American oil giant, ExxonMobil, announced today that its exploration works at the Hassa-1 well which was drilled to 21,152 ft, did lead to hydrocarbons being found but the quality is certainly not in the class of those discovered at the well-known Liza field and others like Payara, Yellowtail or Turbo.
In fact, Janelle Persaud, Public and Government Affairs Advisor for ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), was keen to note that the Hassa-1 exploration well did not encounter hydrocarbons in the primary target reservoirs. “However, the well did encounter hydrocarbons in other intervals.” Though Persaud did not indicate what the primary target reservoirs are as opposed to the “other intervals”, Guyana Standard’s extensive coverage of the discoveries to date highlights that one of the superior targets in the block is the Cretaceous play. In fact, most discoveries by ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block have been made in Late Cretaceous, turbidite sandstone reservoirs in stratigraphic traps.
Even though the company did not classify the hydrocarbons encountered as non-commercial, Persaud said that an evaluation is being undertaken, following which, it will be integrated into ExxonMobil’s regional subsurface interpretation and modelling.
Persaud said, “This serves as a reminder that geologic risk is inherent to frontier oil and gas exploration activities. Nonetheless, ExxonMobil remains committed to evaluating the potential in our offshore Guyana blocks using our world-class technology and technical capabilities”
She also noted that the Hassa-1 well was drilled by the Noble Don Taylor, which will now move to Liza phase two development drilling.
