ExxonMobil Guyana’s President, Alistair Routledge recently unveiled plans to ramp up production capacity by installing risers on two Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading vessels (FPSOs)—Liza Destiny and Liza Unity. This strategic move aims to enhance to output levels and address operational bottlenecks, promising a significant boost to the country’s burgeoning oil industry.
It will be done as the company executes a two week shut down on production to pave way for finalized works on the laying of the pipeline for the Gas-to-Energy project:
During a recent press briefing held last week, Routledge emphasized the multifaceted approach ExxonMobil is adopting to optimize production. He highlighted the upcoming shutdown period for the Liza Unity FPSO, where besides installing risers, additional modifications and maintenance work will be carried out. “So in that shutdown period where we are installing the riser we will also be doing some some additional modifications, some other planned maintenance work that we would have done a little later that we’ve accelerated forward for integrity activity,” Routledge announced.
These proactive measures, including planned integrity activities, are poised to not only bolster the FPSO’s efficiency but also potentially exceed the current production ceiling of 252,000 barrels per day.
Routledge elucidated on the engineering interventions being undertaken to mitigate operational constraints.
“This is a very normal practice as we said before, where we look at facility performance, we understand where are the limitations in the equipment at any point in time,” he said. From valve trim adjustments to augmenting cooling capacity with additional plates or bundles, ExxonMobil is leaving no stone unturned to maximize production safely and sustainably. Such meticulous planning he said, underscores the company’s commitment to operational excellence and resource optimization.
Moreover, in response to misconceptions surrounding ExxonMobil’s investment recovery in the Gas-to-Energy project, Routledge clarified that repayment obligations commence only upon project commissioning. Dismissing erroneous claims of premature investment recovery, he reaffirmed the company’s adherence to contractual obligations and transparent operational practices.
Beyond production enhancement initiatives, ExxonMobil has achieved a significant milestone with the completion of horizontal drilling, a critical phase in the project’s infrastructure development. The upcoming tasks include the installation of risers on the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity FPSOs, deepwater pipelaying, and integration with the power plant infrastructure.
As Guyana anticipates the transformative impact of these initiatives, ExxonMobil remains at the forefront of driving sustainable growth and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships. With a steadfast commitment to operational excellence and innovation, the company continues to chart a course towards a prosperous energy future for the nation.
