Ocean energy solutions developer Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) said it has signed a master service contract governing work with an unnamed offshore oil and gas operator within the U.S. and the U.S. outer continental shelf, including the provision of goods and services.
OPT president and CEO George H. Kirby said, “This contract is the first with a U.S. oil and gas operator, opening the door for OPT to provide solutions into the Gulf of Mexico where we believe there exists significant need for cost-effective remote offshore power and communications.”
OPT's PowerBuoy and subsea battery solution product lines, along with its support services, provide clean and reliable electric power and real-time data communications for remote offshore and subsea applications.
Kirby said the company sees big opportunities in the U.S. Gulf. “The Gulf of Mexico is the largest oil field decommissioning market in the world with more than 9,000 wells that require plugging and abandonment. Many of these wells are in deep water, where high cost and complexity drive the need for new technologies and where every dollar saved goes directly to the bottom line,” he said.
“OPT’s PowerBuoy Exclusion Zone Monitoring solution can decrease cost and increase safety by providing autonomous surveillance and monitoring. Resident underwater vehicles using our continuous PowerBuoy recharging system can allow for safe and cost-effective visual tracking and intervention during well plugging and abandonment activities. Our PowerBuoy eliminates the need for expensive on-site vessels by offering a clean and renewable solution while allowing operations remotely from onshore. We believe these high-tech solutions will be game changers in the offshore oil and gas market.”
OPT said the contract includes the terms and conditions under which all future work with this customer will be conducted, including all product and service warranties. In order to sign the deal, OPT said it was required to achieve significant health, safety and environmental milestones and implement additional policies and procedures.
“This contract signifies a major investment of time and resources by our customer and OPT, which further demonstrates the demand for our solutions and our credibility as experts in marine power and communications,” Kirby said.