Location and Field Architecture
The K2 development in Green Canyon Block 562 is located 118 miles (190 km) south of Fourchon offshore Louisiana (See Figure 1). The development wells are in 3900 ft water depth and the TLP is in 4300 ft water depth. The trees and umbilical are designed for 15,000 psi nominal pressure. The flowlines are designed for 11,250 psi.

Initially, two existing wells in the North Fault Block will each be connected through two insulated rigid jumpers to both the East and the West PLETs at the end of a pipe-in-pipe in-field flowline. A single well will be completed and tied directly into the flowlines in the South Fault Block via in-line termination sleds (ILTs). Provisions have been made for the future connection of one well in each of the North and South Fault Blocks at a later time. The product is carried through one or both of the two 12" X 7" nominal diameter pipe in-pipe flowlines from the PLETs to the Marco Polo TLP located 7 miles away. The dual flowline architecture allows round-trip pigging from the Marco Polo TLP.

A multiplex electro-hydraulic system will be used to control and monitor the subsea wells from a Master Control Station (MCS) on the host platform. Horizontal subsea trees and wellheads are rated to 15,000 psi. The controls umbilical contains super duplex stainless steel tubes and electrical quad cables.

Design Challenges
INTEC Engineering has been performing complex design work to meet the following challenges:

• The pipe-in-pipe installation will be a reel lay, and the SCRs will be installed using J-lay
• The integration of the SCRs to the existing TLP with its limited access and allowances for hang-off weight combined with stress joint receptacles that have to be installed offshore

Scope of Services

• Flowline Engineering and Fabrication Support
• Flowline Equipment Design and Specifications, i.e., PLETs, ILTs, well and flowline jumpers
• SCR Engineering and Fabrication Support
• SCR Equipment Design and Specifications, i.e., stress joint, interface piping, transition to pipe-in-pipe flowlines
• Subsea Control System Engineering and Systems Support
• Control Umbilical Preliminary Design and Specification
• Control Umbilical Installation Support
• Materials and Welding Engineering and Fabrication Support
• Survey Assistance
• Construction and Installation, Support and Bid Preparation/Evaluation
• Supply of Quality Surveillance throughout fabrication of hardware and pipe systems
• Preparation of Pipeline Right-of-Way Permit documents

Project Status
The project is progressing as planned. Installation of the subsea facilities started in late October with the loadout and installation of 15 km of umbilical. In December 2004, the offshore work continued with the installation of the trees on the existing wellheads using the Q4000. In early 2005, some of the flowlines were installed using the installation vessel 'Deep Blue.' The jumpers and flying leads were installed later in February. The SCRs and remaining flowlines are planned for installation in April.

At the December 2004 meeting of the SUT in London, our Deepwater Connection Production Manager, Peter Hadfield, provided an inside look at developing reliability of the DMaC Connection System. Peter's unique perspective is derived from his active role in the beginning of Fuel Subsea Engineering's development team (1989) to the present, with over 750 connectors installed offshore west of Shetlands. The most formative years were from 1994 to 1996 during the BP Foinaven and Schiehallion projects.

Thanks to significant engineering and development testing over 5 years, the DMaC connection system was adopted for the BP Foinaven project in 1994. The engineering was sound, but the DMaC at that time was still perceived as unreliable. By 1996, the DMaC connector was adopted for Schiehallion, and it was now considered extremely reliable. How was the perception of the DMaC connection system changed in this relatively short period of time?

In order to answer this question, it first requires another question. What is Reliability for a subsea connection system? Reliability is achieved for a diverless subsea connector when:

1. It is able to be integrated in the structure without problems.
2. It passes its "mate-up" tests the first time.
3. It is connected quickly and predictably.
4. It works without intervention.
5. It can be disconnected and reconnected.

The next quote I shared was "Consensus is the absence of leadership" by Margaret Thatcher, another former British prime minister. Some would have us to believe that if we can just all agree, then things will work out. However, I prefer another quote, "If everybody is thinking the same thing, then somebody is not thinking," by Benjamin Franklin. We must all dare to cut against the grain, at least occasionally, to make changes.

"Do or do not do, there is no try," by Yoda, that famous Star Wars philosopher. It is simple and powerful, make up your mind and let nothing deter you. Too often we only hope something can be accomplished rather than steeling ourselves to accomplish the end result and not being discouraged by the arduous path to get there.

Finally, on a philosophy of life that I would aspire to, "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." None other than Winston Churchill is attributed with this wise counsel. For me it applies just as strongly in the professional arena as in the personal. I see one of my primary responsibilities as providing others with all the tools, physical and mental, to achieve their goals. When those around you win, you win! We live and work in a world where the pie is big enough for everyone to have a slice.

These quotes, in a subtle way, assist me in maintaining my focus on success both at work and home. They are sign posts that help keep me "between the ditches." While I sometimes find the ideals they describe impossible to live up to, I know there is value just in the striving.

Johnny Reed
CEO

Russia is a miraculous country and still mysterious to many foreigners, with many cultural and historic treasures, unspoiled nature and industrious, bright and hospitable people. Russia mothered Peter and Catherine the Great, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Pushkin, Tchaikowsky, Nabokov, among others, who have contributed to the rich cultural heritage of the world.

Russia today is a nation of enormous diversity and tremendous energy. It is as if the cultural traditions of a century ago have re-awakened with a newfound strength: ancient cathedrals are being rebuilt and restored, colorful markets buzz with activity once again, and literature and the arts are quickly regaining the creative renown they enjoyed decades ago. A new Russia is now in full bloom. Russia is the largest country on earth, with enormous tracts of land that have been opened to travelers only in the last few years. With a population of more than 148.5 million in the early 1990s, Russia ranks sixth in the world after China, India, the United States, Brazil, and Indonesia. Of all the 15 former Soviet Union republics, Russia has the greatest ethnic diversity, with about 75 distinct nationalities. The most important cities on the European side are Moscow and St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad). This is the heartland of Imperial Russia, and these great and ancient cities often become the focus for most tourists.

Moscow is one of the biggest cities in the world. The first tribes appeared on the territory of the future Moscow in the Neolithic epoch. The oldest settlements, dated three thousands years ago, were discovered within the area of the presentday city. The reference to Moscow, as to a town, is mentioned in the old manuscript of 1147. In 1156, Prince Yury Dolgoruky erected wood walls around Moscow. He is frequently regarded as a founder of Moscow, and his monument is among the most honored in Moscow.

The Tatar-Mongolian invasion in 1237-38 produced a great destruction of Moscow. However, Moscow recovered rather rapidly (in the second half of 13th century), and became the capital of the “independent” Moscow principality. Today Moscow occupies an area of 1,035 square kilometers. Moscow has more than 5,000 streets and the population is about 9 million people, plus more than three million tourists and guests coming annually. Moscow city is the barometer and nucleus of the changes sweeping through Russia. Nowhere are Russia's contrasts more apparent than here - ancient monasteries and ultra-modern monoliths stand side by side, and new Russian millionaires and poverty-stricken pensioners walk the same streets. The general public now prefers visiting the beautiful churches vandalized or abandoned during the Soviet era of hard line atheism that are lovingly now being restored. But the real flavor of this Moscow city is in its small nooks and crannies, each of them unique. Moscow city's origins, as a symbol of Russian spiritual and political power, go back 850 years. They reflect Russia's state of instability in its day-to-day life, and when the winds of change start blowing, they blow through Moscow first. Moscow city holds in the Russian imagination a symbol of spiritual and political power. Throughout much of its history the city was known as Holy Moscow and considered by Russians to be the "Third Rome" after Ancient Rome and Constantinople.

The spring and fall in Moscow are usually rather mild. Summers are hot! The average summer temperatures are around 70-80 deg F. (20-30 °C). If you come in the summer you'll be surprised at how warm Moscow can be.

I can't help mentioning the Russian cuisine. Needless to say that Russian food is one of the world's most original and I would even say great cuisines. Just a few years ago traveling in Russia meant facing shamefully unappetizing hotel meals masquerading as authentic national fare, but today the secrets of great Russian cuisine are being rediscovered. And what better introduction to Russian culture could there be than a steaming dish of beef pelmeni (dumplings) alongside a mound of black caviar, or a piping-hot bowl of borsch, with onions glimmering in a deep purple broth, or breaded kotlety po-tsarsky lathered with a rich brown sauce, or the fantastical "bird's milk" torte. Yes, Russian cuisine is built on starches and creams, but it is also, when prepared properly, replete with fresh vegetables, fresh fish, copious amounts of healthy herbs and garlic, and, possibly, some of the best mushrooms you may ever taste.

Russia is important to world energy markets because it holds the world's largest natural gas reserves, the second largest coal reserves, and the eighth largest oil reserves. Russia is also the world's largest exporter of natural gas, the second largest oil exporter, and the third largest energy consumer. By the end of the 20th century, the available onshore oil and gas resources were almost depleted. That is why the oil and gas activity is shifted to the offshore resources, first off the continental shelf. The Russian shelf is the largest in the world, 85% of which is located in the Arctic sector. The oil and gas resources off the continental shelf of Russian Arctic Seas are the main reserve of the stable domestic oil and gas industry development in the 21st century. Realizing the strategic needs in the energy resources of the shelf, the Russian Government and oil and gas companies have undertaken active efforts to start offshore fields development.

The grave events of Sept. 11 have emphasized Russia's potential role as a new alternative source of massive oil supplies that are politically more reliable than those from the volatile Middle East. Noticeably, Russian oil companies are getting ambitious - they would like to take as much as a 15 percent market share of the U.S. oil market.

INTEC has established very good contacts in Russia in the Russian oil and gas sector. We have been fortunate to be a part of some of the most challenging projects such as the Russia-Turkey gas pipeline (Blue Stream) that set deepwater pipelay records at 6,900 feet, unparalleled in the world. Another project INTEC is working on now with the Russian gas giant GazProm is the North European Gas Pipeline (NEGP), which brings me to Moscow as INTEC’s project manager for NEGP.

NEGP creates principally new routes for Russian gas exports to Europe. Project implementation will allow diversifying gas export flows to directly connect the gas network of Russia with the countries of the Baltic region and with the European gas grid. NEGP is featured with avoidance of transit states along its route. It decreases sovereign risks and costs of gas transmission and at the same time enhances reliability of gas export supplies. NEGP will run under the waters of the Baltic Sea from Vyborg to the coast of Germany (in the vicinity of the town of Greiswald). NEGP will deliver gas to consumers in Germany, to Great Britain and other countries. Some other projects such as Shtokman (huge offshore Arctic field development), and Bydoratskaya Bay (challenging Arctic pipeline), and Jubga-Sochy (offshore Black Sea pipeline) offer exciting future challenges.

Finally, as mysterious and challenging as it is and with all of its business opportunities, Moscow/Russia is definitely the place to be.