Birdwell Construction-Pumping Station

FROST PUMPING STATION
Frost, Texas

Our initial scope included only the ring foundation for the 7 fuel storage tanks. The first design for these tanks was determined to be deficient due to some evaluation by the outside engineers thus our original bid was insufficient to cover the significantly upgraded design, in fact the project was subject to being relocated again unless something changed. Through our discussions with the owner and Engineers, we assured them that the upgraded design was not needed, so a second set of soil test were authorized. The results were positive. The project would proceed using the original design.

The second hurdle dictated that the foundations would need to be completed on an accelerated schedule. The rings ranging in size from 49’ to 130’ diameter was began on a staggered schedule culminating in the completion of one ring every two weeks. As the work progressed Equilon requested that we assist the other contractor onsite by completing portions of his work.

After we completed the ring wall foundations, Equilon withdrew from the other civil construction contractor’s contract, the concrete civil work. Our scope more than doubled as we were told to proceed with construction of the pump foundation, electrical substation foundations, piping manifold foundation, and pipe rack foundations. We were also asking to construct the firewater inlet pump pit. The 25’ deep pit was the last civil item left to be completed on the original scope with the budget all but depleted. Equilon requested that we evaluate the engineer’s design and propose cost savings solutions. Various ideas were suggested and accepted.