ExxonMobil spudded the first of 17 wells for the Liza Phase 1 development in Guyana on May 8 in what is being described as a landmark occasion by the company. The first well also happens to be a ‘producer well’ and was drilled almost 3 years to the day the giant Liza discovery was announced back in May 2015.
The company’s Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington, told OilNOW in an exclusive interview the drilling of the first well marks a symbolic start of the development phase of the project which will bring first oil for the South American country in 2020.
“This is the landmark symbolic start of the development phase of Liza Phase 1 Development Project. What that means is the first well was spud that will ultimately be a producer well for the development of Liza,” she told OilNOW.
Guyana oil wells among deepest and most complex in region – Rystad Energy
The development wells are being drilled by the Noble Bob Douglas which began spudding the first well following its unsuccessful search for oil at Sorubim-1 in April, some 83 nautical miles off the Guyana coast. Undaunted by the dry hole at Sorubim, the company has since moved on to Long Tail to continue its search for more crude with the Stena Carron drillship.
To date a total of 7 discoveries have been made in Guyana by ExxonMobil in partnership with Hess and CNOOC Nexen, totaling well over 3.2 billion barrels of recoverable oil.
Oil will be produced from 8 wells in Liza Phase 1 development
The Liza Phase 1 development is located approximately 190 kilometers offshore in water depths of 1500 – 1900 meters. Four drill centers are envisioned with 17 wells in total; eight production wells, six water injection wells and three gas injection wells. The Noble Bob Douglas will drill an initial 6 wells by mid-2019, Brasington said.
