RLOP crane

RLOP Turnaround

RLOP Turnaround 

CHEVRON REFINERY

Background


During the 4th Quarter of 2022, Goebel Construction executed a Turnaround Event on Chevron’s Richmond’s Lube Oil Plant (RLOP) unit. Considered a Major Turnaround Event by the client, they entrusted Goebel to provide numerous services including mechanical piping, civil construction, and labor support. 

Crafts Supported

  • Pipefitters 
  • Laborers 
  • QC Technician 
  • Operators

Services Performed


  • Pipe Replacement 
  • Temporary Piping 
  • Foundation Anchor Bolt Replacement
  • Sour Water Piping Replacement
  • Pipe Repair 
  • Grouting of Column and Flare Bases
  • Valve Changes 
  • Relief Blowdown Piping 
  • Pipe Detailing 
  • Safety Attendants 
  • PRD Replacement 
  • Pipe Prefabrication 
  • Labor Ground Support 
  • Condensate Pipe Replacement 
  • Paving 
  • Earthmoving 

FCC Project

FCC Turnaround Project

FCC Turnaround Project

CHEVRON REFINERY

Background


During the 4th Quarter of 2020, Goebel Construction executed a Turnaround Event on Chevron’s Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit. Considered a Major Turnaround Event by the client, they entrusted Goebel to provide numerous services including mechanical piping, civil construction, and labor support. 

Project Highlights

  • Started and completed during the height of the pandemic
  • Pre-turnaround activities: 50,000 hrs. 
  • Turnaround man-hours, during execution (60-day duration): 100,000 hrs. 
  • Total man-hours: 150,000 
  • 465 weld count
  • 706 bolt ups
  • 7,000 tons earth moved
  • 0 recordable injuries
  • Project came in under budget and ahead of schedule 

Scope


  • Detailing and prefabrication of process piping spools 
  • Temporary piping installation and removal 
  • Isolation and blinding of unit 
  • Piping removal and replacement 
  • Valve changes 
  • PRD replacement 
  • Flare piping removal and re-installation 
  • Cooling tower cleanup
  • Import and removal of 3,500 tons of fill for temporary crane pad construction 
  • Anchor bolt and foundation replacement 
  • Grout column and flare bases 
  • Structural steel installation and repair 
  • Labor ground support 
  • Safety attendants (fire watch/hole watch)

Crafts Supported


  • Pipefitters
  • Laborers
  • Operators
  • Iron Workers

Oxidation Pond Closure

Oxidation Pond Closure

CHEVRON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Project Value: $12 Million

Scope


Cap and Title 27 closure for a former 66-acre oxidation pond system. At the time, this was the largest active Title 27 Closure project in the United States.

  • Remediation
  • Grading
  • Paving
  • Underground
  • Earthmoving
  • Soil mixing

Challenge

We needed to solidify and stabilize F037 waste sediments in large inaccessible pond cells to suspend contaminants as well as create usable area for the facility owner. Twenty acres were designed as a “floating cap” where only the top three feet of sediment were stabilized and encapsulated the remaining sediment below. 

Solution


We designed direct pneumatic delivery and placement of Portland Cement and Fly-ash to cells and direct placed soil amendments. This eliminated the need for on-site silo storage and secondary delivery operations of cementitious materials. We used GPS guided equipment to grade and place subgrade and finish surface of aggregate base rock, reducing the personnel required for the task.

Project Success


We completed the closure ahead of schedule and under budget. Our innovative approach resulted in a client cost savings of over $2.5 million and reduced risk exposure. 


Substation Infrastructure

Substation Infrastructure

CHEVRON REFINERY

Project Value: $3 Million

Scope


Site work and foundations for new substation and electrical distribution infrastructure. Included Installation of power poles and conduit to support construction of new substation.

  • Earth Moving
  • Grading
  • Paving
  • Underground
  • Masonry
  • Mechanical Piping

Challenge

Substation site was in an inaccessible hillside behind a main active refinery pipeway.

Solution


We constructed temporary access over the pipeway for mass excavation and construction of a 35-foot tie-back wall and secondary wall. Because of the topography and site access, we excavated and sloped the entire slope, constructed the wall to full height, drilled tiebacks then installed and tensioned through the new wall in concert with the wall backfill. We removed the old pipeway for access and constructed a new pipeway above and around the substation — completing the piping tie-ins without disrupting refinery operations. 

Multiple power pole foundations of differing designs for the main feeder were constructed for the 115Kv feeder lines into the substation, some up to 10 feet in diameter and more than 40 feet deep and others being large pile-supported concrete foundations with 15 to 20 piles each. We constructed all underground duct banks as well as the elevated substation foundation and associated structural steel. New distribution pole foundations were constructed, again with some being large deep drilled piers and other being pile-supported hollow concrete poles.

Project Success


Provided constructibility for routing of new pipeway, allowing us to successfully transition into construction of the actual substation. 


Quarry Firewater

Quarry Firewater

CHEVRON REFINERY

Project Value: $5 Million

Scope


Tank Site Work which included removal of 300,000 cubic yards of hillside, processing of removed material and re-installation of processed material to facilitate new quarry firewater tank.

  • Earth Moving
  • Grading
  • Paving
  • Underground
  • Masonry
  • Mechanical Piping

Challenge

The client had selected a location for the new firewater tank to maintain proper pressures to the refinery firewater system without the addition of pumps. Engineering asked us for constructibility of new foundation and execution.

Solution


While the original design showed removing hillside and importing new structural fill material from local quarries for the foundation, we processed the existing removed material for uses as the structural fill.

Project Success


Our innovative approach resulted in a client cost savings of $2 million.


CVX/EBMUD RO Plant

CVX/EBMUD RO Plant

CHEVRON REFINERY

Project Value: $4 Million

Scope


Expand plant to receive and process EBMUD reverse osmosis water.

Challenge

We needed to install 3,500LF of 316 stainless steel pipe from EBMUD to Chevron’s treatment facility. This work included site excavation and grading, concrete foundations, installation of pumps and filter, pipe racks and critical tie-ins during the plant shutdown.

Solution


Before construction began, we noticed the project was designed with a standard sewer system. We helped redesign and construct a sewer system that met process refinery requirements.

Project Success


We completed the project on time, under budget and 100% injury-free. Plants were able to receive, treat and use most all of the Richmond plant outfall waste, which reduced or eliminated discharge to the San Francisco bay.


Sacramento P&DC Asphalt Replacement

Sacramento P&DC Asphalt Replacement

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Project Value: $500,000

Scope


Remove and replace existing 54,000 square feet of asphalt concrete, concrete curb, gutter and sidewalk.

  • Critical scheduling
  • Excavation
  • Concrete curb, gutter & Sidewalk
  • Asphalt Paving
  • Striping/Pavement Markings

Challenge

Project needed to be performed in an operational facility.

Solution


Management and leadership came up with a solution with the postmaster to allow for continuous operation of the postal facility. Coordination included phasing and swing shift work.

Project Success


We completed the project in two days with no interruption to facility operations.


Fresno P&DC Asphalt Replacement

Fresno P&DC Asphalt Replacement

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Project Value: $500,000

Scope


Fresno P&DC operations and employee lot asphalt replacement included the removal and replacement of 170,000 square feet of existing asphalt concrete.

  • Critical scheduling
  • Excavation
  • Asphalt Paving
  • Striping/Pavement Markings

Challenge

Project needed to be performed in an operational facility.

Solution


Management and leadership came up with solution with the postmaster to allow for continuous operation of the postal facility. Coordination included phasing and swing shift work.

Project Success


We completed the project with no interruption to facility operations.


Sulfur Recovery Loading Rack

Sulfur Recovery Loading Rack

CHEVRON REFINERY

Project Value: $5 Million

Scope


Civil construction of eight new concrete foundations and one loading rack foundation, to facilitate erection of structural steel and installation of mechanical piping to support the new loading rack and its necessary pumps, structures and amenities.

  • Project Specialties
  • Pile Driving
  • Excavation
  • Grading
  • Underground
  • Electrical
  • Masonry
  • Paving
  • Structural Steel
  • Mechanical Piping

Challenge

Maintaining unimpeded access to the current loading rack while completing civil/structural, mechanical and piping installation for the replacement sulfur truck loading rack to increase the truck loading capacity and improve safety.

Solution


By coordinating with operations and traffic plans during the 12+ month project to off-haul sulfur at the existing loading rack, we assisted in constructing the new loading rack without impeding necessary truck traffic.

Project Success


The new rack and its necessary foundations were safely completed.


Pipe Support Replacement

Pipe Support Replacement Project

Pipe Support Replacement Project

CHEVRON REFINERY

Project Value: $2 Million

Scope


Civil construction to widen and increase the mass of 57 existing concrete foundations and upgrade the baseplates and structural steel on 40 bents.

  • Project Specialties
  • Excavation
  • Underground
  • Masonry
  • Structural Steel

Challenge

Completing seismic repairs and upgrades to the existing Standard Road Pipe Rack that was built in the early 1970s and experienced severe damage due to corrosion at multiple beams, columns, vertical bracing and anchor bolts – all in accordance with the 2013 California Accidental Release Prevention Program Seismic Assessments and the 2016 California Building Code. We also performed voluntary modifications to the lateral-force resisting system.

Solution


Faced with difficult excavations that required abnormal shoring installation and complex layout, we noticed an unexpected large boulder that presented a hazard to perform the necessary excavation began. We helped redesign the structural upgrades and eliminate the hazard of the boulder, keeping the field crews safe during the seismic retrofit.

Project Success


Provided constructibility and value engineering for the retrofits and to the soils engineer.