U.S. DOE Strategic Petroleum Reserve Engineering Services

In April 1985, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Fluor a nine-year contract to provide general architecture/engineering services for all Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities.

Responsibilities included development of construction packages of specifications and drawings for more than 400 tasks, including onshore and offshore brine pipeline, buildings, electrical substation upgrades, power distribution safety upgrades, lightning protection, taut wire security fences, and infrared and microwave intrusion detection systems.

Client's Challenge

Established to protect the interests of the United States, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities are managed by the DOE to ensure an uninterrupted supply of petroleum. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve includes approximately 750 million barrels of crude oil storage at six sites in Louisiana and Texas. Ancillary facilities include interconnecting pipelines, terminals and protective systems to allow for receipt, dispensing and handling of crude oil. These facilities are maintained in conditions that provide the highest reliability and security.

Fluor's Solution

Work began with an initial project scope for engineering and construction support of a 46-mile long, 40-inch diameter pipeline. A second 12-mile long, 36-inch diameter pipeline and a customary transfer-metering station were added two years later. These projects lasted four years with a total constructed value of $100 million.

The following five years of DOE work included 314 varied tasks associated with surface facilities for the underground storage caverns. The capital costs of the individual tasks varied between $100,000 and $60 million. Work on the DOE project included civil, control systems, electrical and piping disciplines. The contract required meeting ISO 9001 quality requirements.

In April 1994, Fluor recognized a significant safety milestone reaching one million safe workhours on the site, with 750,000 in the home office and 250,000 in the field.

Conclusion

The project was finished on schedule and under budget in 1994. Fluor would later be awarded a management and operation contract for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 2013.