ExxonMobil has been able to forge ahead with its exploration, development drilling and oil production operations offshore Guyana over the last several months without recording a single case of COVID-19, the head of the company’s activities in the South American country said on Monday.
“We appreciate the support we’ve had from the government for how we’ve managed to keep our operations running,” Alistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana said. “We…have four rigs, a producing facility, projects going on, and remarkably enough, our team has been able to keep that offshore operations going.”
Routledge said a large part of those efforts have been due to the support from Guyanese authorities in moving people in and out of the country.
Since pandemic measures were implemented in Guyana earlier this year, rotational workers have been screened prior to traveling to the country, then screened on arrival and quarantined for the stipulated period, before heading offshore.
“To date we’ve moved over 6,000 people offshore and not had one single case of COVID-19 offshore, which is truly remarkable,” Routledge stated.
Guyana’s Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said the government is pleased that ExxonMobil has been taking all the necessary precautions resulting in no cases being recorded in its operations to date.
“That shows that you have a very rigid system in place. The quality control that you have, along every step of it, shows that once we are able to put robust systems in place, we can avoid people from getting COVID-19,” Dr. Anthony said. “I am extremely pleased that you have implemented such a system and keep it working, and I think you are an example to what other businesses can emulate and make sure that their workers stay COVID-free.”
SBM Offshore, the company operating the Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading vessel at the Stabroek block, said it has a dedicated task force monitoring the situation at all the company’s locations across the globe, on a daily basis.
“SBM Offshore remains mobilized and is taking all necessary precautions to ensure safe operations and safeguard the health of our personnel onshore and offshore as part of efforts to limit the impact of the coronavirus at all our working sites in Guyana,” Herve Laurioux, Guyana Country Manager, recently told OilNOW.
