Team upon arrival. After reviewing documents from the crane vendor and sitting in several team meetings, I discovered a few items that did not fall in line with Industry Standards or recommendations. All recommendations were adopted and the lift plans revised.
Once the tower was set in place, but prior to welding completion, the Project Manager asked if I would mind reviewing five additional lift plans for equipment en route to the project. I told him I did not mind, thinking it would not extend my stay, but several things delayed equipment delivery, critical lift plan development and identifying the crane that would make each of the five critical lifts. The five lifts were two sections of an MCC Building and five or six furnace/heater lifts from transport trucks and three critical lifts assembling the furnace sections in place after being assembled on the ground.
I reviewed each of the lift plans as requested and assisted the Project Manager in getting the lift plans approved by the Client Manager prior to being released from this assignment on March 10, 2014. My assignment extended approximately eight days because our client, Burns & McDonnell, liked the excellent support received from Joe Collins, Becht Engineering Heavy Lift Manager, and the support of an onsite field advisor in completing the assigned tasks safely and in a professional manner.
Burns & McDonnell Project – Wynnewood Refining Company, LLC, (a division of CVR Energy, LP) Wynnewood, Oklahoma