The high-pressure piping fabricated in Guyana for ExxonMobil Guyana’s Liza Unity floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) forms part of one of the offshore industry’s most technically demanding categories of work, according to SBM Offshore Guyana General Manager Martin Cheong.
Cheong made the remarks during a June 9 ceremony marking the completion of the Water Injection Riser Depressurization (WIRD) project, a brownfield modification scope that will support operations aboard the Liza Unity FPSO.
The work was completed by Friedlander Guyana, making it one of the latest examples of advanced fabrication activity being undertaken locally for Guyana’s offshore oil industry.
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Cheong said the significance of the project lies in the technical requirements involved.
“These pipe systems will operate under some of the highest water pressure on Liza Unity FPSO, making them among the most technically demanding fabrication scopes in the offshore industry,” he outlined.
According to Cheong, the piping fabricated under the WIRD project will support the vessel’s water injection system.
The project is part of ongoing brownfield work aimed at maintaining and enhancing the performance of producing assets offshore Guyana. Cheong said the achievement demonstrates the progress being made in developing local industrial capability to support increasingly complex offshore activities.
“It is through this collaboration that Guyanese welders received specialized training, participated in the nationally recognized qualification process, and earned certification that will strengthen the country’s technical workforce for years to come,” he added.
As Guyana’s oil sector expands, SBM expects local fabrication facilities to play a larger role in supporting offshore operations. Cheong said investments in local capability will help position Guyanese companies to support future offshore projects and industrial development.
The Liza Unity FPSO is operated by SBM Offshore on behalf of ExxonMobil Guyana and is producing oil from the Liza 2 development in the Stabroek Block. The vessel started production in February 2022 and currently has an optimized oil production capacity of approximately 270,000 barrels per day.
