SBM Offshore has sold the Liza Unity floating oil production vessel to ExxonMobil Guyana for $1.26 billion, wrapping up the deal months before the lease was due to expire in February 2024.
ExxonMobil will now own the vessel, but SBM will still operate it until 2033. The Liza Unity, which started service in 2022 and integrates ExxonMobil’s and SBM’s operational expertise, can produce 220,000 barrels of oil a day, treat large volumes of gas, and inject water for oil recovery.
It is a pioneering design that emphasizes efficiency and sustainability, even earning a special environmental achievement award. The sale proceeds will mostly pay off the vessel’s financing, reducing SBM’s debt.
Liza Unity, alongside its sister ship Liza Destiny, contributes to a significant portion of oil production in the vast Stabroek Block, where ExxonMobil, Hess Guyana, and CNOOC Petroleum are partners.
