Project planning

What is project planning

Project planning is the process leading up to the final contract documentation. 

How

The project planning process is divided into four phases. Phase 1 describes activities documenting the need for the technology. In phase 2 the requirements are specified. Phase 3 describes activities for vendor(s) selection and the process of making the technology qualification program (TQP) if there are gaps between the requirements and available technology. Phase 4 includes activities for establishing the final contract and holding kick-off meeting.

Project planning is probably the most important phase of a project where new technology is required, since this process constitutes the basis for the project execution phase. The oil and gas operators are the technology users and are therefore responsible for the project planning process. Most of these operators have governing documents describing the project planning process. However, not all operators have a recommended work process for the entire project planning process on a level fitted for the project manager. The need for a practical summary of the entire project planning process has resulted in the following guideline.

• Guideline for project planning

This guideline is especially made for projects where new or modified technology are required, but can also be used in projects where only standard equipment is required. The main difference in these two cases will be the development of the TQP during the process if new technology is required. Care must be taken when using this guideline as the recommendations given in this guideline may not be consistent with the operators governing documentation. However, the guideline is developed together with practical people working in major oil companies.   

Roles

A coarse description of roles and their main responsibilities during the project planning process is illustrated in the figure below.

The project engineer in the above figure is operator’s project manager for the project planning process and will normally establish a project team with project team members. For further details please refer to the guideline.