Project Engineering 101 - FEED, page-9

I'll agree to disagree. People throw around terms with their own definitions - fine. Cant argue on that ground (although I have been in EXCO meetings and one of those large companies at least has no difference between "FS", "DFS", or "BFS"). Last PFS / FS I controlled used modern computer design software with standard elements where possible, making the PFS/FS transition (including the inferred FEED) seamless and providing engineering plans from "day 1". All that was required to transition from PFS to FS (for engineering) was to identify the single go forward case and solicit detailed costing quotes. All other "ancillary work" (usually site related) is already required for the FS.

Of course, FS reviews and optimisation studies, on the strength of new information (newly available technology, for example) will always have a place, but it seems to me SDL's FS was deficient in many areas and now they need to catch up. I suspect they expected Hanlong to take over and deal with it the same way that CITIC built their Sino Project, ie no PFS, no FS. The results are there for all to see!