Advanced Anchoring and Mooring Study Prepared for: November 30, 2009 Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET) is a nonprofit public-private partnership funded by the Oregon Innovation Council. Its mission is to support the responsible development of wave energy and ensure Oregon doesn’t lose its competitive advantage or the economic development potential of this emerging industry. OWET focuses on a collaborative model for getting wave energy projects in the water. Our work includes stakeholder education and outreach, policy development, environmental and applied research and market development. For more information about Oregon Wave Energy Trust, please visit www.oregonwave.org. Table of Contents Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background ......................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Project Objectives ............................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Organization of Report....................................................................................................... 4 2.0 WAVE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES .................................................................................. 5 2.1 Operating Principles ........................................................................................................... 5 2.2 WEC Devices ....................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Point Absorber ............................................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Attenuators ..................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.3 Terminator...................................................................................................................... 9 3.0 MOORINGS .......................................................................................................................... 12 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Anchors .............................................................................................................................. 14 3.2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 14 3.2.2 Scope ............................................................................................................................ 14 3.2.3 Selection of Anchor Type ............................................................................................ 15 3.2.4 Anchor Selection Criteria ............................................................................................ 19 3.2.5 Site Investigation ......................................................................................................... 21 3.2.6 Anchor Products........................................................................................................... 23 3.3 Buoys .................................................................................................................................. 46 3.4 Mooring Lines and Connecting Hardware ..................................................................... 48 3.4.1 Chain ............................................................................................................................ 48 3.4.2 Wire Rope .................................................................................................................... 50 3.4.3 Synthetic Rope ............................................................................................................. 51 3.5 Sources of Mooring Hardware ........................................................................................ 55 3.6 Mooring Configurations ................................................................................................... 57 3.6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 57 3.6.2 Guidelines and Standards ............................................................................................. 58 3.6.3 Mooring Analysis and Design Risk ............................................................................. 59 3.6.4 Mooring Configurations............................................................................................... 61 3.6.5 Mooring Line Characteristics ...................................................................................... 65 3.6.6 Anchor Characteristics ................................................................................................. 66 ii 4.0 OREGON COAST CHARACTERISTICS ........................................................................ 68 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 68 4.2 FERC Sites ......................................................................................................................... 68 4.3 Wave Climate / Storm Wave Analysis ............................................................................ 69 4.4 Winds and Storm Information ........................................................................................ 76 4.5 Ocean Currents ................................................................................................................. 80 4.6 Threats from Wrecks and Obstructions ......................................................................... 81 4.6.1 Northern FERC permitted sites .................................................................................... 82 4.6.2 Southern FERC Permitted Sites ................................................................................... 84 4.7 Buoy Locations near FERC Sites .................................................................................... 85 4.8 Marine Protected Areas – Marine Sanctuaries .............................................................. 89 4.9 Bathymetry and Sediment Maps ..................................................................................... 90 4.10 Geology............................................................................................................................. 96 4.11 Geophysical, Hydrographic, Metocean, Geological, and Geotechnical Data Sources of the Oregon Coast. ............................................................................................................... 97 4.11.1 Oregon Bathymetry .................................................................................................... 99 4.11.2 Marine Geology: ........................................................................................................ 99 4.11.3 Seismicity:................................................................................................................ 100 4.11.4 Geophysical: ............................................................................................................ 100 4.11.5 Geotechnical: ........................................................................................................... 100 4.11.6 Oregon Coast Geohazards: ...................................................................................... 100 4.11.7 Metocean: ................................................................................................................. 100 4.11.8 General Information: ................................................................................................ 100 5.0 INSTALLATION ASSETS AND CONSIDERATIONS ................................................. 102 5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 102 5.2 Installation Assets ........................................................................................................... 102 5.2.1 Tugs............................................................................................................................ 102 5.2.2 Barges ........................................................................................................................ 103 5.2.3 Floating Cranes .......................................................................................................... 106 5.3 Installation Planning ....................................................................................................... 108 5.3.1 Cost factors ................................................................................................................ 108 5.3.2 Vessel Cost................................................................................................................. 111 5.3.3 Oregon ports............................................................................................................... 113 5.3.4 OWET Study by Advanced Research Corporation ................................................... 113 6.0 ADDITIONAL R&D RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................. 115 APPENDIX A ANCHOR DESIGN PROCEDURES ..........................................................