ExxonMobil files application for 9th permit to develop gas project

May 26, 2026 News

(Kaieteur News) – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), the operator of the Stabroek Block, has filed an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), seeking authorisation to pursue a ninth project- Haimara.

The company currently has seven projects under its belt, with an eight-development pending government approval.

In the meantime, Exxon is pursuing a ninth deep-water development, which according to the project summary, aims to develop the Haimara, Bluefin and Hatchetfish natural gas fields, and other discoveries within proximity if deemed feasible and economically viable.

Exxon explained, “As a natural gas development, the primary produced fluid is retrograde gas, from which condensate will be separated on the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), prior to the remaining gas stream being reinjected into the reservoir for pressure maintenance and increased recovery of condensate.”

The company added that gas may be exported from Haimara as the market becomes available. The anticipated production capacity for the FPSO is expected to be between 1,000 to 1,500 million Standard Cubic Feet (MMscfd) per day of produced natural gas and 160 to 220 thousand barrels of condensate per day (kbd) (separated from produced natural gas). Condensate is a very light oil. The FPSO will be capable of storing approximately two million barrels of condensate.

ExxonMobil files application for 9th permit to develop gas project

Map showing the proposed location of the Haimara project.

The vessel will also process, dehydrate, compress and reinject gas produced from the reservoir with capability to export gas once full reinjection is no longer needed and/or when the gas market is available.

The ninth project will be located in the southeastern portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately 222 km from Georgetown.

Exxon plans to develop the project using drill ships to produce retrograde gas from approximately 24 – 60 production and gas injection wells. Hamaira is expected to commence production in 2031 with an expected field life of at least 30 years, according to the project summary.

The document explained that the production facilities to be installed include subsea equipment attached to the seafloor as well as processing equipment on the ocean’s surface using an FPSO. “The subsea equipment will be installed at a depth of approximately 1,200 – 1,700 metres (m). The main components of the subsea kit include the following: production trees, production manifolds, flowlines, risers and umbilicals,” Exxon stated.

At peak, the company anticipates that the activities will employ up to 1,200 offshore personnel during the well-drilling and SURF/FPSO installation stages. During the production and decommissioning phases, this number will reduce to 210-240. Exxon also noted that a smaller number of personnel will be utilised at the onshore support facilities.

At the end of the project life, the oil company said it will decommission the offshore production facilities in accordance with the abandonment plan approved by the government.

In a notice, EPA informed the public that Exxon has been instructed to carry out a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed project, given its potential to significantly impact the environment.

As such, members of the public can make submissions to the EPA within 28 days, explaining the questions and matters they require to be “answered or considered” in the EIA.

Furthermore, a Project Summary can be viewed on the EPA’s website (see link below). https://epaguyana.org/?post_type=wpdmpro&p=11504&preview=true

Implications

If government greenlights another project without implementing a ring-fencing provision, more expense will be added to the cost bank which will further delay the country from receiving its full 50% profits intended under the petroleum agreement.

To date, Guyana has cleared all the cost relating to the four projects currently producing oil. This means that the country could have already been receiving a higher share of revenue. In the absence of a ring-fencing provision, the contractor uses profits that should have flowed to this country, to finance the upcoming developments.

A ring-fencing provision would therefore not only increase revenue flow to Guyana, but explicitly require that each project pays for itself.

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EIA, ExxonMobil, gas, Haimara

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