The Government has confirmed a new ExxonMobil discovery in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, but further testing is still needed to establish how much oil or gas the find contains and whether it can support commercial development.
Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat confirmed at the weekend that ExxonMobil had recently made the Rockhead-1 discovery, located adjacent to the Ranger-1 discovery, which was made in 2018.
The Minister said tests are ongoing to determine the quantity and commercial potential of the resources.
“The quantification of the resources will be determined based on evaluated tests, and if necessary, an appraisal programme for the Rockhead-1 discovery,” Bharrat said.
The confirmation provides a name and location for a discovery that ExxonMobil’s global exploration chief, John Ardill, had previously described as a “big discovery” in the central part of the Stabroek Block.
Ardill made the remarks during the Energy Intelligence Forum in London in October. He said the company was conducting appraisal activities and production tests to better define the resource.
However, neither a resource estimate nor confirmation of commercial viability has been made public.
Bharrat said ExxonMobil is required to follow the applicable procedures after making a discovery, in keeping with the Petroleum Activities Act and the Stabroek Block Petroleum Agreement.
The Minister also noted that appraisal activity is continuing at the nearby Ranger-1 discovery.
The proximity of Rockhead-1 to Ranger-1 raises questions about whether the new find could eventually be developed alongside existing or planned infrastructure. ExxonMobil has previously discussed the possibility of connecting nearby discoveries to a larger development, but no development plan for Rockhead-1 has been announced.
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