ExxonMobil announces eighth discovery offshore Guyana

ExxonMobil has made its eighth oil discovery offshore Guyana at the Longtail-1 well, creating the potential for additional resource development in the south-east area of the Stabroek block.

‘The Longtail discovery is in close proximity to the Turbot discovery south-east of the Liza field,’ says Steve Greenlee, President of ExxonMobil Exploration. ‘Longtail drilling results are under evaluation. However, the combined estimated recoverable resources of Turbot and Longtail will exceed 500mn boe and will contribute to the evaluation of development options in this eastern portion of the block.’

ExxonMobil is currently making plans to add a second exploration vessel offshore Guyana in addition to the Stena Carron drillship that drilled Longtail-1, bringing its total number of drillships on the Stabroek block to three. The new vessel will operate in parallel to the Stena Carron to explore the block’s numerous high-value prospects.

Meanwhile, the Noble Bob Douglas is completing the initial stages of development drilling for Liza Phase 1, for which ExxonMobil announced a funding decision in 2017. Phase 1 will consist of 17 wells connected to a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel designed to produce up to 120,000 b/d of oil. First oil is expected in early 2020. Phase 2 concepts are similar to Phase 1 and involve a second FPSO with production capacity of 220,000 b/d. A third development, Payara, is planned to follow Liza Phase 2.

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana is operator of the Stabroek block, holding a 45% stake, partnered by Hess Guyana Exploration (30%) and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana (25%).