ExxonMobil Guyana yesterday confirmed that eight rotational staff on board the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) have tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently isolated.
Spokeswoman for the Guyana office, Janelle Persaud, yesterday told Stabroek News that the ill employees are currently isolated at facilities offshore or have been transported to facilities onshore are currently being monitored.
The employees are all fully vaccinated and some have displayed mild symptoms while others have showed no symptoms, she said.
“We have robust protocols, including vigorous testing, contact tracing and isolation in place to minimise the risk of spreading the virus. Additionally, medical personnel onboard the FPSO are monitoring the health of all workers and providing appropriate treatment and care,” Persaud explained as she touched on the measures in place to curb the spread of the virus.
In the meantime, procedures are in place to safely transport all workers to and from offshore.
Since the vaccination policy has been in place, the company has eliminated onshore quarantine as was previously in place when the pandemic hit.
“We have been strongly encouraging all offshore workforce to obtain the COVID-19 vaccination. To date 100% of the crews on the Liza Destiny, Liza Unity and our six drill ships have been fully vaccinated,” she added.
Despite this, Persaud said the operations have not been negatively affected.
The Liza Unity arrived in Guyana last October 53 days ahead of its scheduled arrival and is expected to go into operation early this year.
The Liza Phase 2 development will produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day and 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.
It will develop approximately 600 million barrels of oil. Liza Phase 2 is expected to cost US$6 billion, including a lease capitalisation cost of approximately US$1.6 billion, for the Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading vessel.
