Application of PowerBuoy Wave Energy Converter Technology to Remote Power Requirements in Oil and Gas Field Developments

摘要

Hydrocarbon discoveries in frontier regions distant from shore and/or deepwater are in the main marginal oil reserves lacking sufficient lease gas to satisfy local power demand. System designs for offshore (subsea) power delivery have not changed much over the past 50 years; gas and diesel are still the fuels of choice for power generation. Given today's volatile commodity market and the uncertainty surrounding climate change regulations developing these gas-constrained reserves will require a more critical look at power provisioning options.rnIn general, these marginal reserves may support a 2-4 well project. And the business economics dictate that the project's power demand is best served by local power generation as opposed to costly long-distance power transmission from onshore.rnIn select regions of the world, the operator can look to renewables technology - wind, wave, current and ocean thermal energy conversion- for power generation with no carbon footprint. This paper focuses in on a wave energy technology solution for energizing a marginal oil field off the coast of West Africa. It will address the present status of the technology, recent technological advances and future trends for this wave energy technology solution.rnThe outcome of this exercise indicates that in certain applications, wave energy appears to be a cost-effective solution. A subsea asset without pumping largely has a peak end-load demand, so the intermittency of a renewable power resource is tolerable. Where a pumping base load needs to be satisfied, there may be a need for energy storage technology.