Going the extra mile

Follow one engineer as he travels around the world to ensure a client’s satisfaction

For Jim Knutelski (pronounced new-tell-ski), a geotechnical engineer in Hanson’s Energy and Industry Services unit, going the extra mile for clients is more than just a cliché—it means going the distance to ensure a client’s satisfaction. And in Knutelski’s case, going the distance meant traveling around the world to do just that.

Just a few days before the Labor Day weekend in 2004, Knutelski was looking forward to a fun, relaxing three-day weekend, a time to celebrate the unofficial end of summer. Those plans were put on hold, however, when a client’s concerns demanded immediate attention.

That same week, Knutelski’s manager, Tracy Lundin, senior vice president and principal of Hanson’s Energy and Industry Services group, was contacted by client Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (CB&I) about an overseas project on which the two firms were working. CB&I, needing Hanson’s on-site assistance to address some important construction issues, asked Lundin if one of the project’s team members could travel to the construction site immediately.

Responding to CB&I’s request, Lundin explained the pressing situation to Knutelski, who was familiar with not only the project but the construction site as well. Knutelski had visited the site once before to conduct some geotechnical testing services.

This trip would be different, however, because of the intense time constraints, complex construction issues and the significant logistic challenges inherent to this project from the beginning.

Secluded site presents travel challenges

One of the logistic challenges was the project site itself, Bioko Island—a small, remote island situated in the Gulf of Guinea off the west-central coast of Africa. The island is the location where new liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks are being constructed by CB&I in the oil-rich country of Equatorial Guinea.

The project is part of CB&I’s $60 million lump-sum turnkey contract to design and construct a LNG storage facility for Bechtel. Oil and gas make up a rapidly growing segment of Equatorial Guinea’s economy, constituting 80 percent of its exports.

Because of its remote location, flights to the island are limited. To make a charter flight from Houston, Texas, to Equatorial Guinea, Knutelski quickly packed his bags and left Thursday, Sept. 3, from Springfield, Ill., to catch an evening flight from St. Louis to Houston. According to Knutelski, the MD-11 charter flight makes only one trip a week from Houston to Equatorial Guinea, carrying mostly cargo along with a few passengers.

Set to depart Houston Friday morning, Knutelski boarded the plane destined for Malabo International Airport in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. After a 12-hour flight, he was on the ground in Equatorial Guinea at 7 a.m. (Bioko Island time) and ready to get to work.

A local driver transported Knutelski from the airport to the project site, which consisted of a dusty gravel road that cut through a primitive, undeveloped patch of land cleared for the construction of the two storage tanks. In addition to the island’s natural topography, Knutelski and workers in the area had to contend with 90-plus-degree temperatures and high humidity, which together create a breeding ground for mosquitoes and malaria.

“Although it was unbearably hot outside, I had to wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants as a CB&I safety requirement and to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Malaria is a real threat there,” says Knutelski.

Knutelski hits the ground running

Once at the site, Knutelski quickly got to work, evaluating the state of the soil subgrade beneath one of the large LNG tanks. He did this by using a cone penetrometer, a tool commonly used by geotechnical or soils engineers to measure the shear strength of the soil based on the resistance to penetration with a cone-shaped probe.

Knutelski also provided field observation services to ensure that the strength of the subgrade soils were suitable for the placement of the tank’s concrete-slab foundation. Construction of the foundation, scheduled to begin the following week, hinged on results from Knutelski’s observations. The crux of his findings was essential in helping CB&I keep its construction plans on schedule.

After completing his tasks and addressing CB&I’s concerns about the tank’s foundations—all in one day—Knutelski prepared to catch his return flight home at 10 p.m. The flight, however, was cancelled for 24 hours because of mechanical problems.

Knutelski spent the night and most of the next day in the nearly completed living quarters designated for project workers. He adds, “There wasn’t much to do on the island. In fact, I couldn’t even leave the complex because transportation just isn’t readily available.”

The next night, he boarded the charter flight back to Houston. Twelve hours later, after traveling more than 12,000 miles in just 48 hours and crossing through six different time zones, Knutelski arrived in Springfield—just in time to enjoy some rest and relaxation on Labor Day.

“It was a busy few days, but it was satisfying to know I could help CB&I meet their goals and ensure their project is ultimately a success,” says Knutelski.

For more information, please contact Tracy Lundin at (217) 788-2450 or at tlundin@hanson-inc.com.