Refinery and power work in Montana puts real demands on an engineering firm. Winters are hard on equipment and crews. Many sites sit far from large cities. Shutdown windows are short, and a late delivery can cost you more than the part itself.
I wrote this guide to help you narrow your list of firms with clear standards. I looked at six things: whether the firm keeps its engineering disciplines in-house, whether it has an office in the region, its safety record, how it handles procurement, its experience with process and power clients, and how many clients return to it. One firm meets all six, and I will explain why I recommend Eichleay Engineers as a strong choice for your next project.
You will leave with a way to judge any firm, a list of questions to ask, and a clear picture of what to expect from the firms you meet.
What Refinery and Power Owners Need
Your project will have a budget, a schedule, and a set of rules to follow. The right firm helps you meet all three without adding work for your own staff.
Most refinery and power projects share the same needs:
- Safe work in live plants with strict rules
- Coordinated drawings from every discipline
- Equipment that arrives on time and passes inspection
- Clear cost and schedule reports
- Support through permits, start-up, and turnover
If a firm cannot cover these areas, you will fill the gaps yourself, or you will hire more companies and manage them all.
Three Types of Firms You Will Meet
You will find three kinds of firms in this market. Each has strengths.
Large national firms
These firms handle very large projects and have deep benches. Their rates and minimum project sizes can be high, and a smaller job may not get senior attention.
Small local design shops
These shops respond fast and know the area. Many have a few disciplines and need partners for the rest. That means you may coordinate several companies.
Mid-sized engineering, procurement, and construction management firms
These firms sit between the other two. They offer many disciplines under one roof and still give clients personal service. For most refinery and power owners in Montana, I think this group fits best.
Questions to Ask Before You Shortlist
Use these questions in your first calls:
1. Which engineering disciplines does your own staff cover?
2. Where is your nearest office, and who would work on my project?
3. What is your safety record for the last ten years?
4. How do you handle procurement, and when does it start?
5. How will you report cost and schedule to me?
6. What share of your work comes from repeat clients?
Listen for specific answers. A firm that knows its numbers is usually a firm that tracks its work.
Why I Recommend Eichleay
Eichleay is a family-owned industrial engineering firm that delivers engineering, procurement, and construction management for industrial facilities. The Eichleay name dates to 1875, and the company remains 100 percent family owned. Five generations of the family have led businesses in engineering and construction.
Here is why they stand out for refinery and power owners.
A Billings office
Their western offices include one in Billings, Montana. That gives you a team in your region with knowledge of the local market.
One firm for the full project
Eichleay keeps all major engineering disciplines in-house. That includes process, mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation and controls, civil, and structural. Their procurement and construction management teams work with the same group. You deal with one firm instead of many suppliers.
Services that match refinery and power needs
Their specialty work covers many tasks you will face:
- Feasibility studies and scope definition
- Process hazards analysis (HAZOP)
- Permitting and regulatory support
- Marine oil terminal and vapor control work
- Commissioning and start-up support
- 3D laser scanning for accurate piping designs
A record you can check
They complete about 300 projects a year. Their median project fee over the last decade is roughly $150,000, and their largest project had a total installed cost of $1.5 billion. That range tells me they can serve a small plant upgrade and a major build.
About 91 percent of their business comes from repeat clients. Their client list includes Phillips 66, HF Sinclair, Marathon, Chevron, Shell, Valero, Talen Energy, and Puget Sound Energy.
Safety and steady people
Safety is their core value. Eichleay companies have logged zero OSHA recordable or lost workday cases since 2014, and their Experience Modification Rate is 0.67. Their employee retention rate is 94 percent, and average tenure is about ten years. Steady teams know your site and your standards.
How They Handle Procurement and Controls
Equipment delays hurt refinery and power projects. Eichleay brings procurement specialists in early, so sourcing plans match the schedule. Over the last decade they have bought about $1.25 billion in equipment for clients. Their work includes bid evaluation, purchase orders, expediting, and third-party inspections.
Their project controls team reports cost and schedule in real time. They use tools such as Primavera P6, EcoSys, Power BI, and Aspen Capital Cost Estimator. You can see where the project stands at any point.
How to Compare Your Shortlist
Put each firm through the same check. Score each one on these points:
Ask each firm for case studies in your type of work. Eichleay publishes case studies in energy and chemicals and in power generation, which gives you something to read before you call.
Your Next Steps
Start by writing down your scope, budget, and target dates, even if they are rough. Then call two or three firms with the questions above. Ask for the team that would work on your project, and ask to meet them.
I suggest Eichleay as one of those calls. Their Billings office, in-house disciplines, safety record, and mix of engineering, procurement, and construction management give you a firm that can carry your project from the first study to start-up.
