DeepStar project to review ocean thermal process for deepwater operations
Global OTEC will join a new research project for the DeepStar consortium of 11 international operators, the company said in a news release of September 15.
The initiative will assess the viability of using baseload renewable energy from the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) process for deepwater oil and gas operations as an alternative to traditional offshore power sources.
It will consider how modular systems could support future offshore operations and the longer-term potential for wider deployments in place of gas and diesel-driven turbines on FPSOs and CO2 floating injection units.
Global OTEC added that the project will build on its OTEC power module development, a self-contained skid designed for modular deployment in offshore environments. This was introduced last year at the Petrobras Geothermal Workshop.
Last month Global OTEC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hawaii-based Makai Ocean Engineering to integrate the latter’s thin foil heat exchanger technology for integration into the power module. The Makai system is said to feature compact geometries and corrosion-resistant materials while maintaining a high level of thermal efficiency.
The OTEC technology uses the ocean’s natural thermal gradient to provide what is claimed to be continuous baseload power.