ExxonMobil Guyana’s fibre optic cable has landed, Guyana Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said during a December 28 press conference. Ongoing construction of an offshore command centre at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, is expected to conclude this year.
The installation of the fibre optic cable is set to improve how the company manages its offshore projects. Production flows and other critical operations will be monitored and controlled remotely from the Ogle base. Jagdeo said the cable’s arrival will facilitate a major change in operational management. “The fibre optic cable from the FPSOs landed… That would make a big difference to us,” he said.
Guyana oil production hits 500,000 bpd as Payara ramp-up outpaces previous projects | OilNOW
Alistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, had said in February that the new building is a “fit for purpose development” designed to house advanced technological and monitoring facilities. The centre will include control rooms and monitoring facilities, crucial for the real-time management of offshore operations. The technology-rich environment of the command centre will facilitate field access data and planning, support remote operations, and enhance process monitoring and inspection.
The integration of the fibre optic cable with Exxon’s offshore and onshore facilities is a strategic move to improve productivity and reliability. This cable, which follows the same path as the pipeline proposed for Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy project, will enable ExxonMobil to detect leaks and potential third-party intrusions.
The offshore command centre has a total cost of US$160 million. Exxon plans to recover this cost from oil production. Once operational, the facility will be able to accommodate over 500 personnel.
