Government says it is in the process of hiring a firm to conduct a reservoir audit of the Stabroek Block fields, even as it currently counts 43 discoveries while the operator, ExxonMobil holds to not quantifying but is saying there have been more than 30.
Sources say that there is a dispute between government and the company over the number of discoveries, appraisals and production wells, and it is the reason for the company not publicly quantifying discoveries but giving ball park figures since 2022.
Last year October, government announced that the Lancetfish-2 appraisal well in the Stabroek Block had resulted in a significant discovery, marking four for that year, and that it had brought the total number of discoveries from 2015 to 46.
Last week, it said that the discovery wells figure is 43.
Stabroek News reached out to Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, on the issue and he said that he would refer to his ministry’s team to get the responses. The ministry said that it is “unaware of any disagreement over discoveries,” but stated that there are currently 43.
“However, we can confirm that in keeping with international best practices, the government is in the final stages of an international competitive process for the hiring of a qualified firm to conduct a reservoir audit of the fields and we expect this to be completed by third quarter 2024,” Ministry of Natural Resources Officer, Mikaila Prince, told this newspaper. The ministry also promised to keep this newspaper updated on developments
Pressed on the number of discoveries in its count, the Ministry of Natural Resources informed that it first had to consult with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. Shortly after, it reverted saying, “It’s 43 discoveries.”
Haggle
What is still unclear is how many wells are respectively being termed discovery, appraisal or production. Also, it is not known if any of the discovery or appraisal wells are being used as production wells.
However, sources told this newspaper that “there has been this haggle over the number of wells because there are agreements on discovery wells, appraisal wells and productions wells… the company gives one amount and government another and it is why ExxonMobil moved from stating the exact number of discoveries to now generalising on quantity.”
Discovery wells, like the name implies, are found during the exploration or wild cat well- drilling process when the hydrocarbon is discovered, while appraisal wells are those drilled following that discovery to delineate the wells. Production wells are those that the crude or gas is brought up from, once the producing structure and characteristics are determined.
ExxonMobil has also not publicly updated its recoverable resource amount for nearly two years and where it used to give exact discovery amounts following a new find, this is no longer done.
This newspaper reached out to ExxonMobil and asked about discoveries and updating of the resource recoverable amounts.
“ExxonMobil Guyana Limited has made more than 30 discoveries on the Stabroek block since 2015, with a recoverable resource estimate of nearly 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels,” the company said through its local media advisor, Kwesi Isles.
Exxon also said that it provides quarterly updates to both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. “We provide quarterly updates to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission on resource estimates and associated activities,” the company said.
On its website, the company has not publicly updated its recoverable amount total since April of 2022 when they gave the more than 11 billion barrels figure.
The upped amounts came on the discoveries at Barreleye-1, Patwa-1, and Lukanani-1 wells in southeast portion of the Stabroek Block.
Overview
Currently, on its overview of the Guyana project, the company lists discoveries up to October of 2022.
The breakdown is as follows: The Liza 1 discovery was announced in May 2015. Liza-1 well was the first significant oil find offshore Guyana. It encountered more than 295 feet (90 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. It was safely drilled to 17,825 feet (5,433 metres) in 5,719 feet (1,743 metres) of water.
The Payara discovery was announced in January 2017. Payara is ExxonMobil’s second oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Payara-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering more than 95 feet (29 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. It was safely drilled to 18,080 feet (5,512 metres) in 6,660 feet (2,030 metres) of water.
The Snoek discovery was announced in March 2017. Snoek is ExxonMobil’s third oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Snoek-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering 82 feet (25 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was safely drilled to 16,978 feet (5,175 metres) in 5,128 feet (1,563 metres) of water.
The Liza Deep discovery was announced in January 2017. An appraisal well, Liza-3, identified an additional high quality, deeper reservoir directly below the Liza field, which is estimated to contain between 100-150 million oil equivalent barrels.
The Turbot discovery was announced in October 2017. Turbot is ExxonMobil’s fifth oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Turbot-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering 75 feet (23 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was safely drilled to 18,445 feet (5,622 metres) in 5,912 feet (1,802 metres) of water.
The Ranger discovery was announced in January 2018. Ranger is ExxonMobil’s sixth oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Ranger-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 230 feet (70 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing carbonate reservoir. The well was safely drilled to 21,161 feet (6,450 metres) depth in 8,973 feet (2,735 metres) of water. This discovery demonstrated the company’s ultra-deep-water and carbonate exploration capabilities and it proved a new play concept for the Stabroek Block.
The Pacora discovery was announced in February 2018. Pacora is ExxonMobil’s seventh oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Pacora-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 65 feet (20 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was safely drilled to 18,363 feet (5,597 metres) depth in 6,781 feet (2,067 metres) of water.
The Longtail discovery was announced in June 2018. Longtail is ExxonMobil’s eighth oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Longtail-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 256 feet (78 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was safely drilled to 18,057 feet (5,504 metres) depth in 6,365 feet (1,940 metres) of water.
The Hammerhead discovery was announced in August 2018. Hammerhead was ExxonMobil’s ninth oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Hammerhead-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 197 feet (60 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was safely drilled to 13,862 feet (4,225 metres) depth in 3,773 feet (1,150 metres) of water.
The Pluma discovery was announced in December 2018. Pluma was ExxonMobil’s 10th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Pluma-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 121 feet (37 metres) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoir. Pluma-1 reached a depth of 16,447 feet (5,013 metres) in 3,340 feet (1,018 metres) of water.
The Tilapia discovery was announced in February 2019. Tilapia was ExxonMobil’s 11th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Tilapia-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 305 feet (93 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled to a depth of 18,786 feet (5,726 metres) in 5,850 feet (1,783 metres) of water.
The Haimara discovery was announced in February 2019. Haimara was ExxonMobil’s 12th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Haimara-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 207 feet (63 metres) of high-quality, gas-condensate bearing sandstone reservoir. The well was drilled to a depth of 18,289 feet (5,575 metres) in 4,590 feet (1,399 metres) of water.
The Yellowtail discovery was announced in April 2019. Yellowtail was ExxonMobil’s 13th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Yellowtail-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 292 feet (89 meters) of high-quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled to a depth of 18,445 feet (5,622 metres) in 6,046 feet (1,843 metres) of water.
The Tripletail discovery was announced in September 2019. Tripletail was ExxonMobil’s 14th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Tripletail-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 108 feet (33 metres) of a high-quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 6,572 feet (2,003 metres) of water.
The Mako discovery was announced in December 2019. Mako was ExxonMobil’s 15th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Mako-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 164 feet (50 metres) of a high-quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 5,315 feet (1,620 metres) of water.
The Uaru discovery was announced in January 2020. Uaru was ExxonMobil’s 16th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Uaru-1 well was drilled in a new reservoir, encountering approximately 94 feet (29 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 6,342 feet (1,933 metres) of water.
The Yellowtail-2 well encountered 69 feet (21 metres) of net pay in a newly identified, high quality oil bearing reservoir among the original Yellowtail-1 discovery intervals. This was ExxonMobil’s 17th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block.
The Redtail discovery was announced in September 2020. Redtail was ExxonMobil’s 18th oil discovery in the Stabroek Block. The Redtail-1 well encountered approximately 232 feet (70 metres) of high-quality oil bearing sandstone and was drilled in 6,164 feet (1,878 metres) of water.
The Uaru-2 discovery was announced in April 2021. Drilling at Uaru-2 encountered approximately 120 feet (36.7 metres) of high quality oil bearing reservoirs including newly identified intervals below the original Uaru-1 discovery. The well was drilled in 5,659 feet (1,725 metres) of water.
The Longtail-3 discovery was announced in June 2021. Drilling at Longtail-3 encountered 230 feet (70 metres) of net pay, including newly identified, high quality hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs below the original Longtail-1 discovery intervals. The well was drilled in more than 6,100 feet (1,860 metres) of water.
The Whiptail-1 discovery was announced in July 2021. The Whiptail-1 well encountered 246 feet (75 metres) of net pay in high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoirs and was drilled in in 5,889 feet (1,795 metres) of water.
The Whiptail- 2 discovery was also announced in July 2021. The Whiptail-2 well encountered 167 feet (51 metres) of net pay in high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoirs. Whiptail-2 was drilled in 6,217 feet (1,895 metres) of water.
The Pinktail discovery was announced in September 2021. The Pinktail well encountered 220 feet (67 metres) of net pay in high quality hydrocarbon bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled in 5,938 feet (1,810 metres) of water.
The Turbot-2 discovery was also announced in September 2021. The Turbot-2 well encountered 43 feet (13 metres) of net pay in a newly identified, high quality hydrocarbon bearing sandstone reservoir. Turbot-2 was drilled in 5,790 feet (1,765 metres) of water.
The Cataback-1 discovery was announced in October 2021. The Cataback-1 well encountered 243 feet (74 metres) of net pay in high quality hydrocarbon bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled in 5,928 feet (1,807 metres) of water.
The Lau Lau-1 discovery was announced in January 2022. The Lau Lau-1 well encountered approximately 315 feet (96 metres) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled in 4,793 feet (1,461 metres) of water and is located approximately 42 miles (68 kilometres) southeast of the Liza field.
The Fangtooth-1 discovery was also announced in January 2022. The Fangtooth-1 well encountered approximately 164 feet (50 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled in 6,030 feet (1,838 metres) of water.
The Barreleye-1 discovery was announced in April 2022. The Barreleye-1 well encountered approximately 230 feet (70 metres) of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 3,840 feet (1,170 metres) of water.
The Patwa-1 discovery was announced in April 2022. The Patwa-1 well encountered 108 feet (33 metres) of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was conducted in 6,315 feet (1,925 metres) of water.
The Lukanani-1 discovery was also announced in April 2022. The Lukanani-1 well encountered 115 feet (35 metres) of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in a water depth of 4,068 feet (1,240 metres).
The Seabob-1 discovery was announced in July 2022. The Seabob-1 well encountered approximately 131 feet (40 metres) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 4,660 feet (1,421 metres) of water.
The Kiru-Kiru-1 discovery was also announced in July 2022. The Kiru-Kiru-1 well encountered approximately 98 feet (30 metres) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 5,760 feet (1,756 metres) of water.
The Sailfin-1 discovery was announced in October 2022. The Sailfin-1 well encountered approximately 312 feet (95 metres) of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 4,616 feet (1,407 metres) of water.
The Yarrow-1 discovery was also announced in October 2022. The Yarrow-1 well encountered approximately 75 feet (23 metres) of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 3,560 feet (1,085 metres) of water.
In 2023, the company said that there were the Fangtooth-1, Fangtooth-2, and the Lancetfish-1 discoveries. However, it was last October that government said that there were four discoveries for that year.
This year March saw the Bluefin discovery, the first for 2024.
