ExxonMobil to undertake pipeline maintenance ahead of GtE start-up

ExxonMobil Guyana is set to begin maintenance work on a near-shore section of its pipeline offshore of Crane, West Coast Demerara, as part of efforts to ensure the infrastructure is ready for the planned start-up of the Gas-to-Energy operations.

The maintenance activities are scheduled to begin on October 14 and are expected to continue until around December 1, 2026.
According to ExxonMobil Guyana, the work will address a finding on the near-shore section of the pipeline that was identified during inspection activities earlier this year.
The company said the maintenance is being undertaken to maintain the safety, integrity, and reliability of the pipeline, and is being conducted in accordance with international standards.
On Wednesday, ExxonMobil said the pipeline is currently pressurised with inert nitrogen gas and is not yet in operation. As a result, the company said the pipeline does not pose a risk to the public or the environment.
The company said it intends to complete the maintenance before the start-up of Gas-to-Energy operations to minimise the potential for maintenance interruptions after operations begin.
“ExxonMobil Guyana is coordinating with relevant stakeholders regarding the activities,” the company said in a press release.
The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is also expected to issue a marine notice providing information to mariners operating in the area.
ExxonMobil said it remains committed to conducting its operations safely and in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
In July, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) rejected claims that the pipeline being used for Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project had ruptured offshore of the West Coast of Demerara.
The agencies said the 250-kilometre subsea and onshore pipeline, installed by ExxonMobil Guyana in 2024, was not in operation and had been filled with nitrogen and sealed pending the start-up of the GtE Project.
The EPA and MARAD confirmed, however, that an anomaly had been detected during a scheduled safety inspection of the pipeline that began in May. They said the matter was investigated and determined to be a slight anomaly, with additional inspections undertaken as a precaution to verify the pipeline’s integrity.
The pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from the Stabroek Block offshore to the GtE facilities at Wales, West Bank, and Demerara. Phase One of the project includes a 300-megawatt power plant and a natural gas liquids facility.