ExxonMobil Corp. reported additional discoveries offshore Guyana with the Tilapia-1 and Haimara-1 wells in southeastern Stabroek block, bringing the total discoveries on that block to 12. The latest discoveries contributed to an estimated resource of more than 5 billion boe.
Tilapia-1 is the fourth discovery in the Turbot area that includes the Turbot, Longtail, and Pluma discoveries. Tilapia-1 encountered 305 ft of oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled to 18,786 ft in 5,850 ft of water. The well is about 3 miles west of the Longtail-1 well.
The Noble Tom Madden drillship began drilling Tilapia-1 on Jan. 7 and will next drill the Yellowtail-1 well, which is 6 miles west of Tilapia-1 in the Turbot area. Baseline 4D seismic data acquisition is under way.
Tilipia-1 and Haimara-1 were drilled as wildcats (OGJ Online, Jan. 7, 2019). The Haimara-1 well encountered 207 ft of gas and condensate-bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was drilled to 18,289 ft in 4,590 ft of water.
Haimara-1 is 19 miles east of the Pluma-1 discovery in a potential new development area. The Stena Carron drillship began drilling Haimara-1 on Jan. 3 and now will return to the Longtail discovery to complete a well test.
ExxonMobil is considering using at least five floating production, storage, and offloading vessels on the Stabroek block, expected to produce more than 750,000 b/d by 2025. The Liza Phase 1 development is expected to produce as much as 120,000 b/d in early 2020 via the Liza Destiny FPSO (OGJ Online Dec. 28, 2018).
Liza Phase 2 is expected to start by mid-2022. Pending government and regulatory approvals, sanctioning is expected in this year’s first quarter. Liza Phase 2 use a second FPSO designed to produce up to 220,000 b/d. Sanctioning of a third development, Payara, also is expected with start up as early as 2023.
Stabroek block is 6.6 million acres. Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Ltd. is operator with 45% interest. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of CNOOC Ltd., holds 25% interest.