Stena Drilling recently announced on LinkedIn that the Stena Carron, a dynamically positioned, harsh environment, ultra-deepwater drillship, has departed Guyana for Las Palmas, Spain. The vessel will undergo a Special Periodic Survey (SPS) in Spain. The SPS is a detailed inspection and maintenance procedure essential for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance of drilling vessels. This routine is usually conducted every five years for offshore drilling vessels.
The Stena Carron has been actively involved in ExxonMobil’s exploration, appraisal, and development program offshore Guyana. After the completion of the SPS, the vessel is scheduled to return to Guyana to continue its operations.
Currently, ExxonMobil has six rigs and drillships under contract for its operations in Guyana. Alongside the Stena Carron, the company employs the Stena Drillmax, also from Stena Drilling. The other four are from Noble Corporation, namely the Noble Tom Madden, the Noble Sam Croft, the Noble Don Taylor, and the Noble Bob Douglas.
The year 2025 is anticipated to be a peak period for drilling operations offshore Guyana. During this time, ExxonMobil is expected to carry out simultaneous exploration and appraisal operations in both the Stabroek and Canje blocks. Additionally, the company will undertake development drilling for multiple oil developments. Among these, the Yellowtail project, ExxonMobil’s fourth Stabroek block project, is expected to achieve first oil in 2025.
