Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the final terms of reference (TORs) for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which is to be conducted for ExxonMobil’s sixth project offshore the South American country.
Prepared by the Agency and London-based consultant, Environmental Resource Management (ERM), the TORs were developed after a period of public consultation. It sets out in detail, the requirements – both general and specific – that need to be addressed in the impact assessment for the Whiptail development.
Per the final TORs, the document must include a project description with its estimated lifetime; expected contaminants, residues, and emissions; characteristics of the installation and production process along with the physical characteristics of the whole project.
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The impact study must also outline reasons for Exxon’s choice of development and main alternatives; the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the project, and an oil spill response plan.
The project development area is located approximately 180 kilometres northeast of the coastline of Guyana’s capital – Georgetown.
Exxon will be drilling some 40 to 65 production and injection wells at the Whiptail, Pinktail and Tilapia fields. Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines (SURF) equipment will be installed along with a production vessel.
Oil production levels are expected to be within the range of 220,000 and 275,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). First oil is expected between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the second quarter of 2028, for at least 20 years, pending regulatory approvals.
Whiptail is the last project on Exxon’s publicly stated goal of six projects online by 2027 in the Stabroek Block. Whiptail will take total production in Guyana to more than 1.3 million bpd.
The full TORs can be found here:
