As exploration and production activities continue to ramp up offshore Guyana, US oil major ExxonMobil will engage another drillship to aid in the search for more oil. This vessel will be the third such drillship, joining the Stena Carron and Noble Bob Douglas in the 6.6 million acres Stabroek Block.
Country Manager of ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Rod Henson, told OilNOW on Monday, July 23, that the company has not yet decided who the contractor will be but a decision will be made soon in this regard.
“Essentially we are going to contract a third drillship. We haven’t done that quite yet, we are looking for the right one to come in. I think we will be able to provide something soon in the weeks ahead but most likely that drillship will be coming in sometime later this year and it would be dedicated to further exploring, trying to explore more about the block,” he said.
The Stena Carron just successfully completed a drilling campaign at Longtail-1 where the company’s 8th discovery in Guyana was made. The vessel is now moving onto to the next prospect – Hammerhead-1. The other drillship operating in the Stabroek Block is the Noble Bob Douglas which is currently drilling development wells for the Liza Phase 1 project.
ExxonMobil has to date discovered more than 4 billion oil-equivalent barrels in Guyana and has advanced its evaluation to support a third phase of development and consideration of two additional phases.
The collective discoveries on the Stabroek Block to date have established the potential for up to five FPSOs producing over 750,000 barrels per day by 2025.
Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.
