ExxonMobil plans to pipe gas from the proposed Hammerhead development project to shore. This will provide an additional gas supply to support Guyana’s plans to expand its Gas-to-Energy (GtE) project.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday published the Hammerhead Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) compiled by ERM, Exxon’s consultant. The document includes plans to construct a 13-kilometer gas export pipeline from the Hammerhead project’s floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to the GtE pipeline.
Exxon completed installation of the GtE pipeline in 2024. Gas is expected to flow from the Liza field through it, to shore, later this year at a rate of 50 million cubic feet per day (cf/d). The gas would be received by an integrated gas processing facility at Wales, West Bank Demerara, including a 300-megawatt (MW) power plant and a natural gas liquids (NGL) separation plant.
However, the Guyana government had announced plans for a second phase of GtE, with two plants similar to phase one. Exxon would have to supply an additional stream of gas, making use of the complete 125-130 million cf/d capacity of the pipeline.
The expected supply from Hammerhead is consistent with these plans. Aside from oil production of up to 180,000 barrels per day (b/d), Hammerhead is designed to produce up to 95 million cf/d.
According to the EIA, about 10 million cf/d of produced gas will be used for fuel on the FPSO. The remaining gas will be transferred to the GtE pipeline and either sent on shore or transferred to the Liza Unity FPSO to enhance its oil production.
This project will allow for power generation at a 300 MW power plant and production of approximately 5,800 b/d of propane, butane, and pentane. This would add to the benefits of the first phase of plants, which are designed for 300 MW of power and 4,000 b/d of NGLs.
In addition to the EIA which will incorporate public commentary before being revised, Exxon is expected to submit a field development plan (FDP) for the Hammerhead project later this year.
Production for the Hammerhead project is being targeted for commencement in 2029, subject to regulatory approvals.
