ExxonMobil commences development drilling offshore Guyana
IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil commenced drilling on its Liza Phase 1 development offshore Guyana.
Drilling operations began in May on the first of 17 wells planned for Phase 1, laying the foundation for production startup in 2020. The company and its co-venturers have so far discovered estimated recoverable resources of more than 3.2 Bboe on the Stabroek Block.
“The work our teams have done in Guyana is remarkable,” said Liam Mallon, president of ExxonMobil Development Company. “We are well on our way to producing oil less than five years after our first discovery, which is well ahead of the industry average for similar projects. The Liza development and future projects will provide significant economic benefits to Guyana.”
Liza Phase 1 is expected to generate over $7 billion in royalty and profit oil revenues for Guyana over the life of the project. Additional benefits will accrue from other development projects now being planned. Liza Phase 1 involves the conversion of an oil tanker into a floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel named Liza Destiny, along with four undersea drill centers with 17 production wells. Construction of the FPSO and subsea equipment is under way in more than a dozen countries.
Liza Destiny will have a production capacity of 120,000 bopd. A second FPSO with a capacity of 220,000 bpd is being planned as part of the Liza Phase 2 development, and a third is under consideration for the Payara development. Together, these three developments will produce more than 500,000 bopd.
“Guyanese businesses, contractors and employees have been an essential element of our exploration, drilling and development progress,” Mallon said. “Our focus is on enabling local workforce and supplier development, and collaborating with the government to support the growth and success of Guyana’s new energy industry.”
About 50% of ExxonMobil’s employees, contractors and subcontractors are Guyanese, a number that will continue to grow as operations progress. ExxonMobil spent about $24 million with more than 300 local suppliers in 2017, and opened the Centre for Local Business Development in Georgetown, Guyana, to promote the establishment and growth of small- and medium-sized local businesses. The center has enabled access to training and capacity-building support for more than 275 local businesses.
The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 sq km). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45% interest. Hess Guyana Exploration holds 30% interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25% interest.
