ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) has applied to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval of its proposed Haimara Development Project, which could become the ninth major offshore oil and gas project in the Stabroek Block.
The proposed project will be located about 222 kilometres offshore from Georgetown in the southeastern area of the Stabroek Block. ExxonMobil said the project will develop the Haimara, Bluefin and Hatchetfish natural gas fields and could also include nearby resources if they are found to be commercially viable.
Unlike several of Guyana’s earlier offshore developments that mainly focused on oil production, Haimara is expected to focus heavily on natural gas production. The company said the project will use a system known as “gas cycling,” where natural gas produced from underground reservoirs will be processed onboard a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO). Condensate, which is a light liquid hydrocarbon, will be separated from the gas before the remaining gas is reinjected into the reservoir to help maintain pressure and improve recovery.
ExxonMobil said the FPSO is expected to process between 1,000 and 1,500 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day and separate between 160,000 and 220,000 barrels of condensate daily. The vessel is also expected to store up to two million barrels of condensate before export tankers transport it to international markets every three to five days during peak production.
Production is expected to begin in 2031 and the project is expected to operate for at least 30 years.
The development will include between 24 and 60 production and gas injection wells, along with major subsea infrastructure installed at depths of about 1,200 to 1,700 metres below the ocean surface. Drill ships will be used to drill the wells, while subsea equipment will transport hydrocarbons from the seafloor to the FPSO for processing.
ExxonMobil said the project has been designed with no routine flaring, meaning gas will not normally be burned off during operations. Instead, gas will either be used as fuel onboard the FPSO or reinjected into the reservoir. The company said some flaring may still occur during maintenance, safety operations, equipment issues or well testing.
The company also stated that produced water will be treated before being discharged into the ocean in line with international industry standards. Produced water volumes are expected to range from 5,000 to 30,000 barrels per day.
According to the EPA application, lessons learned from earlier Stabroek Block projects including Liza Phase 1, Liza Phase 2, Payara and Yellowtail are being incorporated into the Haimara project to improve environmental performance and operational efficiency.
ExxonMobil said the project is expected to provide economic benefits for Guyana through increased government revenues, employment opportunities and local business participation. The project will also rely on local shorebases, storage facilities, warehouses, waste management services and other support infrastructure within Guyana.
If approved, Haimara would join the growing list of offshore developments already approved in the Stabroek Block, while environmental studies continue for the proposed Longtail project.
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