Independent Natural Resources Inc. (INRI(TM)) pioneers new SEADOG(TM)
technology in the Gulf of Mexico, offering power generation from renewable
source of ocean waves
MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Minnesota-based energy technology
company Independent Natural Resources Inc. (INRI) today announced it is
successfully operating and testing its new ocean wave conversion system in
the Gulf of Mexico, off of Surfside, Texas, adjacent to the city of
Freeport. The versatile SEADOG pump system can provide abundant fresh water
when combined with desalination and produce clean renewable energy when
combined with hydroelectric systems. INRI, formed in January of 2002 by CEO
Mark A. Thomas, developed and acquired the SEADOG pump technology from its
inventor, Kenneth W. Welch, Jr., and co-inventors Curtis and Harold Rothi.
Current testing in the Gulf of Mexico validates the results of several
years of concepts and planning, showing the company's SEADOG wave-pump
technology's potential to serve as a viable source of renewable power --
harvesting power from ocean waves.
SEADOG captures ocean-wave energy from swells or waves to pump large
volumes of seawater to shore-based storage or sea-based platform systems
while consuming no fuel. While there are many possible applications for the
SEADOG pump, INRI is currently developing seawater desalination systems and
hydroelectric energy generation.
SEADOG's size, configuration and pumping capacity varies depending on
the wave regime, height and frequency. During current testing off of the
coast of Surfside, Texas, a single SEADOG pump has experienced modest waves
from 6 inches to 6 feet and has consistently pumped a range of 15,000 to
40,000 gallons of seawater per day.
"Our sea trial in the Gulf of Mexico has exceeded our expectations and
we're confident our engineers have developed a new proprietary technology
that serves as a safe, efficient system for gathering renewable energy from
ocean waves," said Mark A. Thomas, chief executive officer, INRI. "Going
forward, we're seeking actual ocean environments where we can place a
wave-farm test field involving 14 to 200 SEADOG wave pumps. If the wave
pump continues to perform as well as our sea tests have shown, we believe
it has the potential to be a breakthrough for global energy production."
Wave farms may range from 50 to 80,000 pumps and exist in sea states from 6
inches to 80 foot seas.
To create hydroelectricity, the SEADOG ocean-wave pump captures energy
from ocean swells or waves to pump seawater to a land-based holding area or
water tower, where the water can be returned to the ocean through
hydroelectric turbines, thereby producing inexpensive, renewable
electricity. Preliminary estimates based on SEADOG test results suggest
that 1 square mile field of SEADOG pumps could generate anywhere from 50
megawatts to more than 1500 megawatts of hydroelectricity on average,
depending on the wave regime.
Further tests involving an array of interconnected SEADOG pumps are
slated to validate the SEADOG pump system's output, and would mean that
wave-power is not only a viable renewable energy source, but that it can
also compete with any other form of power generation -- while introducing
zero carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The lack of sufficient fresh water is a growing concern in many regions
of the world and seawater desalination is increasingly essential. The state
of Texas alone has more than 100 desalination plants. Energy consumption is
significant in desalination, sometimes accounting for as much as one-third
of the operating cost of desalinated water. The SEADOG pump has the
potential to make desalination less expensive and more accessible without
the large-scale use of electricity, and in some cases no electricity usage
at all.
The SEADOG pump technology also avoids many of the problems other
ocean- based power-generating technologies are struggling with today,
because the SEADOG doesn't involve any electrical components that can be
damaged by sea water. And, because the device pumps water to a reservoir,
it can store salt water or desalinated fresh water in the form of potential
energy to generate power on demand, even if the current wave regime during
a particular period is too low to generate power. These two factors
represent key advantages of the product.
According to INRI's calculations, the company's wave-pump technology is
capable of generating an average of 755 megawatts of hydroelectric energy
for every 1 square mile pump field, assuming ocean swells averaging at
least 9 feet. With swells of at least 5 feet, a 1 square mile pump field
could generate approximately 242 megawatts.
"Coastal locations offering consistent wave heights aren't that
uncommon," Thomas said. "We want to thank the authorities from the Federal,
State, County and Surfside Texas location for providing us with all of the
assistance on our sea trial project."
To access an online slide show of photos of INRI wave-pump technology,
visit http://www.inri.us/gulf .
About Independent Natural Resources Inc.
Based in Eden Prairie, Minn., Independent Natural Resources Inc. (INRI)
is an energy technology company that develops innovative products used to
generate power from renewable sources in a clean, environmentally friendly
manner. The company currently holds the rights to a patented product that
can generate power from the excess pressure released by natural gas
pipeline systems and the SEADOG pump system, a patented technology product
that captures energy from ocean waves. To learn more, visit the company's
Web site at http://www.inri.us .
SOURCE Independent Natural Resources Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.inri.us
http://www.inri.us/gulf
CONTACT:
Mark A. Thomas, Independent Natural Resources
Inc., +1-612-817-9497, or mark@inri.us ; or Paul Omodt, Padilla
Speer Beardsley Inc., +1-612-455-1732, or pomodt@psbpr.com
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