Lessons from Column Trays Installation
FEATURED PAPER
By Mazen A. Alghamdi and Yousef M. Hassan
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abstract
In recent years, the importance of critical aspects of project management (PM), especially in the context of industrial column tray installation, has gained relevance, especially in the context of engineering mega-projects. In fact, the technical aspects associated with column operation are always crucial; however, the complexity associated with their installation processes needs to be addressed from an entirely new dimension of PM, specifically focusing on risk management, quality management, and stakeholder coordination. In fact, the context of the Jafurah Gas Processing Project highlights the significance of misaligned tray support rings and improper shim plate installation associated with industrial column trays, thus facilitating broader risks associated with column operation and performance. In an integrated context, the significance of technical adherence to column tray installation, vendor compliance, and associated field execution processes needs to be addressed for effective risk management and associated stakeholder coordination to facilitate enhanced efforts associated with industrial projects, especially for column tray installation.
Keywords: Construction Management – Risk Mitigation – Quality Assurance – Stakeholder Coordination – Installation Challenges – Project Execution
Introduction
Role and Mechanism of Columns in Industrial Processes
In the Oil & Gas industry, columns are the vertical containers used for the separation, purification, and recovery of components of gas-liquid or liquid-liquid mixtures. Column design ensures efficient, safe, and reliable operation of columns in industries such as refining, petrochemicals, and gas processing.
Trays or packings inside the column serve as surfaces where the repeated interaction between the vapor and the liquid takes place. Components having lighter properties move as vapor to the top, while the heavier ones condense at the bottom.
Industrial columns can be classified based on their applications:
- Separation of Mixtures
Columns are used to fractionate a mixture based on the difference in vapor-liquid equilibrium (e.g., boiling points, volatilities). For example, in the process of crude stabilization, the function of the stabilizer column is to fractionate crude or gas condensate, and the light gases.
- Absorption
Columns remove impurities or solvents by absorbing the desired compounds based on a solvent in a liquid phase. For example, Amine absorbers used for the removal of CO2 and H2S from gas production in gas processing facilities, employing an amine solvent.
- Stripping
Columns are used for the removal of gases from liquids through the reduction of pressure or an increase in temperature. For example, solvent recovery columns are used for the stripping of the solvent from the amine solutions used for the absorption of the sour gas, thus regenerating the solvent.
More…
To read entire paper, click here
How to cite this work: Alghamdi, M. A., Hassan, Y. M. (2025). PM Oversight in Mega-Projects: Lessons from Column Trays Installation, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue XI, November. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pmwj158-Nov2025-Alghamdi-Hassan-PM-Oversight-in-Mega-Projects.pdf
About the Authors
Mazan Alghamdi
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Mazen Alghamdi is a Chemical Engineer at Saudi Aramco with a strong background in capital project management. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Arizona State University (ASU) and a Master’s degree in Petrochemical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM). His professional journey spans across refinery operations in Ras Tanura Refinery, project execution in Jafurah gas plant, and governance within the Project Management Office (PMO), where he focuses on capital efficiency, framework development, and project delivery governance. Mazan can be contacted at mazen.alghamdi.6@aramco.com
Yousef Hassan
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Yousef Hassan is a Mechanical Project Engineer at Saudi Aramco with more than 10 years of experience in project management across oil, gas and utility sector. He is currently serving as a project engineer in the Jafurah gas plant development. Specializes in project delivery, technical coordination. He holds a B.Eng in Mechanical engineering from Ontario Tech university and an Associate Degree in Mechanical Maintenance from Yanbu Industrial college.
