Page 11 - LatAmOil Week 20 2021

LatAmOil GUYANA LatAmOil

“We are working co-operatively with the EPA to barrels of oil equivalent (boepd).
support development of a long-term regulatory The block may eventually produce as much
approach, including flare management,” she told as 1mn barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil. Yields
OilNOW.gy on May 13. at Liza-1, which came on stream in December
The ExxonMobil subsidiary is exploring and 2019, are set to peak at 120,000 bpd. Liza-2 and
developing the Stabroek block in co-operation Payara, which are scheduled to begin operating
with Hess, an independent US-based company, in 2022 and 2024 respectively, will add another
and a unit of China National Offshore Oil Corp. 250,000 bpd each, as will Yellowtail. ExxonMo-
(CNOOC). The partners have found a total of bil Guyana is currently working to decide which
19 oil-bearing fields found at Stabroek, and they fields to target in the fifth and sixth stages of
estimate that the block holds more than 9bn development. ™

The logistics base will support development work at Payara (Image: Saipem)

COVID-19 exposure forces Saipem

to delay launch of logistics base

Italy’s Saipem has postponed the launch of carrying out within several sections of Stabroek,
its new logistics base and offshore construction a massive offshore block operated by ExxonMo-
base in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. bil (US). The company has won multiple service
According to a company statement, Saipem contracts within the framework of the Stabroek
had hoped to mark the opening of the facility project, including an engineering, procurement,
on May 22. But in the run-up to the launch construction and installation (EPCI) contract
ceremony, it determined that a number of key that covers the installation of a subsea produc-
staff members had been exposed to coronavirus tion facility at the Payara field.
(COVID-19). Accordingly, it decided to push Saipem intends to fabricate some of com-
the event back to another date, in line with its ponents of this production facility at the logis-
own protocols. tics base in Georgetown. The facility has been
“During the most recent [regular round of outfitted with the largest heavy lift crane ever to
COVID-19 testing for workers], we encoun- operate in Guyana, as well as a heavy load-bear-
tered that essential staff at the construction site ing jetty and specialised welding and testing
of our fabrication facility were exposed to the equipment.
virus,” the statement said. “Saipem Guyana Inc. Payara is one of the 19 oil-bearing fields
has immediately activated all the necessary pro- found at Stabroek, which is believed to contain
cedures and actions to reduce the chances of any more than 9bn barrels of oil equivalent (boepd).
further spread of the virus.” It is slated to come on stream in 2024 and will be
The Italian company has not yet set a new the third section of the block to start commercial
date for the launch. In its statement, it described development.
the decision to postpone the opening as in the ExxonMobil and its partners have already
best interest of everyone involved, including launched first-phase production at the Liza-1
employees, contractors, subcontractors and site in December 2019 and hope to launch sec-
government representatives. ond-phase work at Liza-2 next year. Fourth-
Saipem has said it will use the logistics base phase development is due to begin at Yellowtail
and construction facility to support the tasks it is in 2025. ™

Week 20 20•May•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P11