…to start early 2022 production in ExxonMobil’s Liza 2 field
By Jarryl Bryan
The Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which is earmarked for the Liza Field 2, has set sail from the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore on course for Guyana’s waters.
The Liza Unity FPSO on its journey to Guyana
This is according to SBM Offshore, which was contracted to build the FPSO on oil giant ExxonMobil’s behalf over two years ago. In a statement on Thursday, SBM explained that the vessel is likely to arrive in Guyana late this year.
Once the FPSO arrives at the Liza field offshore Guyana, she will be hooked up to the seabed, which will then be followed by installation of umbilicals and risers, allowing the next phase of operations to start.
The statement quotes Managing Director of Floating Production Solutions, Olivier Icyk. According to him, the Liza Unity is the world’s first FPSO to gain a SUSTAIN-1 class notation, which means the vessel was constructed based on the requirements of the ABS Guide for sustainability and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Some of features that are recognised by the SUSTAIN-1 class notation include energy efficiency management, ability to mitigate ozone-depleting substances, and management of hazardous materials throughout the life cycle of the FPSO.
“We are pleased to see that the Liza Unity FPSO is ready for the next phase, and we look forward to cooperating closely with our client ExxonMobil to ensure that the start-up is a success,” Icyk has said.
“At SBM Offshore, we work closely with our clients and our supply chain towards the goal of reducing emissions from our products. This is an important step in our journey to deliver safe, sustainable and affordable energy from the oceans,” he added.
The Liza Unity FPSO, which was dedicated by Guyana’s First Lady Arya Ali earlier this year, is designed to produce approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day, to have associated gas-treatment capacity of 400 million cubic feet per day, and water-injection capacity of 250,000 barrels per day.
The FPSO will be spread moored in water depth of about 1,600 metres and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil. According to SBM, there is a total of 19 topside modules.
ExxonMobil envisions at least six projects online by 2027, and sees potential for up to 10 projects to develop its current recoverable resource base. The Liza Destiny floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel is currently producing about 120,000 barrels of oil per day.
The start-up of Liza Phase 2 remains on target for early 2022, and it has been previously reported that the Liza Unity FPSO expects to sail from Singapore to Guyana in September 2021. The Unity has a production capacity of approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day.
The hull of the Prosperity FPSO vessel is complete, and topside construction activities are ongoing in Singapore with a start-up target of 2024. The first Payara development well was spudded in June 2021, and the offshore SURF installation will begin in 3Q 2021.
Yellowtail has been identified as the fourth development project in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, with anticipated start-up in 2025. Following necessary Government approvals and a final investment decision, this project will develop the Yellowtail and Redtail fields, which are located about 19 miles (30 kilometres) southeast of the Liza developments and potentially adjacent resources.
These new projects continue to contribute to the advancement of the Guyanese economy. More than 2600 Guyanese are now supporting project activities on and offshore, which reflects an increase of more than 20 per cent since the end of 2019.
ExxonMobil and its key contractors have spent approximately US$388 million with more than 800 local companies since 2015.
The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres). ExxonMobil’s affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator, and holds 45 per cent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 per cent interest.
