ExxonMobil’s largest project offshore Guyana has started producing oil, 4 months ahead of schedule.
The now-onstream deepwater Yellowtail development in the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek block is expected to produce an average of 250,000 BOPD to the One Guyana floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, the supermajor announced 8 August.
Project partner CNOOC said the Yellowtail development plans to commission 26 production wells and 25 injection wells.
ExxonMobil announced reaching final investment decision (FID) on the $10-billion Yellowtail project, targeting development of 900 million barrels of oil, in April 2022.
One Guyana, based on SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward hull design, is the largest FPSO moored to date on the Stabroek block. In addition to its 250,000 BOPD production capacity, it can store 2 million barrels of oil, treat 450 MMcf/D of associated gas, and inject 300,000 BOWD.
The FPSO is spread-moored in about 1800-m water depth.
With Yellowtail’s FPSO joining the already online Destiny, Unity, and Prosperity FPSOs in the Liza and Payara fields, ExxonMobil now has more than 900,000 BOPD of installed production capacity offshore Guyana.
The Destiny FPSO started Liza Phase 1 production in 2019, with Unity beginning Liza Phase 2 production in February 2022, and Prosperity starting Payara field production in November 2023. By November 2024, the trio had produced 500 million barrels of oil.
By 2030, ExxonMobil aims to reach 1.7 million BOEPD from eight projects offshore Guyana.
The Errea Wittu and Jaguar FPSOs are expected online in the Uaru field in 2026 and the Whiptail field in 2027, respectively. ExxonMobil aims to bring online its Hammerhead and Longtail projects in 2029 and 2030.
In April, MODEC announced it had received a limited notice to proceed with the front-end engineering and design and the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation for the Hammerhead FPSO, subject to government and regulatory approval. ExxonMobil has said it expects to reach FID on the Hammerhead heavy-oil development, in 750–1250-m water depth, this year.
ExxonMobil operates the block with 45% interest on behalf of partners Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. with 30% and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Ltd. with 25%.
