Guyana: Liza Phase 1 Rapid Development in a Deepwater Frontier

The Liza Phase 1 development project, offshore Guyana, is an unique example of what the offshore oil and gas industry is capable of when working together to deliver a common objective. ExxonMobil and the Stabroek Block co-venturers, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, commenced oil production from the Liza Destiny floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel in December of 2019, less than 5 years from the initial discovery of hydrocarbons in the Staebroek block. With the production and export of its first barrels of oil, the project completed the establishment of a nascent oil and gas industry in Guyana that is poised for tremendous growth in the coming years. The Liza Phase 1 development consists of a 120 kbd conversion FPSO (The Liza Destiny) and a network of subsea infrastructure to produce from and inject in two drill centers. It is expected to develop a resource of about 450 MBO gross estimated ultimate recovery. The water depth ranges from 1,690–1,860 m throughout the development which is located approximately 200 km offshore Guyana. This paper highlights the scope and pace of the project and discusses three specific challenges overcome: the uncertainty of the metocean conditions, extending the application of the selected riser technology, and executing in a challenging and frontier offshore location. A key to the success of the project was the unified approach between stakeholders and the commitment to act as One Team. The Liza Phase 1 project rapidly developed a newly discovered deep water resource in a frontier location while overcoming numerous challenges. By delivering Guyana's first ever oil production among industry leading cycle times, the Liza Phase 1 project has set the foundation for the future of deep water developments in Guyana.