Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) has opened a new Subsea Response facility at the Emergency Response Base at the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc. (VEHSI) facility in Guyana.
The facility now houses the capping stack and other subsea well intervention equipment. Its location is expected to improve access to specialist resources for offshore spill response in Guyana and the wider region. The opening follows the relocation of the Global Rapid Response System from the Guyana Shore Base Inc. facility to VEHSI.
A regional OSRL forum was held at the facility to mark the opening on August 19. It brought together government, industry, and emergency response stakeholders from eight countries. Participants discussed oil spill preparedness, regional response capabilities, and cooperation as offshore activity grows across the Equatorial Margin.
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Guyanese agencies represented at the event included the Civil Defence Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maritime Administration Department.
The forum also covered OSRL’s capabilities in Guyana and the Global Subsea Response Network. Discussions focused on how shared equipment, training, and expertise can help operators respond effectively to offshore incidents.
Attendees toured the new ExxonMobil Guyana Limited Emergency Response Building. They were also briefed on the resources and response capabilities available at the facility.
The capping stack is one of six OSRL units positioned around the world. The equipment is designed for deployment during subsea well control incidents. Locating it in Guyana is intended to reduce deployment time and strengthen response readiness along the Equatorial Margin.
The facility will support equipment maintenance, training, and emergency response exercises. It will also provide a base for continued engagement among operators, government agencies, and other stakeholders.
Vania De Stefani, Chief Executive of OSRL, said cooperation with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited would help strengthen response capabilities across the region.
“Our collaboration with ExxonMobil (EMGL) in Guyana is an important step in strengthening preparedness and response capability across the region,” De Stefani said. “Through close cooperation, we can better support training and exercises, maintain access to specialist response equipment, and work alongside industry and government stakeholders to enhance readiness where it is needed most.”
OSRL and ExxonMobil Guyana Limited representatives also addressed the importance of shared response capabilities during the forum. Participants attended the event in person, while others joined through a live virtual broadcast.
