DeepStar awards OPT subsea systems engineering contract

Nov. 16, 2020
OPT has received a DeepStar project award to study the deployment and operational requirements of using its PB3 PowerBuoy to provide remotely controllable zero carbon power for deepwater subsea oil production applications.

Offshore staff

MONROE TOWNSHIP, New JerseyOcean Power Technologies Inc. (OPT) has received a DeepStar project award to study the deployment and operational requirements of using its PB3 PowerBuoy to provide remotely controllable zero carbon power for deepwater subsea oil production applications.

“Remote Zero Carbon Power for Electric Subsea Operations” is a techno-economic feasibility study funded by the DeepStar CORE program and supported by project champion Total E&P Research and Technology USA.

The project will explore using OPT’s PB3 PowerBuoy and a subsea battery to reduce the cost and carbon emissions associated with conventional means of powering and controlling subsea oil and gas production equipment. The study will consider water depths of 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 m (3,281, 6,562, and 9,842 ft).

Daniel Byrd, Subsea & Deepwater Manager at Total E&P Research and Technology USA, said: “Total is interested in studying how locally generated electrical power can support its vision of all-electric, low-carbon developments in deep offshore. This study is intended to identify which combinations of parameters (water depth, tieback distance) could bring cost savings for a simple subsea architecture using OPT’s PB3 PowerBuoy.”

DeepStar is a joint industry technology development program focused on advancing technologies to meet its members’ needs. Along with Total, members of the Texas-based consortium include Chevron, CNOOC, Equinor, ExxonMobil, JX Nippon, Occidental, Petrobras, Shell, and Woodside.

11/16/2020