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Established In 1987 – Dulcius Ex Asperis
Lowther-Rolton
Heavy Lift and Transport Engineering
Established in 1987
LOWTHER-ROLTON
The Construction Technology Consultant
Capability Statement—Oil & Gas Sector
LOWTHER-ROLTON PROVIDES ORIGINAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AND THIRD PARTY TECHNICAL AUDITS FOR THE POWER INDUSTRY.
L-R is a company of Consulting Engineers, Safety Consultants and Technicians offering a Professional service as technical advisors to the refining and Power industries, including the Nuclear sector.
Lowther-Rolton have prepared this document to provide information relating to the established capabilities of the Company as Professional Engineers in the field of Heavy Lift and Transportation.
Since 1987 Lowther-Rolton have specialized in original engineering and Technical Audit of lifting and transport schemes. Our desk study Audits are carried forward into the field, where we provide Operational Attendance and Oversight.
We have served our Clients consistently for decades. We introduced the concept of the Technical Audit to the industry and consider that we have played a part in the increased standard of professionalism and safety now seen in our sector. However, we strive for continual improvement.
Our Clients view us as problem solvers and as the standard bearers for excellence during the planning, engineering and execution of their Heavy Lift and Transport operations. By bringing our knowledge and experience to a Project, thus enhancing safety, we also deliver the additional benefits of improved productivity and reduced down-time, safeguarding or reducing outage schedules.
Our services are applicable to the construction of new facilities in addition to revamps and maintenance/shutdown/turnaround projects at existing locations.
Our complete independence from all contractors, equipment suppliers and other organizations allows us to focus directly/exclusively on our Client’s needs, protecting and promoting their best interests at all times.
Lowther-Rolton’s engineering team analyze complex structures
Lowther-Rolton's Technical Audit System
A significant amount of our work on a project is in ‘risk management’; using our system of Third Party Technical Check and Safety Audit. We scrutinise the technical proposals of designers and specialist contractors, addressing any errors, omissions and interface issues. This has been proven to significantly reduce incidents. Our role does not relieve contractors of their contractual obligations but protects the Client under ‘Duty of Care’ and due diligence commitments. Experience shows that in addition to Safety, the secondary benefit of improved efficiency is gained from this proactive process.
Our design reviews are undertaken by in house Professional Engineers. Our checks of structural and other design calculations are undertaken using independent stress and deflection checks without detailed reference to the original source. This provides a true ‘third party’ check without the risk of repeating errors made by the original designers. Where results diverge from the original, we augment our initial checks with more detailed line by line checks of the original material to uncover the reason for differing results, potentially identifying errors and omissions.
Our operational checks ensure complete consistency between Project documentation, again highlighting any data which is found to be divergent. We positively resolve unmanaged interface issues between the various parties ensuring transparency and clarity prevail. Our review of operational procedures ensures that logical sequential steps are planned out to complete operations.
Our unique combination of technical knowledge and hands-on experience leads to advice which can be sensibly and economically implemented, leading to a reduction in errors, downtime and accidents together with improved safety performance and increased efficiency.
Beyond the desk study and Audit, our experienced site engineers integrate into a Client’s team as advisors or to manage and supervise operations, to endorse that the agreed procedures are safely adhered to. We strengthen and empower our Client during their interactions with specialist construction contractors, by virtue of our independent expertise.
The advantages of engaging our services to support a project team are:
- Significantly reduced risk of structural failure during construction activities
- Assurance that load movement proposals do not compromise process equipment design
- Reduced risk of project over-run by providing detailed engineering and planning of load movement and erection activities
- Increased control of operations, with benefits to safety and flexible working
- Assurance that all engineering aspects have been positively addressed
- Elimination of foreseeable technical interface problems between contractors/suppliers
- Assurance that technical and operational needs receive the attention of our experienced engineers, project managers and Directors
- Allows our Client to do what they do best, while L-R focus on the technical details of the lifting and transportation aspects
Our engineering services may be considered as an extension of our Client’s technical abilities where we are constantly aware of a project’s aims in respect to safety, efficiency, schedule and cost.
We share our Clients’ philosophy of continual improvement and pledge to ensure our services are tailored to suit their specific project requirements.
Our standard of service is maintained at the highest level by the attention to detail and personal commitment of our Directors.
Structural & Design Engineering
Lowther-Rolton design load transportation and lifting schemes that are innovative, practical, economical, and safe to implement. Our ‘hands-on’ experience with construction equipment for load movement is comprehensive and unique. The company provides a Professional Engineering service, independent of load movement Contractors and suppliers.
Our Professional Engineers design components such as lifting and spreader beams together with permanent or temporary structures using structural and solid 3D modelling software, backed by hand calculations. We design to US codes such as ASME and BTH in addition to British Standards and Eurocodes. We also offer bridge analysis for heavy loads.
We bring the same approach to the Third Party Technical Audit function, which includes code compliance checks of documents prepared by others (designers and Contractors).
Our design capability also extends to Pressure Vessel design and pipe stress.
Lift & Transportation Planning
At Lowther-Rolton we appreciate that the planning for every day lifting and transport operations, frequently overlooked and disrespected, demands the same focus and diligence as major lifts of a more ‘spectacular’ nature. Similarly, we are aware that lifts in off-site areas and laydown yards can often be overlooked.
We pledge to our Clients that we shall demonstrate our well-known attention to detail when preparing documentation for a simple task, or a major, complex event. Our highly experienced staff have planned, documented and executed hundreds of successful lifting and transport operations without incident.
Our drawings, prepared in AutoCAD, are backed by calculations for transport stability and lashing, crane outrigger and crawler forces, loadspreading, rigging geometry and capacity. We have developed in-house programs and couple these with the latest software packages for structural modelling and analysis.
Our ‘hands-on’ experience of construction equipment for load movement is comprehensive and unique. The company provides a Professional Engineering service, independent of load movement Contractors and suppliers.
Our permanent team of licensed Professional Engineers including structural experts have PC and CAD support with the latest engineering software packages, including Mathcad and Finite Element (FE) analysis. Problems identified are solved using our technical knowledge and hands-on experience, producing engineered solutions that can be sensibly and economically implemented.
Safety
Lowther-Rolton (L-R) continually strives to maintain our best in class performance in relation to Health, Safety, Quality and the Environment.
Safety is the primary Value maintained throughout our work, and all other considerations are treated in a manner consistent with this philosophy.
L-R maintains a state of Safety awareness and our Senior Management team actively and consistently insist on a strong culture of Safety within our organisation. Our staff are equally committed to this philosophy and understand that open communication and effective teamwork are important means to ensure its successful implementation.
We recognise that our objective is to deliver World Class construction and engineering services of the highest possible quality, and to protect the Health and Safety of the general public, our employees, our partners and our Clients. We work in a manner which minimises impact on the Environment.
This philosophy has resulted in the Company maintaining a 100% safety record, completing all projects without loss or insurance claim since company foundation.
We consider that Safety and Production working in harmony leads to the optimal Project outcome.
By the numbers:
– 6,500+ Crane Lifts
– Heaviest Crane Lift: 3,000Te
– Heaviest Lift by Strand Jack/Slide System: 4,500Te
– Heaviest Lift Hydraulic Jack System: 10,000Te
– Heaviest Designed Lift: 18,000Te
– 6,500+ Transports on Land
– 700+ Marine Transport Shipments
Lift of buildings over a critical pipe rack was completed safely
This 545 Ton Crude Columns was installed safely following L-R Technical Audit
L-R assisted with development of the route through the refinery for electrical buildings
Example Lifting drawings produced by Lowther-Rolton’s in-house Professional Engineers
Example Rigging drawings produced by Lowther-Rolton’s in-house Professional Engineers
Project Examples:
Acai Petrochemical Complex
- Client: BASF
- Project Name: Acai Project - Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, Brazil
- Location: Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil
Scope of Work description:
Lowther-Rolton was contracted by BASF/Worley Parsons as independent Technical Auditors and advisors for the movement of a 65m long Condensation Tower for BASF’s Acai Project at Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil. The total weight of the transport was 730Te. The move was particularly challenging as the 50km delivery route featured numerous overhead obstructions, width restrictions, gradients, junctions and weak bridges. Due to imposed axle weight restrictions while crossing bridges, the transport operation required in total 60 transporter axles (120 suspension units), together with turntables, which were required for maneuverability.
Lowther-Rolton undertook a Technical Audit of the route surveys and transportation engineering aspects together with site attendance, providing oversight during the road transportation. Our recommendations led to essential route upgrades being completed in time before the transport left the port. At our suggestion lashing and welded securing arrangements were improved to prevent the shipping saddles from moving during transport.
Rumaila Field Iraq
- Client: BP
- Project Name: RUMAILA FIELD IRAQ – DESALTERS AND DEHYDRATORS
- Location: Iraq
Scope of Work description:
Lowther-Rolton played a critical role in adapting the design of the Pressure Vessel, its shipping saddles and its permanent support structures, to accommodate load movement and installation equipment. We reshaped the installation methods during the Project, leading to an improved and more economical methodology being adopted for this work, which was undertaken in remote locations.
Our scope of work included assisting the Vessel designers and preparing engineering concepts for the installation methods, Technical Auditing, and attendance during load-out/shipping/load-in, land transport and installation. The methods pioneered by Lowther-Rolton enabled our Client to save considerable sums by eliminating the importation and use of large crawler cranes and the extensive logistics required to mobilize, assemble, and disassemble them at multiple remote sites.
BP Whiting
- Client: BP
- Project Name: BP Whiting MODERNIZATION PROJECT
- Location: Whiting, Indiana
Scope of Work description:
Contracted to BP as independent 3rd party Technical Auditors and advisors for all transportation and heavy lifting proposals together with the associated engineering aspects, including attendance at the operational locations. This ensured that handling methods agreed for Vessels and Modules were in compliance with designer/Vendor requirements.
Our role comprised of independent 3rd party assurance (Technical Audit) for the loading/transshipment/off-loading, transportation and installation of approximately 1,000 process equipment items, up to 950Te and Modules up to 560Te, together with Pump Foundation Modules complete with Pumps, from Vendor through to installation, which equated to approximately 5,000 individual load movements to review and attend.
Our involvement in this Project commenced as early as the PEER review meeting, held to determine the Project verification, that enabled the Project to proceed.
Our reviews of marine ocean shipping and inland barging aspects were a key component in ensuring successful coordination with the appointed Marine Warranty Surveyors.
Further to our desk study reviews, our attendance at site ensured that the accepted procedures and agreed transportation and lifting studies were implemented prior to the load movement, with constant monitoring during the operations.
NORTH DAKOTA REFINERY PROJECTS
- Client: Marathon
- Project Name: Refinery Expansion - MANDAN AND DICKINSON
- Location: North Dakota
Scope of Work description:
Initially engaged by Tesoro (now Marathon) to provide Technical Audit during a refinery FCCU Turnaround, Lowther-Rolton’s scope at Mandan was expanded to include the preparation of original concept and detailed drawings for installation of the heavy lifts during two plant expansion Projects. Lowther-Rolton developed and issued lift plan, rigging arrangement and transportation drawings during a two-year period, which resulted in the successful lifting, rigging, and installation of 140 Modules, Vessels, Buildings, and other equipment.
Two Reactors weighing 350 metric tonnes were the heaviest items installed. Following drawing and calculation preparation and checking, the Reactor lift drawings were sealed by our in-house Professional Engineer (PE) to match the requirements of our client’s standards. The Reactors were equipped with a top nozzle lifting device which was also used as a transportation support to allow sufficient axles to be used, meeting axle load limits over the delivery route. Once on-site, the transport was reconfigured so that the Reactor could be maneuvered into the precise lift position indicated on the lift plan
Collaboration and teamwork were a feature of these Projects, leading to a very positive outcome with all items installed without delay or incident. Communication between our assigned engineer, the site owner and transport/installation contractor helped establish trust, and this collaborative style contributed to a successful outcome for all parties, with the Reactors installed flawlessly and without incident over two consecutive days.
We respect the contribution of the skilled labor who operate and direct the cranes and transport equipment and engage with them during planning. We have found that this teamwork helps us reduce schedule by eliminating unnecessary crane moves and configuration changes.
Transport From Houston Texas To West Coast Refinery
- Client: Tesoro (Marathon)
- Project Name: Carson coker safety
- Location: Carson California
Scope of Work description:
Tesoro (now Marathon) approached us to undertake a technical audit of the transport plan prior to these building Modules being transported from Houston Texas to a west Coast Refinery, which was completed on schedule and without incident.
Although each of the four sections, which comprised the two-story building, were each relatively light, weighing approximately 28Te, the characteristics of the lift over live services and existing buildings mandated that a comprehensive in-depth study was required. Fortunately, the owner’s project team identified this requirement early in the project, and Lowther-Rolton were contracted to provide 3rd party Technical Audit services.
Over a 12-month period, Refinery, engineering, and contractor personnel, together with Lowther-Rolton, ensured that the installation plan was thoroughly and accurately engineered, planned and risk assessed. This led to a flawless lift and installation operation, using a 400Te capacity hydraulic mobile crane.
This was a Project which may have been cancelled due to safety concerns, but was kept on track due to the confidence placed in Lowther-Rolton’s Technical Audit process by the Refinery Leadership Team.
LNG - DARWIN AUSTRALIA
- Client: ConocoPhillips
- Project Name: ConocoPhillips Darwin LNG Project
- Location: Darwin, Australia
Scope of Work description:
Lowther-Rolton was appointed by WorleyParsons to undertake a Technical Audit of the land transportation, laydown dressing support and installation of an Absorber Column weighing up to 595Te dressed, including lifting/tailing attachments, together with the design check of the associated engineering aspects and operational attendance during transportation and lifting operations.
The Absorber arrived at East Arm Wharf Darwin, where it was discharged by ship’s gears onto a Goldhofer draw-bar trailer for onward transportation to ConocoPhillips’ Darwin LNG facility at Wickham Point. It was subsequently self-offloaded and jacked approximately 1.8m by Goldhofer trailer onto support stools for final dressing. On completion of dressing the Absorber was tailed by LR11350 (main) and M18000 (tail) crane and subsequently installed by LR11350, configured with 430Te superlift counterweight.
Careful planning of this sequence allowed Conoco to reduce the project cost and schedule by installing platforms prior to installation of the vessel. This method provides a safety benefit by reducing work at height.
What Can You Expect From Us
First Party Design
- Lift plans
- Rigging arrangement and detail drawings
- Axle load and Ground Bearing Pressure calculations
- Transport arrangement drawings
- Rail car loading and securement drawings
- Gantry lift & jacking/skidding schemes
- All work backed by calculation
- All design work by Professional Engineers
-
All work thoroughly checked/approved
prior to issue
Project Management
- Feasibility studies
- Constructability expertise
- Procurement support
- Modularization and Preassembly strategy
Third-Party Verification Services
- Technical Audit
- Technical supervision at site
- Mechanical and Structural design verification
- ASME/OSHA compliance checks
Sectors Served
- Land Transportation
- Marine Shipping
- Construction
- Refining/Oil and Gas
- Petrochemical
- Fossil Power Generation
- Nuclear Power Generation
- Renewables/wind farms
- Mining
- Infrastructure