ExxonMobil makes two more discoveries offshore Guyana

Feb. 6, 2019
ExxonMobil and its partners have brought the total number of discoveries on the Stabroek block offshore Guyana to 12 with the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells.

Offshore staff

IRVING, TexasExxonMobil and its partners have brought the total number of discoveries on the Stabroek block offshore Guyana to 12 with the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells.

Tilapia-1 is the fourth discovery in the Turbot area that includes theTurbot, Longtail, and Pluma discoveries. Tilapia-1 encountered about 305 ft (93 m) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled to a depth of 18,786 ft (5,726 m) in 5,850 ft (1,783 m) of water. The well is about 3.4 mi (5.5 km) west of the Longtail-1 well.

The drillshipNoble Tom Madden began drilling the well on Jan. 7 and will next drill the Yellowtail-1 well, approximately 6 mi (10 km) west of Tilapia-1 in the Turbot area. Baseline 4D seismic data acquisition is under way.

“We see a lot of development potential in the Turbot area and continue to prioritize exploration of high-potential prospects here,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Co. “We expect this area to progress to a major development hub providing substantial value to Guyana, our partners, and ExxonMobil.”

The other discovery was at theHaimara-1 well, which encountered about 207 ft (63 m) of high-quality, gas-condensate bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was drilled to a depth of 18,289 ft (5,575 m) in 4,590 ft (1,399 m) of water. It is about 19 mi (31 km) east of the Pluma-1 discovery and is a potential new area for development. The drillship Stena Carron spudded the well on Jan. 3 and will next return to the Longtail discovery to complete a well test.

According to ExxonMobil, there is potential for at least five FPSOs on the Stabroek block producing more than 750,000 b/d of oil by 2025. The Liza Phase 1 development is progressing on schedule and is expected to begin producing up to 120,000 b/d of oil in early 2020, using the FPSOLiza Destiny.

Pending government and regulatory approvals, the company said that it expects to sanction Liza Phase 2 in 1Q 2019. This phase will use a second FPSO designed to produce up to 220,000 b/d. Liza Phase 2 is expected to startup by mid-2022.

Sanctioning of a third development, Payara, is also expected in 2019, and startup is expected as early as 2023.

The Stabroek block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 sq km). ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. is the operator and holds 45% interest, Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Ltd., holds 25% interest.

02/06/2019