Upgraded equipment for ExxonMobil’s flash gas compressor system is currently being reinstalled offshore Guyana, Public and Government Affairs Advisor at ExxonMobil Guyana, Janelle Persaud said on Friday.
This flash gas compressor system is aboard the Liza Destiny Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel operating in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana. The flash gas compressor malfunctioned in January, resulting in ExxonMobil’s increase in natural gas flaring above pilot levels to maintain safe operations.
Previously, the faulty flash gas compressor was removed and sent abroad for repairs. In an update to members of the media in May, Persaud related that repairs and upgrades to the third-stage discharge silencer were ongoing.
The damaged gas compressor was reinstalled in April but it was subsequently discovered that there was another problem with the discharge silencer. Resultantly, the oil company significantly reduced its production to just 30,000 barrels. Operations had ramped up back subsequently.
This silencer is a key component of the flash gas compression system. In the update provided in May, Persaud said that repairs were reportedly being progressed by MAN Energy Solutions, the equipment’s manufacturer, at a facility in Houston, Texas.
In that update, as well, Persaud also stated that the manufacture of a redesigned third stage-discharge venturi has been completed and it was being shipped to Guyana
On Friday, Persaud said that the discharge venturi and the upgraded discharge silencer were in Guyana and are being reinstalled “as we speak.”
“The team remains on track to complete reinstallation of the flash gas compressor later this month. We are hoping that this can be done by the middle of June,” Persaud said.
She also highlighted that the company continues to “safely manage” flare levels of the natural gas to less than 15 Thousand Standard Cubic Feet per Day (a volume measurement for gas)
