ExxonMobil makes two more discoveries offshore Guyana

ExxonMobil has made two new discoveries offshore Guyana to the southeast of the Liza and Payara developments in the Stabroek block. Discoveries at Seabob and Kiru-Kiru are the sixth and seventh in Guyana this year, with the total number of discoveries in Guyana at more than 25, the operator said in a July 26 release.

The Seabob-1 well encountered about 131 ft (40 m) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 4,660 ft (1,421 m) of water by the Stena Carron drillship. The Kiru-Kiru-1 well encountered about 98 ft (30 m) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled by the Stena DrillMAX in 5,760 ft (1,756 m) of water. Drilling operations at Kiru-Kiru are ongoing.

ExxonMobil’s 2022 investment plans include further exploration drilling and resource development in Guyana, where it is already increasing production at an accelerated pace, the company said in the release.

Two floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels operating offshore Guyana—Liza Destiny and Liza Unity—have exceeded their initial combined production target of 340,000 boe/d, the company said.

A third project, Payara, is expected to produce 220,000 b/d. Construction on its production vessel, the Prosperity FPSO, is about 5 months ahead of schedule with start-up likely before yearend 2023. The fourth project, Yellowtail, is expected to produce 250,000 b/d when the ONE GUYANA FPSO comes online in 2025.

Guyana’s Stabroek block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 sq km). ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. is operator with 45% interest. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Ltd. holds 25% interest.