No flaring occurred during the period ExxonMobil ceased works offshore in the Stabroek Block for maintenance and satellite data shared by conservationist Annette Arjoon-Martins was that of heat from the floating production storage and offloading vessel.
Last week, Arjoon-Martins had shared four satellite images of offshore works in the Stabroek Block and when asked what it reflected said that it was of the “flaring footprint” over the period stated in addition to “temperatures which will indicate data when flaring were higher and so on.”
Arjoon-Martins’ views came on the heels of an announcement by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Dr Vincent Adams that oil production was expected to be ramped up to its peak 120,000 barrels of oil per day by August 10th and that routine flaring would cease at that time.
ExxonMobil said that there had been no flaring during the period, even as it explained that it was working to ramp up production when it was safe to do so. “To confirm, we were shut in and not flaring during that period of maintenance. The Department of Energy and EPA receive daily reports…We continue to manage production to minimize flaring during this time,” ExxonMobil’s Director of Public and Government Affairs Deedra Moe said when contacted for comment.
Arjoon-Martins had said the data from the satellite reading suggested something different and the EPA had no way of validating what the company said. “This is real time data so it should be investigated,” she added of the satellite data.
EPA’s Director Dr Vincent Adams told this newspaper that the agency indeed has no way of currently verifying information provided by ExxonMobil but added that the agency believes the data given is accurate, as it is a requirement under the permit that the company has with this country to provide requisite information on operations. He said that the agency was working to upgrade oversight systems but needed vital revenue to do so.
However, Adams believed that the EPA would soon be able to get its own modern technologies, such as satellite data feeds. “We are taking Exxon’s information. They are obligated by their permit to provide reports. So we stand by the reports,” Adams said.
Arjoon-Martins said that her comments were misconstrued and the emphasis was to be that the information needs validating and could be done using the satellite data.
Using four readings, on footprint, radiative heat, radiant output, and temperature, the Skytruth data was said to have shown fluctuating levels in all categories from December, when production began, up to July 16th, 2020. From December to late May, the highest readings were registered and the lowest were recorded during the late May to July period.
It is important to note that all vessels produce heat and would be reflected on satellite imagery.
