The Karachaganak field, located in the northwest region of Kazakhstan, is one of the world's largest oil and gas condensate fields. It has been in production since 1984. The expansion of the field is overseen by four international partners - British company BG, Agip of Italy, ChevronTexaco of the USA and LUKOIL of Russia.

A number of wells have been drilled and a network of flow lines installed to deliver product to the gas and condensate treatment plant, Unit 3. This plant was installed to separate the gas from the condensate, partially stabilize the condensate and export both products via dedicated pipelines to the Orenburg Processing Plant, some 130 km away, to Russia. The main objective of the current development phase is to construct new facilities and revamp/expand existing facilities to allow the export of sweetened condensate to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) and to process, market or re-inject the associated gas.

Baker Energy's Applied Technologies group in London, England and Houston will be working with KPO in developing the data to populate the plant maintenance module of the facility's computerized maintenance management system. Included in this effort is the development of operating locations, master equipment list, inventory list, maintenance procedures and spare parts recommendations for the facility. Work on the project will commence immediately and is expected to be completed in December 2003.

"The award of this contract demonstrates Baker Energy's strength in CMMS development, and our ability to market and execute our services anywhere in the world," Walter Jackson, manager of Applied Technologies, said. The team has performed similar CMMS development projects for BP, ChevronTexaco and British Borneo in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico along with projects in Venezuela, Ecuador, Thailand, Africa and the UK.

Baker Energy works with oil and gas companies worldwide providing total operations and maintenance solutions. By integrating its diverse operating and management skills, Baker Energy has evolved into a single source supplier of competency-based personnel recruiting and training, comprehensive operations and maintenance, and supply chain management services.

Michael Baker Corporation (www.mbakercorp.com) provides engineering and energy expertise for public and private sector clients worldwide. The firm's primary services include engineering design for the transportation and civil infrastructure markets, operation and maintenance of oil and gas production facilities, architecture, environmental services, and construction management for building and transportation projects. Baker has more than 4,200 employees in over 30 offices worldwide.