ExxonMobil plans 31-well campaign off Guyana

ExxonMobil is awaiting regulatory approval for a 31-well exploration program over three blocks.

"As part of the permitting process, we have submitted applications to the Environmental Protection Agency (of Guyana) for a multi-well exploration drilling program in the Stabroek, Kaieteur and Canje blocks offshore Guyana," ExxonMobil told Argus today.

The company plans to start production imminently from the Liza field on the deepwater Stabroek block, starting with 120,000 b/d and rising to 750,000 b/d in 2025.

Drilling the wells on the three blocks will not significantly affect the environment and the project will be exempt from an environmental impact assessment, but the company must still present an environmental plan, the EPA said.

ExxonMobil recently announced a 14th discovery at Stabroek, boosting total estimated recoverable reserves to more than 6bn bl of oil equivalent (boe).

The company first discovered oil at Liza in May 2015. ExxonMobil's Stabroek partners are US independent Hess and Chinese state-owned CNOOC unit Nexen.

The company plans to drill 25 exploration wells on Stabroek, three on the Kaieteur block and another three on the Canje Block.

ExxonMobil operates 13,500 km2 Kaieteur with a 35pc stake. It minority partners are Israel's Ratio Energy and US firm Hess.

Kaieteur is adjacent to and north of Stabroek, and has water depth 2,800m-3,800m.

ExxonMobil also has a 35pc operating stake in 6,021km2 Canje that is adjacent to and east of Stabroek. Its partners are France's Total, Canadian junior JHI Associates and local firm Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas.

Unlike Stabroek, neither Kaieteur nor Canje are in the Essequibo territory over which neighboring Venezuela has long claimed sovereignty. The Essequibo covers the western two-thirds of Guyana.

ExxonMobil currently has four drillships operating on Stabroek, and its more immediate drilling plans include the Uaru-1 well, located around 6mi east of the Liza field. It will be worked by the Noble Tom Madden rig that is completing work on Tripletail – the company's 14th find.

The company's near-term Stabroek campaign also includes the Hassa-1 and Mako-1 wells.

By Canute James

source: Argus Media