ExxonMobil makes eighth oil discovery offshore Guyana

ExxonMobil and its partners have achieved an eighth deep-water oil discovery in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana.

The Longtail-1 exploration well, spudded by the drillship Stena Carron late last month in 6,365 feet (1,940 metres) of water in the south-eastern part of the block, penetrated around 256 feet (78 metres) of good-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. It was drilled to a subsurface depth of 18,057 feet (5,504 metres).

Longtail-1 is five miles (eight kilometres) west of the Turbot-1 discovery well. ExxonMobil assesses combined gross recoverable resources at more than 500 MMboe. On completion of the well, the Stena Carron will drill Hammerhead-1, 9 miles (14.5 kilometres) south-west of the Liza discovery.

ExxonMobil now plans to bring in another exploration vessel to operate in parallel to the Stena Carron on various prospects in the block.

Another drillship, the Noble Bob Douglas, is completing initial stages of development drilling for the Liza Phase 1 project. Development here will comprise 17 wells connected to an FPSO with capacity to produce up to 120,000 b/d of oil, with start-up anticipated in early 2020.

The Phase 2 concepts are similar to Phase 1 and involve a second FPSO with 220,000 b/d capacity.

A third development on the Payara field is set to follow Liza Phase 2, lifting gross production from the block above 500,000 MMb/d by late 2023.

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

Source: Offshore Magazine