EDINBURGH, UK — Mocean Energy and Aker Solutions Subsea have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to investigate how locally generated wave energy could support tiebacks of stranded reserves to offshore oil and gas hubs.
The cooperation would combine Mocean’s wave energy conversion and Aker’s subsea integrated solutions, targeting development of a cost-effective and reliable power source for subsea infrastructure. A pilot project could follow in UK waters within two years.
Terms of the MoU include feasibility, FEED and concept studies for wave-powered tiebacks. The studies will seek to identify the optimum (including environmentally efficient) methods for developing marginal reserves, especially in combination with energy storage.
“There are remote, marginal pockets within aging fields that could potentially be powered with this technology at a lower lifetime cost than installing new umbilical cables," said Morten Pedersen, senior vice president of Systems and Products with Aker Solutions. “If our pilot project proves feasible, this solution will benefit mature regions such as the UK and Norwegian continental shelves, enabling operators to maximize economic extraction from declining brownfields and reduce the need for new oil and gas development, a vital step in the transition to net zero.”
Mocean Energy is part of the Renewables for Subsea Power initiative that is currently proving the concept of powering subsea equipment with wave power and intelligent subsea energy storage.
The development, which is operational in Orkney, northern Scotland, has connected the company’s Blue X wave energy converter with a Halo underwater battery developed by Verlume in Aberdeen.
The new partnership will look to develop at least one concept study into an offshore pilot project through various routes, including multi-customer joint industry projects.
Aker Solutions will supply the ocean power system, including overall subsea system integration, system engineering support and subsea equipment plans, while Mocean Energy will supply the wave energy technology, wave-energy specific project engineering and energy analysis for remote power delivery.
08.25.2023
