Hors série Offshore bilingue 2017 - 40

international context

thursday 5h october 2017

Special issue le marin

Three areas live up to their promises

ince the world-class
oil well Liza was discovered in 2015 offshore
Guyana, ExxonMobil
has been moving from
one successful project to another
in this area. The huge potential in
ultra deep waters - i.e. 1,500 metres underwater - in the area has
been confirmed in recent months.
In January, the US group proudly announced the discovery of a
new oil field on its Starbroek block,
about a dozen kilometres NorthEast of Liza. The new well, Paraya,
is located in a deeper reservoir below Liza. Estimated potential: 100
to 150 million barrels of oil equivalent (MBOE).

Jackpot in Mexico
In March, ExxonMobil announced the discovery of an adjacent
satellite well to Liza (Sneok), 9 km
South East from the well. In June,
the company disclosed positive findings of a new well in the Liza area,
Liza-4. This will support a second
development phase for this field.
Finally, in July, a second discovery was made at Paraya, bringing the resources to an estimated
500 MBOE. 'Paraya 2 confirms

the second giant field discovered in Guyana', ExxonMobil happily announced. In light of these new
successful wells, the group have
estimated the gross recoverable
resources at Stabroek to between
2.25 and 2.75 billion BOE.
Hence, it comes as no surprise
that the group has decided to invest in the Liza development phase
this year. Also, it acquired a block
in the deep waters of Surinam,
Guyana's neighbouring country, in
July. Though Apache announced
that a dry well was drilled in April
offshore Surinam, the GuyanaSurinam basin could hold a few
more surprises in store.
Another promising area are
the Mexican waters in the Gulf of
Mexico, now open to international
companies following the reform of
the energy sector initiated in 2013.
In 2015, Eni signed a contract to
develop three offshore fields located in the shallow waters of Bay of
Campeche. The Italian group was
thus the first oil company to operate in Mexico since the 2013 reform. Bingo! The Amoca-2 well
identified new resources on the
Amoca oil field, as announced
by Eni in March 2017. As well as
Amoca-3, drilled immediately af-

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Stena Drilling

Though 'border' zones are becoming scarce, several have
been home to exploration campaigns worldwide. Some
have led to new - and substantial - discoveries in 2017,
like those in Guyana, Mexico and Burma.

ExxonMobil used the 'Stena Carron' drillship in Guyana.

ter. As a result, the group now estimates the resources on the field to
one billion BOE.

Potential
in Burma
In July, Talos Energy made 'a
world-class oil discovery' on the
Mexican block 7, also in shallow
waters. The resources on site are
estimated to over one billion barrels. This will prompt companies to
take part in the licensing round for
deep waters that Mexico plans to
hold in January 2018.
Finally, one last zone is worth

mentioning offshore Burma, where
Australian company Woodside
has announced a third discovery
in August, following those of 2012
and 2015. The Pyi Thit-1 well was
drilled on block A-6, of which Total
E&P Myanmar holds 40%.
Considering the offshore gas
potential, Burmese authorities
have approved the construction
of an offshore supply platform by
Singapore company MOSB that
will be located at Mawlamyine, on
the southeastern coast. Anticipated
investment: $118.5 million.
Carole LANZI

Eni wants the jackpot in Mexico
*Following
the results on the Mexican field Amoca, Eni is looking to step

up development of the field, with a view to starting production in early
2019. The production plateau should range between 30,000 and 50,000
barrels per day. The Italian group's objective is to be the first international
company to produce as operator in Mexico. Amoca, located in shallow
waters, offers a higher break-even level. According to Eni, 'Considering
the low oil prices, this is the ideal project'.

production to start at Liza in 2020
*TheGuyana:
first development phase of the Liza field in Guyana will use an

FPSO that can produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day. Production is
due to start by 2020. The cost of phase 1 is estimated to over $4.4
billion. The field is located 190 km offshore, at depths between 1,500
and 1,900 metres. ExxonMobil plans to pursue its exploration work in
Guyana in 2018.

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