ExxonMobil scores big this week

ExxonMobil has made two significant announcements this week: the sanction of the USD10+ billion Golden Pass LNG project and further exploration success in Guyana.

Golden Pass LNG
On Tuesday, ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum sanctioned the Golden Pass LNG project in Texas. It will have a cost of USD10+ billion and deliver capacity of 16mtpa from 2024. Golden Pass was originally a LNG import facility but will be converted over the next five years.

The JV between ExxonMobil and Qatar Petroleum cements the relationship between the two companies and builds upon the existing co-operation in the Qatargas LNG projects in Qatar. The sanctioning of this projects follows Qatar’s decision to pull out of OPEC from January 2019 as it said it would focus its efforts on gas. This may also have been necessary as US is considering cartel legislation which would have impacted Qatar’s ability to participate in US projects.

Guyana success
ExxonMobil announced on Wednesday the successful 11th and 12th discoveries offshore Guyana. This follows the 10th discovery, Pluma-1, made in December 2018.

Tilapia-1 encountered 93m of high quality reservoir  (oil) and lies in the Turbot Area of the Stabroek Block, which also contains the Turbot, Longtail and Pluma discoveries. The next well in plan is the Yellowtail-1 located 10km to the west.

Haimara-1 encountered 63m of high quality reservoir (gas/condensate) and could potentially open up a new area.

These discoveries will add to the recently resource estimate of 5+bnboe (from already increased from 4+bnboe following Pluma-1). With a further 15+ prospects to drill, the resource estimate could increase materially.

Phase 1 (Liza Phase 1) of the development is underway, and will include 17 wells connected to a FPSO with 120mbopd production expected in early-2020. Liza Phase 2 is planned to be sanctioned soon with a 220mbopd FPSO. Phase 3 (Payara) sanction is also expected in 2019 with startup in 2023. ExxonMobil sees at least five FPSOs on the Stabroek Block with production of >750mbopd by 2025.