Fundamentals of Project Management and Business Decisions
Fundamentals of Project Management and Business Decisions
Professor Porfirio Chen
Case Study #1:
The Benfield Column Repair Project
David Luo
29/02/2013
CASE ANALYSIS OF:
THE BENFIELD COLUMN REPAIR PROJECT
Introduction / Background
This case is about an important South African coal, chemical and crude-oil Company called “Sasol”. The case is developed around the Benfield Unit of the Gas Circuit as Sasol Three. Sasol is an International integrated energy and chemicals company that generates value through its proven alternative fuel technology with capable employees that provide sustainable energy solutions to the world. The company is also involved in mining, energy, chemicals and synfuels. In particular, they produce petrol and diesel from coal and natural gas. Sasol’s primary business is based on CTL (coal to liquid) and GTL (gas to liquid) technology and this differentiates it from other petrochemical companies. CTL AND GTL plants convert coal and natural gar respectively into liquid fuels.
Problem
One day, a fire broke out in a regeneration column used to process hydrogen in the Benfield Unit at Sasol Three, one of Sasol’s factories. The fire caused a lot of damage in one side. Without it, a large section couldn’t function, bringing many negative effects, as it was used to process Hydrogen (main component for the chain of equipments that converts coal to oil and chemicals). Because of this, it was essential that area as soon as possible. For this a target of 47 days was set.
Issue
The main issue was to put the company on business as fast as possible. Now, the first question they asked themselves was to determine the scope of the repair or simply do nothing. A damage investigation revealed that buckling in the shell of the column had caused it to bend in the middle to such an extend that the top of the chimney was 20 inches off-center, making the 70m column tilt. To devise the optimum solution, a communication
Professor Porfirio Chen
Case Study #1:
The Benfield Column Repair Project
David Luo
29/02/2013
CASE ANALYSIS OF:
THE BENFIELD COLUMN REPAIR PROJECT
Introduction / Background
This case is about an important South African coal, chemical and crude-oil Company called “Sasol”. The case is developed around the Benfield Unit of the Gas Circuit as Sasol Three. Sasol is an International integrated energy and chemicals company that generates value through its proven alternative fuel technology with capable employees that provide sustainable energy solutions to the world. The company is also involved in mining, energy, chemicals and synfuels. In particular, they produce petrol and diesel from coal and natural gas. Sasol’s primary business is based on CTL (coal to liquid) and GTL (gas to liquid) technology and this differentiates it from other petrochemical companies. CTL AND GTL plants convert coal and natural gar respectively into liquid fuels.
Problem
One day, a fire broke out in a regeneration column used to process hydrogen in the Benfield Unit at Sasol Three, one of Sasol’s factories. The fire caused a lot of damage in one side. Without it, a large section couldn’t function, bringing many negative effects, as it was used to process Hydrogen (main component for the chain of equipments that converts coal to oil and chemicals). Because of this, it was essential that area as soon as possible. For this a target of 47 days was set.
Issue
The main issue was to put the company on business as fast as possible. Now, the first question they asked themselves was to determine the scope of the repair or simply do nothing. A damage investigation revealed that buckling in the shell of the column had caused it to bend in the middle to such an extend that the top of the chimney was 20 inches off-center, making the 70m column tilt. To devise the optimum solution, a communication