Challenges encountered during an accelerated cogeneration plant construction and commissioning schedule

A decision was made in 1986 to proceed with a 110 magawatt grassroots cogeneration plant to supply the steam and electrical requirements of a large, integrated petrochemical manufacturing facility. Though some preliminary engineering had been done and long delivery equipment purchase orders had been let in the summer of 1986, detailed engineering did not commence until late October and construction until mid-December, 1986. Federal income tax consideration required that the project be in service prior to the end of 1987. This eleven month construction, commissioning, and start up schedule was achieved with 100 per cent operation occurring on December 22, 1987. Numerous challenges were met by the lean Project Team during this accelerated schedule. This paper discusses the development of: Project Team Staffing, Operator and Maintenance Staffing and Training, Commissioning Schedules and Staffing, solutions to Significant Technical Problems