Exxon goes back to normal production level

– company is removing release silence for further assessment

PRODUCTION levels in ExxonMobil’s Liza Destiny Float Production Storage and Unloader (FPSO) ship are gradually returning to normal, as efforts are underway to further assess the silence of a faulty discharge, which has recently been moved.
Production at the Liza Destiny, offshore Guyana, was significantly reduced from 120,000 barrels of oil per day to 30,000, barrels because the company encountered problems with the leakage silencer, which is part of the compressor recently re-installed flash gas.
The compressor was damaged in January, and as a result the company had to temporarily increase gas flares to above pilot levels in order to maintain safe operations. Subsequently, the defective shrinkage was removed and sent to Germany for immediate repair. Repaired and upgraded components of the flash gas compression system have been safely reinstalled, but a comprehensive three-phase testing program has been undertaken to ensure full safety.

It was during the final phase of the three-phase testing program that the company encountered a problem with the release silencer. Leakage silencer is used to dilute noise generated by the expansion of air, steam or gas at high pressure to atmospheric pressure.
In a recent update, ExxonMobil said the silence has been removed and is undergoing further assessment, to determine the necessary scope of repairs and / or modifications.
“We estimate that repairs or replacements will take about three months. In addition, plans begun in 2020 are progressing to install a redesigned third-stage flash gas compression system at the end of this year, ”ExxonMobil Public Affairs and Government Advisor Janelle Persaud said in an official update on Wednesday.
Even in the midst of ongoing efforts to repair the faulty equipment, the company has begun to increase productivity, which has since moved from 30,000 barrels of oil a day to between 100,000 and 110,000 barrels per day, at a zero flare level more than 15 Million. standard cubic feet of gas per day (Mscfd).

Those operating parameters, according to the company, were defined after careful consideration of safety, environmental, technical and economic factors, along with discussions with relevant government agencies on the best path forward, while repairs and upgrades continue.
“ExxonMobil Guyana is extremely disappointed by these ongoing technical challenges, but we are proud of the offshore team who continue to work safely and efficiently manage operations during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Persaud , adding that the company will continue to work with the relevant parties to remedy the situation as soon as possible.
Despite the challenges facing the company, Guyana’s sixth oil lift, due to its recent safe and successful completion, has not been affected at planned volumes, and in accordance with the Raw Delivery Agreement and ‘ the rising schedule. Lifts are done every eight to nine days, and, with production levels low, there were concerns that the operator would not meet the quota of only about a million barrels within the expected time.

Although the country was able to get its sixth lift in time, the Ministry of Natural Resources registered the government’s disappointment at the operator’s inability to resolve the current situation. “The GoG is, as would be expected, very disappointed with the operator’s inability to resolve this situation so far, and will continue to monitor daily crude oil output levels and torches to best allow for economic production. -usually during this period.
“GoG is currently examining the implications of loss of output, and consequently, loss of income and revenue, including measures they may have to put in place to protect national interest,” the Ministry of Natural Resources said in a statement to the press recently.
ExxonMobil Guyana has since said it is extremely disappointed by the compressor’s ongoing design and underperformance issues, and will work with the equipment manufacturer, MAN Energy Solutions, and the ship’s operator, SBM, to rectify the situation. This performance is below ExxonMobil’s global expectations for reliability, the company said.

Source