Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Ltd. (EEPGL) encountered more than 95 ft of oil-bearing sandstone in its Payara-1 well, which was drilled about 10 miles northwest of the Liza-1 discovery (OGJ Online, May 20, 2015). The well was drilled to 18,080 ft in 6,660 ft of water. This makes ExxonMobil Corp.’s second oil discovery on the Stabroek block. The well was drilled in a new reservoir that was similar in age to that of the original Liza discovery.
In addition to the Payara discovery, the operator’s Liza-3 well has identified an additional, deeper reservoir directly below the Liza field, the company said. The new reservoir is estimated to contain 100-150 MMboe.
The operator spudded its Payara well on Nov. 12, 2016, with initial total depth reached on Dec. 2. According to ExxonMobil, two sidetracks have been drilled to evaluate the discovery and a well test is under way.
Liza field is on the 27,000-sq-km Stabroek block, 193 km offshore Guyana with a potential resource estimate of more than 1 billion boe. In December 2016, the operator let contracts to SBM Offshore NV for a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel for Liza field (OGJ Online, Dec. 20, 2016). The project is subject to a final investment decision this year.
EEPGL is operator and holds 45% interest in the block. Partners are Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. with 30% interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Ltd. with 25%.
Contact Tayvis Dunnahoe at [email protected].
