Oil production start-up with second ship remains at ‘early 2022’

The start-up of oil production using the Liza Unity, the second floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, is still pegged for early 2022, according to operator ExxonMobil Guyana.

This vessel, which will operate in the oil fields offshore Guyana, arrived in Guyana ahead of schedule on Tuesday morning; it travelled for some 53 days after departing Singapore in early September. It was initially scheduled to arrive in Guyana sometime in mid-November.

According to a press release from ExxonMobil, the Liza Unity will now be connected to the spread mooring before preparation for testing and commissioning. Mooring means that the vessel will be attached to the seabed.

“We’re all really excited that she’s joined the neighbourhood next to Liza Destiny, and we’re really looking forward to the next few phases as we bring this FPSO online into 2022.

“The standard for operational excellence set with the construction of the Liza Unity demonstrates the level of quality that we aspire to meet on every aspect of our projects,” Production Manager of ExxonMobil Guyana Mike Ryan was quoted as saying in the press release.

It was also noted that the Liza Unity is the world’s first FPSO to become a SUSTAIN-1 certified vessel.

This certification demonstrates the vessel’s alignment with key elements of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

And to this end, the Production Manager emphasised the company’s commitment to producing energy which is essential to modern life and economic development but also that helps to protect people and the environment.

This Liza Unity vessel is the Stabroek block offshore Guyana and is twice the size of the Liza Destiny FPSO that is currently in operation.

The Liza Unity is built to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day with an overall storage volume of up to two million barrels.

Importantly, ExxonMobil stated that the Liza Unity FPSO will be supported by a total of six drill centres and approximately 30 wells. This includes 15 production wells, nine water injection wells and six gas injection wells.

Phase 2 start-up is expected in early 2022 and will develop approximately 600 million barrels of oil.

Liza Phase 2 is expected to cost $6 billion, including a lease capitalisation cost of approximately $1.6 billion, for the Liza Unity FPSO vessel.