Bid Packages Research Articles

A framework for seasonal groundwater banking in agricultural regions: A case study

Groundwater banking has been used for demand-oriented management of groundwater resources in semi-arid and arid regions. This paper aims to propose a new framework for seasonal groundwater banking. In this framework, crop production functions are used to estimate users' bid packages representing the price of each unit volume of water in each auction period. The bid packages, along with users' water rights, are considered inputs of an optimization model, which maximizes the profit of users participating in the groundwater bank. The main outputs of the optimization model are the volumes of exchange and storage of water, as well as the water price in the auction periods. The efficiency of the proposed framework has been evaluated by applying it to the Nough region in the Rafsanjan Plain, central Iran. An existing plan for inter-basin water transfer to this region is also considered in the water banking framework. The results illustrate that the total annual profit of all users after the establishment of the bank compared to the status quo has increased up to 43.8 %. The profit of the water-recipient basin has also increased more than 4 times compared to the existing condition. In addition, water banking with a water transfer system increases the economic productivity of water and crop production by 37.32 % and 22.41 %, respectively.

Service Design in Competitive Tendering of Bus Routes

Transit systems and buses, in particular, generally suffer from severe financial problems that affect their sustainability and levels of service. In an attempt to revive these systems, public authorities have recently moved toward more private sector participation, which could improve cost efficiency. This participation can take different forms depending on the roles of each sector in the provision and production of public transport. This article examines the different models for private sector participation in the provision of mass transit services, describing their respective benefits and disadvantages for both transit providers and users. Focus is, however, given to one specific strategy—competitive tendering—because of its successful application worldwide and its suitability to the case study context. Competitive tender structuring elements that relate to determining the size of the contract to be tendered as well as the allocation of routes among bid packages (“serviee design”) is discussed in particular. A sound methodology for assessing bid packages of routes is developed and then applied for the case study of Beirut, Lebanon.

An uncertainty-based smart market model for groundwater management

Abstract This paper presents a new water market mechanism, which can be used for selecting the best trading policy by incorporating the uncertainties of total annual available water and wholesale price of agricultural products. In this mechanism, water users are asked to submit bid packages via a web-based platform. A bid package represents the real values that a user puts on different quantities of withdrawn groundwater considering its quality. Then, the most reliable water trading policy as well as the price of water are calculated by taking the market endogenous and exogenous uncertainties into account using the regret theory. The results show that by applying the proposed uncertainty-based smart groundwater market mechanisms to the Nough Plain in Iran, the average productivity of water users increases about 18% compared to the status quo condition. Furthermore, based on the outputs of the proposed market model, groundwater is finally distributed to agricultural users almost proportional to their farm's area.

First North Dakota CCS Project: Advancing North Dakota Ethanol Economics

The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), in partnership since 2016 with North Dakota ethanol producer Red Trail Energy (RTE), the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC), the U.S. Department of Energy, and Trimeric Corporation, has determined that commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technically viable option for the significant reduction of CO2 emissions from ethanol production at the RTE site near Richardton, North Dakota. In addition, CCS may be economically viable for RTE should pathways be approved for this lower-carbon-intensity ethanol in developing low-carbon fuel (LCF) programs. Current activities are allowing project partners to move closer to creating the first integrated CCS effort in North Dakota. Capture Facility Moves Closer to Construction. Project partner, Trimeric Corporation, developed process flow diagrams (PFDs), heat and material balances, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and utilities documents specific to the RTE project site to prepare a bid package for potential vendor response. Three vendor bids for the potential liquefied CO2 system were received and evaluated. A CO2 capture process design package document was developed, compiling the PFDs, heat and material balances, and P&IDs, including recommendations from the vendor bids received. Geophysical Survey Provides More Clarity of the Subsurface. An 8-square-mile 3-D geophysical survey was conducted at the RTE site near Richardton, North Dakota, in March 2019. Data processing and interpretation from the seismic acquisition survey have been completed. Results were incorporated into the geologic modeling simulation efforts from the first stage of the project to determine recommended locations for the future stratigraphic test. Baseline Near-Surface Monitoring Begins. The EERC is investigating seasonal changes related to the natural carbon cycle of regional soil and groundwater in the study region near Richardton, North Dakota. Groundwater- and soil gas-monitoring activities included meter readings on location as well as sample collection for a full suite of laboratory analyses to establish natural water and soil gas conditions through several seasons. Three sampling events were conducted in May, August, and November 2019. Preparing the First North Dakota Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI Permit Application. North Dakota’s Class VI Program requires all owners/operators applying to inject CO2 for the purpose of geologic storage to obtain a storage facility permit, a permit to drill, and a permit to operate prior to commencement of injection activities. The storage facility permit covers multiple design aspects such as technical evaluation, area-of-review delineation, a corrective action plan, an emergency and remedial response plan, a casing and cementing program, a testing and monitoring plan, a well-plugging plan, and a postinjection site care and facility closure plan. Draft plans are currently under development using existing regional data available and the recently acquired seismic survey results. The permit-to-drill application for a stratigraphic test hole was also prepared, submitted, and approved in December 2019. Results from the test hole will provide the necessary data to finalize the storage facility permit for submittal. Building CCS Support in North Dakota Through Outreach. Significant outreach activities for this rural North Dakota project have included two community open houses, presentations at local commission meetings, and maintaining up-to-date materials to communicate project information and progress. The first open house was organized and held in March 2019. About 30 community visitors were hosted, including participation by the EERC, RTE, and North Dakota permitting agents; feedback was generally positive and supportive for the project. RTE and the EERC also presented at county and city commission meetings several times throughout 2019. Outreach materials were prepared such as a RTE CCS fact sheet, Geophysical Survey FAQs and Sampling FAQs, and Geophysical Survey Results. A follow-up open house was conducted in December 2019. Next Steps in 2020: Drilling a Stratigraphic Test Hole. A next step in development toward implementation is to drill a stratigraphic test hole at the RTE site by summer 2020. The EERC will provide technical assistance to conduct reservoir characterization through analysis of collected core and interpretation of downhole tests from the drilling effort. Downhole monitoring technology will also be installed to begin collection of baseline data. These activities will generate the necessary scientific data for CO2 storage predictions and development of the numerous plans (e.g., monitoring, testing, reporting, etc.) required to finalize the first North Dakota Class VI Program permit application.

Transportation Service Procurement Bid Construction Problem from Less Than Truckload Perspective

This paper presents mixed integer programming for a transportation service procurement bid construction problem from a less than full truckload perspective, in which the bidders (carriers) generate their best bid (package) using a bundled price to maximize their utility and increase the chance of winning the business. The models are developed from both the carriers and shippers perspectives to establish a relationship between the quoted price and the likelihood of winning to assist the carriers in balancing the potential benefits and the possibility of winning the bid. An intelligent algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimization is then designed to solve the proposed model and hypothetical data sets are used to test the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed model and algorithm.

Factors affecting the reduction range in biddings in Ca Mau province

The objective of this paper is to examine factors affecting the price reduction range in biddings in Ca Mau province by bidding organizers. Based on theory of asymmetric information by Acerola (1970), we employed multiple regression model on data of 500 bid packages in Ca Mau from 2009 to 2016 to test hypotheses. The results indicate the number of participating bidders (N), funds allocated for bid packages (C), owner (O), and the total investment (TI) are positively related to the reduction range (RR). In addition, bid decider (D)and contracting time (CT) are negatively related to the reduction range (RR) while type of project (GP) has no impact. The paper offers some policy implications to improve the efficiency of the bidding activities and suggestions to authorities concerning legal framework on public investment so as to better manage public investment.

Monroe County, Florida A Case Study in Sustainable Energy Management

ABSTRACTMonroe County, FL, includes the Florida Keys and a small portion of the Everglades. Due to its vulnerable location and low-lying islands, the county is aggressively pursuing sustainability initiatives to combat the adverse impacts of climate change. For example, the county obtained grant money from the state of Florida's energy office which was used to fund a very successful energy retrofit project at their “Jackson Square” government facilities in Key West. HDR Engineering, Inc., served as the engineer of record and provided services including an energy audit, bid package development, construction support and development and execution of a measurement and verification plan.This article provides information on the project with an emphasis on how the project team used, and continues to use, elements of the Plan-Do-Check-Act continuous improvement cycle, found in ISO 50001:2011 Energy Management Systems. Example elements include an energy review and baseline development, identification of significan...

Huge Saudi Field Begins Production Ahead of Schedule

Manifa Saudi Aramco started production in April at its Manifa field, the fifth-largest oil field in the world, 3 months ahead of schedule. The field’s output reached 500,000 BOPD of crude from a network of wells drilled through manmade islands. By the time it is fully operational in December 2014, the offshore field is forecast to produce 900,000 BOPD of Arabian Heavy crude oil, 90 MMscf/D of sour gas, and 65,000 B/D of hydrocarbon condensate. Manifa is one of the largest engineering projects in the world, involving 41 km of causeways, 3 km of bridges, 27 drilling islands, 13 offshore platforms, 15 onshore drillsites, water supply wells, injection facilities, multiple pipelines, and a 420 MW heat and electricity plant, not to mention the relocation of an entire coral reef. After the Khurais project, the USD 9.28 billion Manifa field development is the second-largest project being developed by Saudi Aramco, as part of its effort to boost its production capacity to 12.5 million BOPD by 2015. Discovered in 1957, Manifa is located in the shallow waters southeast of the Safaniyah field, about 200 km north-west of Dhahran, with estimated proven reserves of 10 billion bbl. The field has six oil-bearing reservoirs: Upper Ratawi, Lower Ratawi, Manifa, Arab A, Arab B, and Arab C/D. The reservoirs for incremental development are the two most prolific: the Lower Ratawi and Manifa reservoirs. Production from the field dates back to 1964 following the drilling of eight development wells. However, the facilities were mothballed in 1985 because of the heaviness of the crude. Early Start Planning for the Manifa project began in 2006 when global oil demand was soaring, and the front-end engineering and design (FEED) was completed in the third quarter of 2007. The FEED and project management services contract was awarded to Foster Wheeler in November 2006. Foster Wheeler’s remit was the FEED for the central processing facility, detail design, ordering of long lead equipment, coordination of the FEED development across the project including the offshore sections and development of the bid package for the engineering, procurement, and construction stage. The first construction contract was signed in late 2007 and construction was scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2008. The project, however, was consistently delayed with construction beginning in the first quarter of 2010.

The Engineering Accident Analysis of Cast-<i>In Situ</i> Bored Pile

Abstract: Cast-in situ bored pile is a common form of pile foundation and widely used in road and bridge engineering in China. Because of complex cast-in situ bored pile construction process, high technical content requirement, vulnerable to the impact of human and environmental factors, cast-in situ bored piles prone to various kinds of quality problems in the construction process, such as drilling deflection, drilling hole collapse and diameter reduction, wrong identification of pile-end’s bearing stratum, catheter tube blockage, reinforcement cage floating, pile breaking, pile silted, etc. These problems often make it difficult to meet the design requirements into a pile formation, and difficultly to remedy. In this paper, Zhoutian Zhenjiang bridge at Shaoguan City, Qujiang to Nanxiong highway A03 contract bid package cast-in situ bored pile foundation engineering encountered in the construction collapsed hole, inclined hole, catheter tube blockage and other issues for example to analyzes the cause of cast-in situ bored pile engineering accident, made appropriate preventive measures and processing method.

The Engineering Accident Analysis of Cast-<i>In Situ</i> Bored Pile

Abstract: Cast-in situ bored pile is a common form of pile foundation and widely used in road and bridge engineering in China. Because of complex cast-in situ bored pile construction process, high technical content requirement, vulnerable to the impact of human and environmental factors, cast-in situ bored piles prone to various kinds of quality problems in the construction process, such as drilling deflection, drilling hole collapse and diameter reduction, wrong identification of pile-end’s bearing stratum, catheter tube blockage, reinforcement cage floating, pile breaking, pile silted, etc. These problems often make it difficult to meet the design requirements into a pile formation, and difficultly to remedy. In this paper, Zhoutian Zhenjiang bridge at Shaoguan City, Qujiang to Nanxiong highway A03 contract bid package cast-in situ bored pile foundation engineering encountered in the construction collapsed hole, inclined hole, catheter tube blockage and other issues for example to analyzes the cause of cast-in situ bored pile engineering accident, made appropriate preventive measures and processing method.

Congo FDPSO An Industry First

Off the coast of the Republic of Congo and at water depths of 1400 m (4,600 ft), the Azurite field began production in August from a unique facility, the industry’s first floating pro-duction, storage, and offloading vessel with drilling capacity (FDPSO). Touted as a cost-efficient solution for drilling and producing deepwater fields, the Azurite FDPSO allows vessel owner Prosafe Production and operator Murphy Oil bragging rights for developing an installation that many in the industry had seen as economically unsustainable. The unit is equipped to process 60,000 BFPD and 40,000 BOPD and store approximately 1.3 million bbls of crude at full production, in a manner similar to a traditional floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel. However, it is also able to drill wells without the need for other drill-ing vessels such as mobile offshore drilling units or jackup rigs. While the concept of an FDPSO has been known for decades, the launch of the Azurite marks the first time that the concept has become a reality. Making this possible required a concerted team effort between Prosafe, Murphy, their various engineering and equipment providers, and classification provider Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Field Development Evolves The Azurite field, which is located in the Mer Profonde Sud block approximately 150 km off the coast, was discovered in 2005 and marks Murphy Oil’s first operated development in west Africa. Murphy was keenly aware of the need to choose a production option that would maximize recovery of the field’s estimated 70 to 75 million BOE recoverable reserves while also keeping costs to a minimum. The initial development plan called for the subsea infrastructure to link to an FPSO, a scenario that had been successful in the region and at similar water depths. Murphy submitted a bid package in June 2006 to vessel providers for the conversion and delivery of an FPSO, at this point without any provision for a drilling component tied to it. However, even at this stage Murphy was considering the feasibility of adding a drilling package to an FPSO—driven primarily by the expensive market for drilling rigs. “We were trying to figure out the best development scenario given our reserves position,” said Ken Hampshire, Azurite field development manager for Murphy Oil. “Other development scenarios, including spars and tension-leg platforms, required a great deal of drilling capacity that had to be brought in independently of the production facility. “Even the FPSO option did not solve our drilling-management challenges, and at the time rig rates were extremely high,” Hampshire said, quoting daily rig rates of USD 500,000 and higher. “If you add all other costs associated with securing a rig capable of performing subsea drilling and completions in 5,000 ft of water, you’re faced with costs in the range of USD 750,000–800,000 per day.”

Decision support for truckload carriers in one-shot combinatorial auctions

Combinatorial auctions have become popular for shippers to secure transportation services. It is, however, very difficult for truck carriers to solve bid generation and evaluation problems in combinatorial auctions. The objective of this paper is to develop a bidding advisor to help truckload (TL) carriers overcome such challenging problems in one-shot combinatorial auctions. The proposed advisor integrates the load information in e-marketplaces with carriers’ current fleet management plans, and then chooses the desirable load bundles. In this paper, a TL carrier’s bid generation and evaluation problems in one-shot combinatorial auctions are formulated as a synergetic minimum cost flow problem by estimating the average synergy values between loads through the proposed approximation. The conventional solution approaches for solving the minimum cost flow problems cannot be applied to the synergetic network flow problem. Thus, we propose a column generation approach to solve this specific network flow problem. The main contribution of this paper is that a TL carrier adopting the proposed advisor can easily determine the desirable bid packages without evaluating all 2 n − 1 possible bundles of loads, where n is the number of loads.

Flexibuild – a systematic flexibility management procedure for building projects

PurposeNowadays it is typical that the precise use of a building becomes clear during construction. Current building processes do not support this in Finland. The objective of this study is to present a novel systematic management of the design process for flexible construction projects, from the project programming stage through to overall design, detailed designs, procurement, and handover, in a situation where the final use of the building becomes clear only during construction.Design/methodology/approachThe development work included a constructive search for solutions to the problems presented above. The process developed in this study is illustrated with two case projects analysed retrospectively.FindingsAccording the open building principle, buildings should be divided into two parts: a permanent base building; and modifiable interior spaces. This division should apply throughout the building's entire life cycle, starting from the beginning of the construction project. The start of the project is the time when goals should be set for the flexibility of the building. The first step in this goal‐setting procedure is to define the flexible modifiable spaces, and the second step is to dimension the permanent base building. A design procedure for this open building procedure has also been developed in the study. The study concludes that traditional boundaries and the content of design packages must be changed. These boundaries should be compatible with the appropriate bid packages and should support implementation of the construction work. The bid packages should follow the division to base building and spaces too.Originality/valueThe procedure proposed forms guidelines for flexible programming, basic principles for design and procurement processes. In addition, it is the starting point to transforming the Finnish standard scope of work for design corresponding to the open building approach.

Algorithm for Optimal Bid Packaging for Competitive Contracting in Public Transit

Transit planning has traditionally been approached from the point of view of a single, public operator that dominates transit service provision. Transit market arrangements that encompass a larger potential role for the private sector in providing transit services in a competitive environment have created new opportunities for improved service efficiency and have enhanced operational sustainability. Such evolving market arrangements are bound to necessitate a transformation in the traditional transit planning approaches. Research revisited some transit planning tasks in view of evolving transit market and regulatory arrangements and investigated the implications of one such market arrangement, namely, competitive contracting, for mass transit service design. Competitive tendering elements that relate to determining the size of the contract to be tendered as well as the allocation of routes among bid packages (also known as service design) are addressed. The methodology developed in the research comprises ...

Algorithm for Optimal Bid Packaging for Competitive Contracting in Public Transit

Transit planning has traditionally been approached from the point of view of a single, public operator that dominates transit service provision. Transit market arrangements that encompass a larger potential role for the private sector in providing transit services in a competitive environment have created new opportunities for improved service efficiency and have enhanced operational sustainability. Such evolving market arrangements are bound to necessitate a transformation in the traditional transit planning approaches. Research revisited some transit planning tasks in view of evolving transit market and regulatory arrangements and investigated the implications of one such market arrangement, namely, competitive contracting, for mass transit service design. Competitive tendering elements that relate to determining the size of the contract to be tendered as well as the allocation of routes among bid packages (also known as service design) are addressed. The methodology developed in the research comprises a decision support tool for the planning of transit service tendering, with the modeling framework using a genetic algorithm–based approach to optimal bid packaging. The proposed modeling framework and case study provide a much-needed tool for the analysis of how possible moves to new market arrangements in the transit environment may achieve service sustainability objectives and reduce or eliminate the need for subsidies. The framework is useful for transit authorities wishing to contract out routes in their bus networks.

Evaluation Tests for Colloidal Silica for Use in Grouting Applications

Abstract Colloidal silica (CS) is a low-viscosity chemical grout that can be injected to form an impermeable barrier in the subsurface. Such a barrier was proposed to be placed under a disused unlined retention basin at the Savannah River site. Specifications for the CS grout were included in the bid package, including performance tests. The product must meet requirements of low viscosity, low permeability when gelled, and controllable gel time both in vitro and in situ. Bidders submitted samples for evaluation, and this paper describes the tests that were conducted and presents typical results. Gel time in soil was assessed by injection tests in packed-soil columns and the monitoring of gelling in the columns. Injection tests were designed to ensure that grout injection would not be impeded by rapid gellation caused by contact with soil. The requirement was that the injection pressure during 2 h of injection be less than 2.5 times as great as the injection pressure without gelling. Gelling of the grout in the soil columns was monitored by repeated falling-head tests that showed that mobility decreased to zero during the prescribed time for gelling in situ.

A Quality Improvement Approach to Development of an Enteral Product Formulary

In an effort to control cost without compromising patient care, Food and Nutrition Services (FANS) formed a quality management task team to adopt a bid process to establish its enteral product formulary. Using the tools and techniques of total quality management, the team developed detailed specifications for all product types. These specifications were primarily based upon nutritional requirements of specific adult and pediatric subpopulations, taste panel acceptability, and service and delivery requirements. Proposals were sent to major enteral product vendors. Contracts were awarded based upon a) whether products met specifications, b) cost, including volume price breaks, and c) education programs offered by vendors. Contracts were awarded for a two-year period, 10/92 through 9/94. Due to the success experienced, the same methodology was used to develop the next bid package and in 9/94 new three-year contracts were awarded. FANS honors requests for nonformulary products whenever an individual's nutritional requirements cannot be met with a product on the enteral product formulary. Inservices are presented periodically by registered dietitians for all incoming house officers and other new staff. A pocket-sized card provides nutrient composition of available formulas and is distributed to all users. As a result of the task team's efforts, FANS a) uses a process to select products objectively, b) has reduced enteral product inventory levels, c) has reduced enteral product expenditures by nearly 30% over the last three years, while d) continuing to meet customer requirements.

Kepiting Field Production/Storage Barge - Design, Installation, and Operation

Summary The Kepiting field is located in 295 ft [90 m] of water in the Natuna Sea, Indonesia. Development of this two-well field required innovative planning andinvolved unique designs of producing systems. The plan includes seafloor wellstied back to a spread-anchored, purpose-built, oil-process and -storage barge. The barge is designed to handle four producing wells and to process 10,000 B/D[1590 m3/d] well fluid and 10 million scf/D [283 × 100 std m3/d] gas. Excessgas beyond barge-fuel needs and artificial-lift requirements is flared on thebarge. Heated oil storage for 53,000 bbl [8430 m3] is available. Processedcrude is transported from the barge to a floating export terminal by a shuttletanker. Kepiting field was operated profitably from Oct. 27, 1986, to Aug. 8,1989, at which time the wells were plugged and the tieback risers disconnected. The production barge currently is operating at the Ikan Pari field, 50 nauticalmiles [80 km] northeast. This paper discusses the design and construction ofthe barge and the operating philosophy and experience. Discussion Project Implementation. The Kepiting field development work-its oil wells, riser system, and the FPSO-was awarded on a basic concept. Bids includeddetailed engineering, from which the final design requirements would evolve. Front-end engineering showed that the proposed systems or their alternativeswould work. As the engineering work progressed and new information (oftenproprietary) became available, changes, alternatives, and details wereselectively included that improved cost-effectiveness or safety aspects(personnel, environmental, and use of resources). The project flow chart isshown in Fig. 3. Major work areas defined were (1) well completion, (2) trees, (3) flexible risers, (4) an FPSO with a shuttle tanker, and (5) a wirelinere-entry system. This complex project required close coordination to bring thesystems together at the right time. This paper focuses on one aspect of theproject, the design and implementation of the FPSO. Contracting and Construction. When we decided to adopt a spread-moored FPSO, we knew that a new build would be required. We chose to lease the FPSO (on abare-boat type of charter) and its companion shuttle tanker (on a timecharter). Therefore, a request for tender was issued for a single-source leasecontract that included detailed design and supply of the FPSO, supply of asuitably equipped shuttle tanker, installing and anchoring the FPSO, startupand 45-day acceptance testing, and identification and procurement of a 2-yearsupply of spare parts. The bid package contained barge hull drawings, processflowsheets, process and instrument drawings (P and ID's), electrical one-linedrawings, specification sheets for equipment identified on the P and ID's, andan instrument index. JPT P. 480⁁

Renovation of the Floating White House

Built in 1934 as a cutter for the U.S. Coast Guard, the Potomac achieved its notoriety while serving for ten years as a yacht for the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Through 50 years of changing technology, marine regulations, and fashion, this 165-ft (50.30 m) vessel has made its sometimes halting way, escaping the scrapping yard, and is today sitting in Oakland, California awaiting renovation. The goal of the owner, the Port of Oakland, is to use the Potomac as a floating museum carrying passengers on an excursion into the late 1930's. In the fall of 1984 the Association for the Preservation of the Presidential Yacht Potomac (APPYP), managers of the Potomac, contracted with Nickum & Spaulding Associates, Inc. (N&SA) for engineering services. N&SA was to generate a shipyard bid package that would produce a restored vessel acceptable to the U.S. Coast Guard as a Subchapter H passenger ship. This paper reviews the vessel's history and examines some of the design compromises necessary to make the Potomac as historically accurate as possible while meeting the current marine regulations and museum function requirements.

Development of the Subsea Completion System for the Highlander Field

Summary The Highlander field is being developed with a remote subsea manifold system connected to production facilities on the Tartan platform some 8 miles away. To accommodate the need for gas lift, water injection, equipment interchangeability, and service flexibility, a completely new, innovative subsea system was devised. Only 19 months elapsed between start of work on the comprehensive bid package and delivery of the first complete set of completion equipment ready to run subsea. This was achieved by thorough project organization, preparation of some 1,800 new drawings, intense manufacturing effort, and stringent quality control. Close coordination between operator and supplier, with considerable operator involvement, proved essential to the successful execution of the project. Introduction While subsea completion technology has been developing rapidly since its introduction more than 20 years ago, refinement of equipment and optimization of approach are still far from their ultimate. The recent increase in the use of subsea completions as a means of oilfield development has resulted in an upsurge in the general level of subsea-system-design expertise. As operational experience has widened and the demands of certification and quality control have become greater, subsea systems have continuously been improved, but the range of up-to-date products is still relatively small. fThus when a present-day operator attempts to meet a new, specific subsea completion application, it is unlikely that he will find an existing system within these product ranges that completely fulfills his requirements. In general, the nearest the operator will get to an "off-the-shelf" system is a selection of standard building-block components e.g., valves, connectors, tees, and guide frames - that can be pieced together to provide the basis for his required system. This paper describes how the Highlander subsea development project was organized to take advantage of this building-block approach. It emphasizes all aspects of project organization, including comprehensiveness of bid project organization, including comprehensiveness of bid package, timing, project control, manufacturing, and package, timing, project control, manufacturing, and quality control. To furnish a full insight into the scope of such a project, a technical outline of the entire system, including field-related features, is provided. Because the paper is written jointly by the operator and the supplier concerned, the two viewpoints should prove useful to other operators and suppliers. The Highlander Development The Highlander field is a small oil accumulation located in 420 ft [128 m] of water in U.K. Block 14/20. It contains an estimated 35 million barrels [5.6 × 10 m3] of recoverable oil. This marginal field will not economically support a dedicated production facility, so reserves are instead produced through a remote subsea manifold system tied back to the existing production facilities on the Tartan platform some 8 miles to the southeast. Flow from a number of subsea wells is commingled through a common 12-in. [0.3-m] subsea pipeline (see Fig. 1). Field development is complicated by a low GOR and low reservoir energy, resulting in the need to include both gas-lift and water-injection systems to maximize oil recovery. Separate pipelines are able to deliver the gas and water from the Tartan platform to the template manifold. The flow of gas and water from the common headers into the subsea wells is controlled by variable subsea chokes. This is the first use of remote-controlled variable chokes in a subsea application. As in many such marginal developments, an early cash flow was critical in reaching commercial viability. This was achieved in the Highlander field by early production; flow from three of the four existing delineation wells was directed along separate pipelines to the Tartan platform. These wells were later tied back as satellite wells to the Highlander template manifold when it was installed in the summer of 1985, and the service to which each pipeline was put during the early production phase was changed. Development of the Completion Specification The design of the Highlander completion equipment had to encompass a number of essential production-related functions and, at the same time, follow a general philosophy of incorporating simple components to make a philosophy of incorporating simple components to make a fully integrated, yet versatile, system. These aspects of the specification are elaborated in the next section. JPT P. 453