Drilling of the development wells for the Liza Phase 1 project and installation of subsea equipment are 70 percent complete as the South American country of Guyana forges ahead to first oil now just months away.
“Drilling of the Phase 1 Development Wells by the Noble Bob Douglas drill ship is proceeding to plan and the installation of subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines is approximately 70 percent complete. The project is on track to achieve first oil by the first quarter of 2020,” Greg Hill, Chief Operating Officer at Hess Corporation told investors on Wednesday.
Hill, speaking on the company’s Q2 2019 earnings call, said all plans for the Liza Phase 1 Development is progressing well. He pointed out that Guyana prospects continue to get “bigger and better” positioning the Stabroek Block co-venturers to deliver industry leading returns.
“Our exploration success on the Stabroek Block continues with three new discoveries so far in 2019 at Tilapia, Haimara and Yellowtail bringing the total number of discoveries on the block thus far to 13. We completed drilling activities on the Hammerhead-2 and Hammerhead-3 wells in June and July respectively, which included a successful drill stem test on Hammerhead-3,” Hill said on the call.
The Noble Tom Madden drill ship is currently drilling the intermediate level of one of the Liza Phase 1 development wells and will then return to drill the Tripletail-1 well with results expected in October.
“The Stena Carron Drillship recently commenced drilling of the Ranger-2 Appraisal Well. This is a follow up to the successful Ranger-1 exploration well, which in January 2018 established a large oil-bearing carbonate structure located approximately 60 miles North-West of the Liza Field,” he added.
An extensive logging and quarrying programme as well as a drill stem test are planned for Ranger-2.
ExxonMobil (operator) has a 45% interest in the block, Hess 30% and CNOOC 25%.
