Environmental nod for US$13bn phase of Guyana’s Stabroek block

Guyana’s government has issued an environmental permit to ExxonMobil Guyana for the sixth phase of the Stabroek offshore block.

BNamericas previously reported that the company had submitted the environmental impact assessment to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the US$13bn, 275,000b/d project known as Whiptail.

In its permit, the EPA said that ExxonMobil is authorized to proceed with “subsea wells drilling; mobilization and installation of subsea equipment, umbilicals, risers, and flowlines (SURF); mobilization and installation of suction piles and mooring lines; installation of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) facility,” among others.

"The EPA is satisfied that the project can be conducted in accordance with good environmental practices, and in a manner that avoids, prevents and minimizes any adverse effects which could result from the activity," the government agency added.

The permit is valid until April 9, 2029, will be reviewed annually, and may be revised, amended, suspended or revoked.

Stabroek production currently comes from phases Liza 1 (Destiny FPSO, 150,000b/d), Liza 2 (Unity FPSO, 250,000b/d) and Payara (Prosperity FPSO, 220,000b/d).

Phases four and five, Yellow Tail (One Guyana FPSO) and Uaru (Errea Wittu FPSO), would add 250,000b/d each.

The permit is available in the Documents box in the top-right corner of the screen and the 3,984-page approved project EIA here.