ExxonMobil makes third oil discovery offshore Guyana

ExxonMobil Corp. affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. encountered 82 ft of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs while drilling the Snoek well on the Stabroek block offshore Guyana.

The well reached 16,978 ft in 5,128 ft of water and targeted similar aged reservoirs as encountered in previous discoveries at Liza and Payara. Snoek is in the southern portion of the 6.6 million-acre block, 5 miles to the southeast of the 2015 Liza-1 discovery (OGJ Online, May 20, 2015).

ExxonMobil earlier this year said it encountered more than 95 ft of oil-bearing sandstone in its Payara-1 well, which was drilled about 10 miles northwest of the Liza-1 discovery (OGJ Online, Jan. 12, 2017).

Following completion of the Snoek well, the Stena Carron drillship has moved back to the Liza area to drill the Liza-4 well.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana is operator and holds 45% interest in Stabroek. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Ltd. holds 25%.