The Guyanese government is awaiting a report from independent consultant IKM Acona AS before deciding on ExxonMobil’s plans to optimize the Liza Unity floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel.
IKM Acona provides comprehensive consultancy and project management services to the energy industry, with extensive experience on the Norwegian continental shelf and internationally since 1988.
Production at the Liza Unity is within the 250,000 barrels per day (b/d) range. ExxonMobil’s President Alister Routledge said production could go as high as 270,000 b/d. Debottlenecking activities were done last July during a shutdown of the Liza field to hook up to the Gas-to-Energy pipeline.
ExxonMobil completes US$1.26 billion purchase of Liza Unity FPSO | OilNOW
“We have contracted an international consultant to look at this matter. The EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] is fully engaged and as soon as they conclude it, we will be in a better position to say yes or no to optimization,” he said.
Bharrat stated that the government is “not against” the Unity production ramp-up but wants to ensure it is done safely. “Once we are satisfied and we’re comfortable, I’m sure we will be in a better position to give a final say,” he added.
The Liza Unity is the second FPSO to be built for Exxon for Guyana’s Stabroek Block and the first delivered under SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward® program.
The FPSO started production in February 2022. It initially targeted oil production at 220,000 b/d.
