Systems to prevent routine flaring are standard across major offshore developments in Guyana. Integrated systems on floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels capture natural gas which is currently being extracted alongside oil from offshore fields.
This oil-linked gas is called associated gas. While a small portion is used for fuel, the rest of it is reinjected into subsurface formations instead of burning it at sea. This helps keep oil recovery high, and ensures there is no routine flaring. The practice is one that helps mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and boost oil production levels.
The systems are installed across FPSOs operating in the Stabroek Block, including those supporting Liza 1, Liza 2, Payara, and Yellowtail, each designed to handle large volumes of crude and associated gas, with gas handling capacity built to support higher production levels.
The effort is led by ExxonMobil Guyana, working alongside its Stabroek Block co-venturers and under oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency of Guyana (EPA).
Associated gas is treated in a manner that helps reduce emissions while improving operational efficiency. The approach supports better air quality around offshore facilities and stronger environmental performance across large-scale developments.
Exxon projects only three three-month flaring phase for largest Guyana project | OilNOW
EPA’s environmental permits reinforce the culture of safety and environmental protection by requiring mitigation measures, as well as reporting and monitoring across offshore operations.
In the future, associated gas from the Liza and Hammerhead fields will be piped to shore for power generation and other commercial uses. Non-associated gas (produced from gas fields) is also expected to be piped to shore for industrial uses.
ExxonMobil has also advanced its emissions reduction strategy and is currently on track toward its updated 2030 targets.
The company said on April 30, 2025, that it is pushing ahead with emissions cuts, targeting a 20–30% reduction in corporate-wide greenhouse gas intensity, a 40–50% reduction in upstream intensity, a 70–80% reduction in methane intensity, and a 60–70% reduction in flaring intensity.
It expects these measures to cut total greenhouse gas emissions by about 20% and has reaffirmed its goal of ending routine flaring across its global portfolio by 2030.
