Industry

Transportation and Storage

If you’re in the business of moving and storing oil, natural gas, or chemicals, you know the path from A to B can feel more like an odyssey. Our market knowledge has assisted clients in understanding the strategic value of their assets. Our expertise in the operation and maintenance of transportation and storage facilities has helped our clients investigate the causes of leaks, fires, explosions, and other incidents. Our experience in product testing and specifications has been used to investigate quality issues and incidents of cargo contamination.

Let’s get you moving

We advise clients on the strategies, operations, and costs associated with truck, rail, pipeline, and marine transportation of products and feedstocks. We often develop feasibility studies and provide due diligence for investments in pipelines and storage facilities. And when called on, we’re ready and prepared to provide expert testimony on safe operations and maintenance practices—as well as conformance with applicable laws and standards.

Connect With Our Logistics Experts

Charles G. Kemp

Vice President

Ajey Chandra

Executive Vice President

Robert L. Beck

Senior Consultant

Thomas L. Holtzclaw

Senior Consultant, Recruiting Manager

Case Studies

Should You Purchase Your Gasoline on Cooler Days?

April 1, 2017

A multi-district class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of motor gasoline consumers against retailers over temperature-induced variations in product quality that resulted in alleged overcharges. Baker & O'Brien described the fuel manufacturing process and opined on temperature as a factor. We provided an expert report and testified at the trial.

Mother Nature Intervenes and Causes a Business Interruption Claim

July 1, 2016

An accident in a busy ship channel closed shipping traffic for a number of days, resulting in refineries and chemical plants having to adjust process rates to avoid shutdowns. Baker & O'Brien assessed the reasonableness of a refiner's business interruption claim based on lower crude throughput, lower secondary processing, and ship demurrage charges. Our independent review of the refiner's actions and quantum of the losses figured in to negotiating a settlement.

How "Frozen" Assets Created a "Cold Cash" Obligation

October 1, 2013

A crude oil "quality bank" is used when crude oils of differing quality are often commingled together in the same pipeline to produce a single "common stream." A series of events led to a dispute between a pipeline operator and a shipper. Baker & O'Brien was engaged as an expert to review the pipeline operator's quality bank calculations and determine whether they had been performed in accordance with the methodology outlined in the pipeline's tariff agreement. We presented our testimony to the arbitration panel.

Related Experience

Hot Fuel Class Action Claim

Refinery Business Interruption Claim

Pipeline Quality Bank Dispute

Regional Fuel Study

Petroleum Storage Terminal Fire Investigation

Compressor Station Incident

Refinery Expert Advisory Services

Line Pigging Incident

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