ExxonMobil Resumes Exploration Drilling in Guyana’s Stabroek Block
As three mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) press play to resume hydrocarbon search at the Stabroek block on South America’s North Atlantic coast, ExxonMobil Guyana, a subsidiary of America’s oil major ExxonMobil, continues to explore oil and natural gas resources off the coast of Guyana. The drillships involved in this endeavor are owned by Noble Corporation and Stena Drilling.
Exploration Drilling Operations
According to the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), ExxonMobil began exploration drilling operations on December 25, 2024, at the Haimara_3 well site within the Stabroek Block of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The Stena Carron drillship is conducting the drilling activities at this site, expected to be completed by December 31, 2024.
The drilling operations will be supported by multi-purpose subsea vessels like Havila Phoenix, C-Innovation’s C-Installer, and DOF’s Skandi Nomad, designed for various offshore services.
Developmental Drilling Operations
ExxonMobil also resumed developmental drilling operations at the YT_1i07 and UA_3i04 well sites with the Noble Tom Madden and Noble Sam Croft drillships, respectively. These operations are scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2024.
Future Plans and Expansion
ExxonMobil has awarded additional work to four drillships operating in Guyana, extending their contract durations and securing significant backlog. The company is also focusing on maintenance activities within the Stabroek block, including the FPSO Liza Destiny, to ensure operational efficiency.
The oil major has ambitious plans for the future, aiming to have six FPSO vessels online by the end of 2027 with a potential for up to ten units in Guyana’s waters. The company is also working on the development of the Hammerhead project to increase production capacity in the region.
ExxonMobil’s operations in Guyana have been pivotal in discovering over 30 major oil reserves, with an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) recoverable resources. The company’s commitment to exploration and development in the region underscores its strategic importance in the global energy landscape.