ExxonMobil, operator at the 6.6 million acres Stabroek Block offshore Guyana is looking to move ahead with its fourth development in the South American country at the Hammerhead field. This latest development will follow the Liza Phase 1 and 2 projects and a third development at Payara, which is awaiting final approval from authorities.
According to a notice in the local press from the Environmental Protection Agency, the proposed project will be implemented in multiple stages which include well drillings and completions, mobilization and installation of subsea equipment, umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF), installation of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility, production operations, and decommissioning.
The EPA said the proposed project will be undertaken in the marine offshore environment within Guyana’s territorial waters and would require land-based activities for support activities at marine shorebases. As a result of the intended developmental activities, possible effects to the environment may include impacts on marine water quality, air quality, marine fauna, socio-economic resources, among others.
The EPA reminded that am Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would be required for this project as have been the case for previous proposed developments offshore.
Hammerhead is the 9th discovery to have been made at Stabroek Block which experts said opened a new play that potentially unlocks a pathway for the emergence of a multi-billion-barrel province.
The Hammerhead-1 well encountered approximately 197 feet (60 meters) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir after being drilled by the Stena Carron in August 2018.
