The Client

Many oil and gas companies do not consider the detailed design and construction of production facilities as part of their core business. This is often the stage at which work is contracted out to engineering firms and the client company will switch manpower resources elsewhere, although some degree of project management is commonly retained. 

A major benefit of sampled data is the ability to store it. Once this data has been stored it can be analyzed, plotted and used in a simulator. A simulator reinstates the client/server paradigm, allowing the user to re-experience the inspection, synchronously. Different data filters and mappings can be used. For example, in Figure 4, a simple mapping... 

A hands-on experience with the method is possible via the SPINUS web service [48. This service uses a client-server model. The user can draw a molecular structure within the web browser workspace (the client), and send it to a server where the predictions are computed by neural networks. The results are then sent back to the user in a few seconds and visualised with the same web browser. Several operations and different types of technology arc involved in the system ... 

The predictions are sent back to the client web browser and visualized using a combination of HTML, JavaScript [50], MDL Chime [51] scripting, and Java applets. 

Expertise—A client may seek to issue a toll contract if it chooses to produce a new product of unfamiliar chemistiy or formulation type. A toller may already have knowledge, equipment, and personnel uniquely suited for a given process that cannot be readily duplicated. A toller with expertise in that particular type of chemistiy or formulation could speed production and assist them in building a higher level of in-house expertise through close interaction. This may enhance the level of process safety and personnel safety should the client ever bring the process in-house. 

Environmental—If a product or its raw materials require special permitting (for example, air permits) or if the client company s facility is inappropriate for the process, tolling could provide a means to achieve the company s production goal. 

Communication breakdown with the client Communication breakdown with the toller... 

Must rely on certain information provided by the client Environmental issues due to unknown hazards from other ongoing tolls or a toller s past practices... 

Safety issues due to unknown or insufficient information on processing hazards by the client Safety issues due to unforeseen operating and maintenance practices by the toller... 

Noncontractual transfer of expertise to the client Confidentiality concerns for proprietary information... 

Late receipt of raw materials or packaging from the client Personnel turnover can create unforeseen delays... 

There is a wide spectrum of philosophies regarding the level of participation required from the client. Some clients choose to remain at arm s length from the toll operation in an effort to establish a distinct separation of responsibilities. Such clients may audit the toller s HS E program on a periodic basis and do little else. 

Joint OSHA/EPA investigations of past accidents in tolling operations include recommendations that emphasize the importance of communication between the toller and the client. The primary ways recommended to prevent recurrence of similar events focus on a joint understanding of the basic tenets of process safety elements. 

The process of building a list of candidates begins with the client. By examining the specific synthesis desired or material processing and handling required, you can search for tollers that possess the skills and equipment to meet the processing scope. 

The physical location of the toller can impact logistics, transportation and distribution issues. If you have a market need in a region of your countiy or a foreign location, a component to consider in selection of the successful toller is the capacity to provide support to the client distribution system or shortest supply chain. 

In general, tollers should have active insurance policies that protect themselves and to a certain extent the client from excessive loss. Make certain that the insurance coverage held by both parties works well to manage risks. 

If an on-site visit is required at this stage, review personnel can usually obtain the information from the client through a brief visit. It consists of six parts ... 

Building the initial list of candidates for tolling outside the client company s home borders can create some unique problems in regard to their fair assessment. The list may include several good candidate companies that may unfortunately each be located in a different country or region. Each of them may be capable of meeting the distribution or marketing need that initially drove the international toll project. 

In this phase of the toller selection process, we assume the long list became a short list and now one or more candidate tollers from the short list will be given an opportunity to prepare a commercial bid. This by no means indicates the short listed tollers are perfect. There may be deficiencies that need to be corrected in concert with the client. With proper effort, one will be successful and be engaged for the toll. Sometimes it is appropriate to decide on a backup toller, as complications can develop that prevent the primary candidate from executing the project as originally planned, due to an incident in their plant, departure of key personnel, or unexpected production demands on the toller. 

If a standard form was used in the qualification phase, a system should exist to rank the respondents that are being considered. Such a system can be as simple as the reviewers making a written recommendation summarizing the strong points of their selections. Some companies have developed forms that allow the final scores to be quantified. Appendix C, Sample Toller Assessment—Qjiantitative Format contains such an example. With either method, the client should consider having two or more reviewers discuss the candidates and agree on the recommended finalists. 

A toller may need to use resources outside their company to measure physical properties, conduct safety or other testing, engineer changes to piping or other facilities and equipment. This need frequently occurs for products in the initial development or commercialization stage. The toller should maintain confidentiality agreements with their suppliers and subcontractors commensurate with the proprietary nature of their client companies processes. Provision to allow disclosure of information to third parties should be addressed in the contract between the toller and the client. It may be structured so that the client must approve the toller s release of information to third parties. 

Once a toller has been selected and any required preliminary confidentiality protection is in place, the client typically shares more detailed information. The toller can then make an informed decision about the economic, technical, and safety aspects involved in bidding the work. If the two parties decide the project will be mutually beneficial, agreements and obligations are negotiated and then formalized in a written contract. Both parties—the client and the toller—have roles in fulfilling the contract and in carrying out their responsibilities to the workers and the public. The purpose of the written contract is to clarify and document those roles and responsibilities to effectively execute, maintain and eventually terminate the project. 

A successful tolling project depends upon defining the project objectives at the outset and clearly communicating those objectives. The objectives take into account the rights and expectations of both the toller and the client. Specifics such as ownership, specifications, timing, regulatory requirements, product quality, and documentation are considered. Each project or process is unique and consequently the agreements reached between the parties and the... 

Will the client s personnel participate in process set-up and/or manufacturing process Why ... 

Should the client share in the cost savings of improved yield ... 

Will the client pay or reimburse toller for disposal costs Other costs ... 

Technology transfer is a critical step in ensuring project success. The client must recognize that each toller is different in regard to how they progress from the laboratory to a test run to production. The toller selection step should have revealed that each candidate company possessed different levels of skill, experience and management culture. 

One method that can be used to enhance the efficiency of technology transfer presents itself when a client has a laboratory or pilot plant producing the materials. When this is so, the toller s personnel can visit the site, observe the processing and ask questions of the research and development team. Conversely, the research and development team or chemists and engineers from the client can witness any test runs taking place at the toller s plant. These options allow both companies to ask questions, give advice on process and... 

The client should learn about the toller s planned operation, and as part of their product stewardship responsibilities, audit the toller regarding HS E practices. 

The client may have the specific objective to use the toll operation to pilot or develop scale up information on the process, including evaluation of equipment and process variables. 

The client generally supplies processing technology and specific operating parameters related to safe operating condition. The Technical Package may include, but not be limited to, the following ... 

A client may choose to develop a toller who is qualified, but will need additional or improved equipment and technology to meet the eventual production levels required later in the life of the toll contract. The client may require the toller to make changes or modifications at their plant in order to effectively manufacture a particular product in increasing quantity. Some areas of concern applicable to scale up were listed in Various Points to Consider, Section 3.1. Additional considerations to address in the contract may include ... 

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