Three of ExxonMobil’s 2025 exploration and appraisal wells in Guyana’s Stabroek Block — Hamlet-1, Barreleye-2, and Lukanani-2 — are strategically positioned updip of the prolific ‘Golden Lane’ trend. This is according to a November 11 report from global energy magazine GeoExPRO.
“These targets are strategically positioned updip of the prolific ‘Golden Lane’ trend, which is close to reaching 900 mbopd (thousand barrels of oil per day) from four FPSOs,” Andres Mesa of NVENTURES is quoted as saying, in the GeoExPRO report. NVENTURES is an upstream exploration firm specializing in technical and commercial intelligence for the E&P and energy industry.
In geological terms, ‘updip’ refers to the shallower, structurally higher section of a reservoir trend. This positioning often allows hydrocarbons to migrate naturally toward the wellbore, increasing the likelihood of productive discoveries.
Within the Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Golden Lane has become a focus for explorers due to its consistent oil accumulation and reservoir quality.
The Lukanani-1 discovery, announced in April 2022, encountered about 115 feet (35 meters) of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone in 4,068 feet (1,240 meters) of water. The Barreleye-1 discovery, drilled in 6,315 feet (1,925 meters) of water, lies 20 miles southeast of the Liza field and found 230 feet (70 meters) of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone. The Hamlet-1 exploration well, located in the southeastern section of the Stabroek Block, adds to the cluster of targets drilled along this structurally favorable updip zone.
ExxonMobil operates the Stabroek Block with a 45% stake, with Hess (30%) and CNOOC (25%).
