While not common in the Gulf of Mexico, the EPC or EPCI contracting model is the norm for large CAPEX international offshore oil and gas projects. Using our unique business model, DII has successfully executed international greenfield EPCI projects. We secure EPC/EPCI contracts by leveraging our fabrication, technical services, offshore marine equipment, construction labor, equipment rental and material supply companies.

Project Management

Our project management approach, along with the assets and capabilities of DII and its sister companies, allow us to better control the EPC/EPCI process.

Our technical staff has extensive experience in project management of construction and installation projects worldwide. We perform these activities in accordance with ISO 9001 requirements.

We use Coreworx to automate project processes and improve our control over project content throughout the design, construction and handover phases. Coreworx is a proven web-based enterprise software system specifically developed for EPC contractors and owner/operators on major capital projects in the oil and gas, power, and mining industries.

Quality Management

DII provides quality services to/for our oil and gas clients for both onshore and offshore projects. DII's quality services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Welding procedure specification testing and qualification
• Welder and welding operator testing and qualification
• Visual Inspection
• Coating inspection
• Electrical & instrumentation inspection
• Material & weld traceability
• Coordination of non destructive testing activities, NDE traceability and weld mapping
• Document control

DII has developed and maintains a highly qualified and experienced Quality Work Group that includes Quality Control and Quality Assurance specialists for projects, as required by the specific contract requirements. Our QA/QC group ultimately ensures and provides confidence for our clients that projects that DII fabricates are compliant with the various codes, standards and project specifications for each and every project.

Engineering & Procurement

DII has excellent working relationships with most of the medium-to-large international engineering contractors and E&C companies. We have worked as a construction and/or maintenance subcontractor for the EPCm contractor, and we have subcontracted engineering and procurement services to these same firms on EPC/EPCI projects, overseeing their activities and deliverables to ensure the agreed schedule is achieved.

We utilize the procurement services of the engineering company for tagged items, and use our extensive in-house capabilities for procurement of bulk items.

Construction

Depending on the project size and location, we will perform fabrication in one of our South Louisiana fabrication yards. Typically international projects require local content for engineering and fabrication. In those international areas in which we operate, we are very familiar with these requirements and have good relationships with local engineering companies and fabrication contractors.

In some areas of the world we have joint ventures with local fabricators and have built up to 8,500-ton topsides locally for installation offshore. In other areas we have invested in our own facilities which allow us to enhance local content and efficient logistics, as well as ensure better management of scope subcontracted to local companies.

Installation

DII owns and/or operates a fleet of offshore construction vessels that we use for both greenfield and brownfield construction. As vessel requirements are generally project specific, DII will utilize its own vessels or contract vessels as necessary. Some of the types of equipment operated/utilized by DII on past projects include:

1.  Accommodations barges (DP or anchored)
2.  Derrick barges (DP or anchored)
3.  Lay barges (DP or anchored)
4.  Anchor handling tugs
5.  Lift boats
6.  Cargo barges
7.  Crew boats
8.  Supply boats

Our experience in utilizing this diverse range of vessels at various international locations allows us to successfully manage this critical activity of an EPCI project.

Hook-up and Commissioning

This final activity is vitally important and often the least successfully planned and executed. As the EPCI contractor, we can ensure that the commissioning and start-up of the offshore facilities begins during engineering, and not after installation. Our capabilities and reputation in HUC is a 25-year legacy of DII, going back to its founding in 1985.