ExxonMobil starts drilling of exploration well Haimara-1 in Guyana

ExxonMobil has started drilling the Haimara-1 exploration well located 31km east of the Pluma-1 discovery in the south-east Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.

Stabroek Block is operated by ExxonMobil under licence from the Guyana Government.

The company is using the Stena Carron drillship to drill the well, which is the first of two planned wildcat wells.

The second well located 5km west of the Longtail-1 discovery, Tilapia-1, is to be drilled with the help of the Noble Tom Madden drillship. Tilapia-1 is located in the Turbot area.

ExxonMobil president Steve Greenlee said: “We continue to prioritise high-potential prospects in close proximity to previous discoveries in order to establish opportunities for material and efficient development.

“Like the Liza and Payara areas, the Turbot area is on its way to offering significant development options that will maximise value for Guyana and our partners.”

The company is currently progressing the Liza Phase I development and continuing drilling of development wells in the Liza field using the Noble Bob Douglas drillship.

It is preparing subsea equipment for installation, and the topside facilities modules are being installed on the Liza Destiny floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in Singapore.

Preparations are underway for the commencement of pipe-laying activities in the Liza field.

At least five FPSOs on the Stabroek Block are expected to produce more than 750,000 barrels of oil a day by 2025.

Liza Phase II is expected to start production by mid-2022. Project sanction is subject to pending government and regulatory approvals and expected in the first quarter of this year.

It will use a second FPSO designed to produce up to 220,000 barrels a day.

ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana operates and holds a 45% stake in the Stabroek Block. Other partners include Hess Guyana Exploration (30%) and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana (25%).

Source: Offshore-Technology