-to be decentralised

MINISTER of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman has said that modular supply facilities and helipads will soon be constructed across the country to support the inevitable growth of the budding oil-and-gas industry.

“It is obvious we are transitioning and there will be thousands of people at work on vessels on and offshore, so we will have to get more space and facilities because what we have now is to service the Liza 1 development which will start us off,” said the minister during a recent discussion with recruits of the TotalTec International Petroleum and Maritime Academy.

ExxonMobil’s Liza Phase 1 development is approximately 190 kilometres offshore in water depths of 1500 – 1900 metres. The development plan includes completion of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel designed to produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

So far the Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) was established to provide onshore services to Liza 1 operation.
GYSBI’s Houston, East Bank Demerara facility provides ExxonMobil with secure, open and covered storage space, a 600-foot concrete wharf, personnel and loading/unloading logistics support.

Although the minister said only modular supply facilities and helipads will be built, he noted that they will be very important because of the growing interest in Guyana’s oil blocks. French Oil Company, Total, CGX and other companies have already signalled their interest in starting operations in the country’s oil blocks.

Those operations will be complemented by the other wells developed by ExxonMobil and its exploration partners, HESS and CNOOC.
“We want small ‘built to size and purpose’ facilities from Berbice to Essequibo to support these operations; some facilities will be greater inland, because we cannot have everything concentrated in one area,” said Minister Trotman.

Government, he said, will also welcome proposals from the private sector for establishment of large shore bases across the country.
“There is enough for everyone; what we would not want to see is all the development concentrated in Georgetown; we want to ensure that other regions and counties benefit,” said the minister.