Operational drilling activities at the Whiptail Project’s WT_4i05 Drill Center offshore Guyana are scheduled to conclude on February 28, 2026, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) said in a notice to mariners this week.
MARAD said ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) continued developmental drilling operations at the WT_4i05 Drill Center within the Stabroek Block of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone from January 15, 2026.
Drilling operations are being conducted using the MODU Stena Carron, supported by a fleet of offshore support and construction vessels operating in the area. These vessels are displaying international signals indicating active drilling and subsea operations.
According to the Maritime regulator, the WT_4i05 Drill Center is located approximately 104.05 nautical miles (192.7 kilometres) offshore Guyana and covers an area of 0.29 square nautical miles, or roughly one square kilometre.
Mariners operating in the area are advised to exercise caution and maintain a safe distance from the drillship and associated vessels for the duration of the drilling campaign.
The Whiptail development, ExxonMobil’s sixth project in the Stabroek Block, has an initial production target of 250,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day once operational. SBM Offshore is constructing the FPSO for this project, while TechnipFMC will supply the subsea production systems.
The Whiptail development, operated by ExxonMobil in partnership with Hess and CNOOC, is slated to begin production in 2027. Once on stream, it is expected to produce 250,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, pushing Guyana’s total offshore output capacity beyond one million barrels per day.
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