Specializing in the Oil & Gas Industry

DISPUTE AVOIDANCE

Projects are increasing in size and complexity while falling oil prices and stiff competition are narrowing margins. Relations between Clients, Contractors, and Subcontractors are strained and disputes are intensifying. Meanwhile, industry recognized recommended practices for project reporting and assessing impacts to projects demand increasing detail and scrutiny.

The blissful days high margins and handshake deals are a thing of the past. Contractually aware planning and schedule implementation are now the first and strongest line of defense to reducing the occurrence of protracted time related disputes.

AVOID AND PREPARE FOR DISPUTES

• Project Controls, Planning and Schedule Technical Advice/Training:

  Plan with the contract in mind by assisting in schedule related contract clarifications and strategy.

• Project Schedule Baseline Assessment/Development:

  Facilitation of the baseline planning process for schedule quality and maturity.

• Critical Path Method Integrity (CPMi) Assessments:

  Work with client planners to assess schedule adherence to the Critical Path Method. Assess its consistency with the project's execution strategy and facilitate validation of the critical path.

• Deltek Acumen Fuse Project Diagnostics Implementation and Training

  Planning Forensics LLC employs and strongly advocates Deltek Acumen Fuse schedule diagnostics. Training in this product includes:

  - When and how to develop and affectively implement fuse metrics specific to the size and nature of a given project. 

  - How to interpret the results and where to focus efforts for schedule improvements.

  - How to defend against it's use by companies and consultants to "blindly" score schedule quality.

  - Avoid rushed and detrimental reparations by schedulers solely to improve scoring.

• Earned Value Management (EVM)

  The application of EVM in its purest form, as implemented by contractors to the US government, is arguably often impractical to the highly diverse and largely multinational Oil & Gas industry. But, aspects of EVM are slowly infiltrating O&G as it advocates Estimates, Cost, and Schedule integration, analysis, and reporting at a common and detailed level. This makes good sense, and naturally improves the potential for increasing project reporting consistency and accuracy. It is therefore advisable to consider aspects of EVM when developing Project Controls work methods and procedures, as well as when developing requirements for project reporting. But is also critical to consider EVM's potential impact on overhead costs.

• Risk Analysis Support

  Take advantage of Schedule Risk facilitation and assessments offered at a "new service discount". Analytics are performed utilizing the relatively new Acumen Risk tools licensed by Deltek. This product was created by the very same developers who brought both Primavera (P6) and PertMaster to market. Training is not yet offered for this product since implementation is a new area of service which is also offered at discounted rate.

• Work Method / Process Development

  Review, advice, and assistance in developing corporate work methods and procedures for project planning.  Custom procedures which interface with existing project controls procedures and which considers the expectations of both clients and the broader industry.