Chad K Nielson Email & Phone Number

The Woodlands, TX

Rio Grande LNG project which is currently in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permit filing process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Permit request is for a six-train, 27 MTPA LNG liquefaction and export terminal. Engineering of the project is through the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase.

Houston, Texas Area

• Project Size: $700M of $2.2B overallProject Phases: Detailed design and module yard fabrication
• Detected contractor schedule flaws including over reporting of progress and drove a schedule risk analysis that resulted in revealing a realistic schedule and contractor schedule focus
• Led contractor in improvement of site safety culture—moving from compliance to commitment mindset—which resulted in improved safety performance
• Identified contractor work process and performance deficiencies in QC/QA which resulted in improved change management practices, fabrication work package content and owner fabrication acceptance cycle
• Identified lack of controlled and detailed process safety documentation and led a contractor audit which resulted in compliant safety-critical information documentation
• Participated in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) strategy discussions which resulted favorable code interpretations

Calgary, Canada

• Project Size: $750MProject Phases: Feasibility Study and Pre-FEED
• Lead team to an exceptional and rare investment-decision gate-review outcome—“recommendation for the project to proceed without conditions”—which included support by joint-venture partners
• Delivered Pre-FEED at 20% under forecast as a result of well defined and directed concept evaluations
• Delivered on-time Shell’s owners team’s deliverables as a result of a robust and emphasized owner’s scheduleProject Size: $370M of $2.2B overallProject Phases: Pre-FEED and FEED
• Led pre-FEED work to address a geological breach of a saline aquifer into the mine pit—an outlying event within the organization—and as a result defined unique contract options for Shell
• Initiated definition of pre-FEED work for debottlenecking the high temperature froth treatment unit which resulted in an improved economic debottlenecking option of about $250M

Ft Mcmurray, Alberta, Canada

• Project Size: $100M of $5.6B overallProject Phases: FEL to Construction for multiple projects to support Commissioning and Start-up
• Managed a 7-days-a-week, start-up support, 100-member-per-shift team to tackle completions deficiencies and unknown unknowns which resulted in on-time start-up at full name-plate capacity of 96k barrels per day
• Designed dynamic multi-discipline engineering, procurement, construction management, and construction team which provided proper resources to address without delay and excess overhead all issues
• Assessed 250 proposed changes which led to identification, selection and execution of only 70 required changes and as a result keeping total spend in line with project allowance

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

• Project Size: $600M of $5.6B overallProject Phases: Detailed Engineering Design and ConstructionScope: High Temperature Froth Treatment units consisting of froth settler vessels, feed vessel and tank, overflow vessel.
• Coordinated inter-discipline engineering and 3D design, procurement, scheduling, site vessel fabrications and construction sequencing which resulted in seamless integration with the balance of the project
• Managed critical purchase orders which resulted in improved engineering turnaround up to 50% and equipment deliveries which met required on-site dates
• Managed construction work package planning which resulted in a successful execution of a construction-driven schedule

Greater Salt Lake City Area

• Job Scope: Project Management, Business Development and Proposal Writing for a small, regional EPC firmProject Sizes: up to $25MProject Phases: all
• Managed simultaneous expansion of two natural gas plants and a greenfield compressor station which under an integrated design and execution plan saved the operating company about 15% overall
• Managed EPC proposals and ensured all scopes were correctly and completely estimated resulting in EPC profitability on lump-sum bids and client assurance on cost plus bids
• Consulted potential clients on project design, procurement and execution options which led to award of work

Greater Salt Lake City Area

Led US business development and technical support for Gilsonite, a naturally occurring hydrocarbon resin with properties that enhance the performance of critical applications across multiple industries, including oil and gas, ink, paint, construction, asphalt and foundry