Exxon submits environmental study for Hammerhead project

– as 60-day public review period begins, company plans for Hamlet well exploration

With ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) having submitted an environmental study for its seventh development offshore Guyana, the Hammerhead project, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has activated the 60-day period during which the public can make submissions on the project.
The 60-day period, according to a notice, takes effect from 16 February 2025. During this time, individuals can review both the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted by Exxon, and submit any objections in writing to the EPA.
The Hammerhead project, is expected to feature up to 30 wells. It is targeting a 2029 start-up, according to the documents submitted to the EPA. When production does start up, it is anticipated that between 120,000 to 180,000 barrels of oil per day will be added to Guyana’s production capacity, while a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel capable of storing between 1.4 to 2 million barrels of oil will be attached to the project.

It was also explained in the project documents about what Exxon’s intended approach will be towards gas found in Hammerhead. The company referenced plans to re-inject the gas, among other plans that also include pumping it onshore, presumably for Guyana’s natural gas needs.
Previously, President of EMGL Alistair Routledge himself had rated the Hammerhead project as a strong market prospect, with the potential to produce even better-quality oil than the Liza fields.
During an appearance on the Energy Perspectives podcast, Routledge had noted that while the American Petroleum Institute (API) rating for the Hammerhead crude was measured at between 20 and 25, the reservoirs are potentially better than Liza One and Two developments.

Hamlet
During a press conference last week, Routledge had meanwhile referenced the Hamlet well where they plan to explore for oil in the South East portion of the Stabroek Block. According to Routledge at the time, Hamlet is part of the exploration options the company is planning.
“For the wells this year, we’re building our exploration options. We drilled some large exploration wells last year. We’re assessing the results of those,” the oil executive had explained to the media.
“In the meantime, we’ve identified one exploration well that we’re progressing the approval for with the Government and the EPA. That well will be called Hamlet. Hamlet-1 well. That’s actually looking for an oil play in the South East portion of the block.”
Exxon, through its local subsidiary, is the operator of the Stabroek Block and holds 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.
The Liza Phases One and Two and Payara projects, all of which combined are producing over 600,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), account for the three FPSO vessels operating in Guyana’s Stabroek Block in waters offshore.
Exxon is also undertaking the Yellowtail project (where ongoing installation activities are expected to be concluded in September) in the oil-rich Stabroek block. It is estimated that when the Yellowtail development project comes on stream, production will climb to 810,000 bpd.
Exxon has already received approvals for and is advancing preparatory works on, its fifth and sixth projects, Uaru and Whiptail.
The Whiptail project would see Guyana producing just over 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2027.
In addition to at least these six projects offshore Guyana, which Exxon anticipates would be online by 2027, Exxon is also eyeing the possibility of having 10 FPSOs operational by 2030.