Abstract
A challenge in offshore Oil and Gas operations is how to obtain a cost effective, reliable and steady power supply at a remote ocean location. Diesel generators are costly and require frequent service. A lower-cost, reliable alternative is proposed here, namely the harvesting of power from ocean waves via the PowerBuoy® from Ocean Power Technologies. Two PowerBuoy products are described: the APB-350, suited to low-power applications such as MetOcean monitoring or AUV recharging stations, and the PB40, suited to moderate-power applications such as powering satellite fields. These and other applications for Oil and Gas operators are reviewed and the potential for lower-cost, more reliable operations is highlighted. The design history and testing of the PB40 and APB-350 are described. Both are designed to operate in autonomous mode requiring little monitoring are capable of supplying power to a wide range of applications.