A key workflow integral to all brownfield projects, completions is the final step to quality assured project delivery. It can go very wrong or very right and, either way, will create a lasting impression of the project’s success. A digital Completions Management System (CMS) addresses the two-phase transfer of responsibility from the project team back to the owner-operator: Complete Phase and Handover Phase.
The Complete Phase ensures that the project is delivered to specification and quality standards. The Handover Phase ensures that the plant, facility or asset is fit for purpose and ready to be brought online, energized or decommissioned. These two phases, together, need to be managed in such a way so that the handover is both effective and safe, guaranteeing dependable, maintainable and operable project deliverables.
In spite of its criticality, completions processes remain overlooked in terms of upgrading traditional ways of working and reliance on outdated methods and legacy systems. A digital Completions Management System (CMS) such as MODS Connect Completions streamlines critical workflows during both the Complete and Handover Phases for transparent, responsible project delivery that enhance relationships and reputations.
Why is completions so important in brownfield projects?
The transition from brownfield construction or maintenance projects back to operations is typically where delays and cost overruns occur. Manual and spreadsheet-based tracking often leads to missing documentation, incomplete testing and last-minute firefighting. Digital solutions such as MODS Connect Completions ensure seamless tracking of system readiness, automate punch list prioritization and enable a smooth handover with structured, verified data.
Which brownfield projects types stand to benefit the most from digital completions solutions?
Let’s be frank: all projects require a handover, making completions workflows and oversight essential for all projects. Here, let’s drilldown on three types of brownfield projects that are poised to benefit hugely from CMS: decommissioning, turnarounds and shutdowns, and plant upgrades and modifications.
A detailed comparison of how digital completions solutions impact these brownfield project types follows:
Read more about how digital completions management improves project delivery for these brownfield project types in the following blogs:
- Digital Completions in Decommissioning and Asset Retirement
- Digital Completions in Turnarounds and Shutdowns
- Digital Completions in Plant Modifications and Upgrades
Benefits of digital completions management
The impact of implementing a CMS in the delivery of all brownfield projects cannot be understated and include a 50 percent time savings in finding project information, an increase onsite safety and reduced closeout schedules. Decommissioning and turnarounds are arguably the most time-sensitive and high-risk brownfield project types where certifications, weight management, digital ITRs and reporting and have the biggest impact. Plant modifications and retrofits benefit hugely from accurate asset data, real-time work tracking, and change management tools, ensuring smooth integration with existing infrastructure. In all cases, digital completions reduce downtime, improve safety, assure quality and streamline reporting—areas where legacy systems and manual methods struggle the most.
Lisa De Vellis, PE: Feb 27, 2025 5:44:34 PM
Lisa De Vellis, PE