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Govt. to probe fire on Exxon-operated FPSO
(Kaieteur News) – The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) on Monday said it will investigate the circumstances that led to a fire aboard the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which produces over 220,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd).
Operations were suspended after heat detectors in the laundry room of the living quarters signalled a small fire.
MNR said Exxon reported to the ministry that the blaze was quickly extinguished and the appropriate response procedures were immediately initiated. Moreover, all personnel aboard the vessel are safe and accounted for.
Consequently, the ministry said, “…that the relevant regulatory authorities will conduct the necessary follow-up to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
The Liza Unity FPSO
It added that it will continue to closely engage ExxonMobil Guyana Limited and the relevant regulatory agencies on this incident.
On Sunday, Exxon in a brief media statement said, “Heat detectors aboard the Liza Unity FPSO were activated in the laundry room of the living quarters, indicating a small fire, which was quickly extinguished. The appropriate response procedures were initiated.”
Meanwhile, the oil major confirmed that production and offloading operations were suspended as part of the company’s established safety response. It indicated that operations would resume following completion of the necessary checks.
Up to the time of this report, Exxon did not respond to further media queries on whether its operations resumed and the extent of damages to the FPSO.
The Liza Unity is Guyana’s second FPSO and produces hydrocarbons from the Liza Two project. The vessel commenced production activities in February 2022.
The vessel was designed to produce 220,000 bpd but was optimised by Exxon which pushed production to about 250,000 bpd. It is moored in water depth of about 1,650 m and is able to store approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil.
Unity is one of the four FPSOs in Guyana’s fleet. ExxonMobil also produces oil at Liza One, Payara- its third project- and Yellowtail, the fourth project. A fifth FPSO, the Errea Wittu recently arrived in Guyana and is slated to come online during the fourth quarter of this year, increasing the country’s daily production beyond a million barrels per day.
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