Discoveries | Key Wells

Hess, Exxon Announce Oil Discovery Offshore Guyana

By: ExxonMobil | Hess Corp

Share Print Bookmark    |    Monday,December 23,2019

Hess and partner ExxonMobil have reported another oil discovery on the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana at the Mako-1 well southeast of the Liza Field.

The discovery adds to the current gross recoverable resource estimate of more than 6 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Mako-1 encountered approximately 164 feet (50 meters) of a high-quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir. Mako-1, drilled in 5,315 feet (1,620 meters) of water, is located approximately six miles (10 kilometers) southeast of the Liza Field.

CEO John Hess said: “Mako-1 is the 15^th discovery on the prolific Stabroek Block and further underpins a growing resource base for future developments.”

The Liza Phase 1 development achieved first oil on December 20, 2019 and will produce up to 120,000 gross barrels of oil per day utilizing the Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO).

The Liza Unity FPSO, which will be employed for the second phase of Liza development and will have a production capacity of 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day, is under construction and expected to start production in Guyana by mid 2022.

Pending government approvals and project sanctioning of a third development, production from the Payara Field, located north of the Liza discoveries, could start as early as 2023, reaching an estimated 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

Drilling activities in Guyana continue with four drillships to further explore and appraise new resources as well as develop the resources within approved projects.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds 25 percent interest.