Sample Pipeline Construction Project WBS for Refinery/Chemical Plant

Sample WBS for piping construction project for a refinery or chemical plant may be organized as the following. It is worth to be organized by location wise (i.e. platform and pipe rack, platform and equipment around piping) prior to “Phase” WBS. Timely completion of piping construction is not only depending on timely receiving of engineering drawings and materials from Owner/EPC Contractor but timely availability of the infrastructure should also be addressed. Sometime it refers to work front availability. Developing WBS is mainly depending on the project scope. It should be defined according to the project specific as every project is different, for instance, “Demolishing” WBS may also be added under “Phase” level priority to “Installation” WBS if your project scope involved a considerable amount of piping demolishing scope. “Above Ground” and “Under Ground” WBS can be left in case no underground piping work is included in the project.

Oil and Fuel Storage Tank Construction Project – Sample WBS

Oil and Fuel Storage tanks (API 650 design) are typically used in petrochemical plants. They are large field fabricated storage tanks operating at low pressures or atmospheric pressures. There are various types of tanks such as fixed roof tanks and floating roof tanks, etc. Tank bottom is usually constructed of overlapping steel plates welded by manual or automatic welding technique. Tank shells are constructed from courses of steel plates. E.g. First shell course, 2nd shell course and so on.

In this article, we will focus on a specific type of tank, external floating roof type with single deck and internal pontoon. Sample Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for an external floating roof type designed tank construction project can be decomposed as the following. As tank erection work is only focused, detailed WBS for foundation work is intentionally left at level 1.  It is just to show that foundation is required for the above ground storage tank.

Sample WBS for Separator Pressure Vessel Manufacturing

The following is a sample WBS for a cylindrical or spherical separator pressure vessel manufacturing. It is used to separate oil, gas and water from the total fluid stream (mixed phase) in the process industry. Separators can be either horizontal or vertical. Similar WBS can be applied for both types. 

    1. Engineering
     1.1 Document submission and approval
    2. Procurement
     2.1 Main Body (shell plate, dish head)
     2.2 Accessories (i.e. flanges, pipe, nozzle neck, gaskets, copper tubes, etc.)

Sample WBS for Design and Build Project

Design and build contracts are usually performed by the contractor, who is responsible for the detailed design and construction. Below is a simple WBS for a building construction which may differ from your project scope, nature and organization’s preferences. However, this is a starting point for you to explore your idea to suit your project needs.

1. Design and Engineering

1.1   Architectural Design

1.2   Civil and Structural Design

1.2.1      Design Preparation and Submission

1.2.2      Design Review

1.2.3      Design Revision

1.2.4      Design Approval for Construction

1.2.5      Issue Construction Drawing

Sample WBS for Mechanical Equipment Installation Work

The below sample WBS is used for mechanical equipment construction work for a petrochemical project. The scope for the following WBS are installation of static equipments such as shell & tube heat exchangers, columns & vessels, boiler and demineralization plant, and installation of rotating equipments such as Air Fin Cooler, pumps, blowers and compressors. You may modify it to suit your project scope and requirements.

WBS Code                     Description

ME                      Equipment Installation Work

 ME.1                    Area Major

  ME.1.1                   Static Equipments

    ME.1.1.1                 Column/Vessels

      ME.1.1.1.1                 Equipment No

        ME.1.1.1.1.1              Chipping & Padding

        ME.1.1.1.1.2              Lifting & Rigging

        ME.1.1.1.1.3              Alignment

        ME.1.1.1.1.4              Inspection
        ME.1.1.1.1.5              Grouting

Sample WBS for Electrical Construction Work

The WBS (work breakdown structure) for electrical construction work for a petrochemical project is broken down as below. It can be adopted and modified to suit your project scope and requirements.

WBS Code         Descriptions               

E                      Electrical Construction

 E.1                   Plant Area

  E.1.1                Building No

   E.1.1.1                Substation Work and Feeder Cabling

    E.1.1.1.1             Generator/substation work

     E.1.1.1.1.1          Switchgear & Motor Control Centers Installation

     E.1.1.1.1.2          Equipment & Panel Installation (Inter Posing Relay System)

     E.1.1.1.1.3          New Panel installation

     E.1.1.1.1.4          Panel Modification

     E.1.1.1.1.5          Cable Tray Installation

     E.1.1.1.1.6          Indoor Cable Laying

Sample WBS for Oil,Gas and Petrochemical Project

Creating WBS is a task that required not only planner effort but also required inputs from the project team. Suppose a petrochemical plant revamp project scope included design and engineering, purchasing of equipments and materials and construction of furnace and compressor areas. The following is a sample WBS which may differ from your project nature, project scope and organization's preferences.

WBS ( Work Breakdown Structure ) for Engineering and Construction

If someone asked what is the typical work breakdown structure for EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) for a petrochemical revamping project, I would say, refer to the following WBS. The first picture below shows up to level-2 WBS for an EPC project, including shutdown. The detail design engineering can be broken down into disciplines engineering. Then, construction scope can be separated into pre-turn around and major construction. 

The level 1 WBS elements are as follows;

1. Feasibility study

2. Basic design and engineering

3. Detail design and engineering

4. Procurement

5. Construction