The International Energy Conference and Expo 2023 has generated a great deal of worthwhile interactions and partnership prospects, which the government expresses satisfaction with.

Canada/Guyana Chamber of Commerce (CGCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Energy NL, which will serve as a platform to better engage business interests between the energy company and the wider Guyanese business community. The signing took place on the sidelines of the conference. CGCC Chairman, Anand Beharry said the agreement now amplifies other engagements which were already established. “There is extensive business participation in the Guyana market by Newfoundland companies. With this agreement, we hope to accelerate those engagements,” Beharry stated. Energy NL was founded in 1977 to represent the supply and service sector of the energy industry. Today, the energy company represents over 460 member organisations worldwide which are involved in or benefit from, the energy industry of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The CEO emphasized her commitment to sharing Energy NL’s experience and knowledge with Guyana’s stakeholders by comparing this change to that of Guyana.

“I am pleased on behalf of Energy NL to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding with the Canada- Guyana Chamber of Commerce, so that we can both take advantage of our shared experiences, our know-how and the desire to succeed for the mutual benefit of our membership. The opportunity here in Guyana is inspiring, I am thrilled to finally be here to see it and experience it. I look forward to helping Energy NL and our members to play a role in Guyana’s success,” she noted.

Additionally, a number of financial institutions have endorsed the conference and the government’s objectives. Scotia Bank Guyana’s Seugobin Sugrim noted that the bank was excited to have invested in the activity to connect with customers and establish new relationships. Similarly, Vice President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Isaac Solomon noted that the theme “Harnessing Energy for Development” was highly appropriate for the conference given that energy is the driving force of the modern economy.

Chairman of the NewHayven Merchant Bank, Floyd Haynes said the bank was created to bridge the capital gap of where Guyana is and where it needs to be. “If you look at where Guyana is, and where the leaders want to take the country, it is clear that there is a finances gap. Some of those monies will come from traditional institutions like Scotia bank, multilateral lending institutions like CDB, but a lot of it will be capital that will come from banks like The New Hayven Merchant Bank,” he said.

Canadian based CGX Energy along with Frontera Energy Corporation have indicated their readiness to spud (begin drilling) the Wei-1 well in the Corentyne block offshore Guyana.

The partners have issued a press release stating their commitment to drill the Wei-1 well and that final preparations are complete in advance of spudding the Wei-1 well.

The well will be spudded no later than January 31, 2023 utilising the NobleCorp Discoverer semi-submersible mobile drilling unit.

The Wei-1 well will be located approximately 14 kilometres northwest of the Kawa-1 exploration well in the Corentyne block, approximately 200 kilometres offshore from Georgetown, Guyana

To go alongside this activity, CGX intends to support the Government’s effort to accommodate increased vessel activity in Guyana. According to a statement from the partners, in-river construction activity has begun for a deepwater port at Berbice.

Work has already begun at the Berbice Deepwater Port (BDWP) on a 50 x 12 metre access trestle from the quayside yard westward into the Berbice river, together with the necessary dredging of the river.

Construction of the wharf, perpendicular to the trestle, will follow.

The cargo terminal aspects of the BDWP are targeted to commence in mid-2023 and operation of oil and gas support base in late-2023, subject to construction schedules and supply chains.

In collaboration with the Government of Guyana, CGX has shifted the immediate focus of the Port to service expected demand for aggregates and building materials to support the Government’s infrastructure development in Berbice which must be imported into the region from elsewhere in the country and offshore.

Photo credit: www.noblecorp.com

IRVING, Texas – ExxonMobil has made two new discoveries offshore Guyana to the southeast of the Liza and Payara developments in the Stabroek block. The discoveries at Seabob and Kiru-Kiru are the sixth and seventh in Guyana this year, with the total number of discoveries in Guyana at more than 25.

• Seabob and Kiru-Kiru wells in Stabroek block are sixth and seventh discoveries in 2022
• Guyana investment strategy continues to yield positive results; additional exploration wells planned later this year
• Production from two vessels currently operating offshore has exceeded their initial combined target of 340,000 barrels per day

The Seabob-1 well encountered approximately 131 feet (40 meters) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 4,660 feet (1,421 meters) of water by the Stena Carron drill ship. The Kiru-Kiru-1 well encountered approximately 98 feet (30 meters) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled by the Stena DrillMAX in 5,760 feet (1,756 meters) of water. Drilling operations at Kiru-Kiru are ongoing.

“ExxonMobil and its partners continue to accelerate exploration, development and production activities for the benefit of all stakeholders, including the people of Guyana,” said Liam Mallon, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Company. “The resources we are investing in and discovering offshore Guyana will provide safe, secure energy for global markets for decades to come.”

The company’s 2022 investment plans include further exploration drilling and resource development in Guyana, where it is already increasing production at an accelerated, industry-leading pace. Two floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels operating offshore Guyana — Liza Destiny and Liza Unity — have exceeded their initial combined production target of 340,000 barrels of oil per day.

A third project, Payara, is expected to produce 220,000 barrels per day. Construction on its production vessel, the Prosperity FPSO, is approximately five months ahead of schedule with start-up likely before year-end 2023. The fourth project, Yellowtail, is expected to produce 250,000 barrels per day when the ONE GUYANA FPSO comes online in 2025.

Guyana’s Stabroek block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is the operator and holds 45% interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25% interest.