EXXONMOBIL and its partners are conducting the final testing of systems and equipment onboard the Liza Destiny Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in preparation for ‘first oil’ still possible in December 2019.

“The risers have been hooked to the Liza Destiny so we’re now in the commissioning phase which includes testing the equipment – pressure testing – and ensuring that everything is working smoothly,” Public and Government Affairs Adviser, Janelle Persaud, told reporters on Thursday.

Risers are pipes which connects an offshore FPSO or a Drilling Rig to a sub-sea system for production purposes. They connect the flowlines to the surface facility and transport fluids.

ExxonMobil and its partners are meticulous when it comes to safety and the go-ahead for oil production will not be given until they are sure all that are needed are in place.

Sources say that this could take days or even weeks depending on the acceptable performance of all systems.

“The idea is to ensure that we do all of these things safely and in protection of the environment,” Persaud said.

‘First oil’ will be determined when a formal decision is given for the go-ahead and oil flows through the choke up to the surface which could take a matter of hours.

For the first few weeks, there will be initial start-up flaring – authorised by the Environmental Protection Agency – which occurs during the commissioning and initial start-up phases of the FPSO when gas and liquids are introduced into new facilities and equipment.

This flaring will not continue as routine and will only take place again in the case of an emergency whereby flaring will be used to immediately de-pressure the facility as part of a shut-down process to reduce risk.

When production begins, Guyana’s crude will be sold – more or less – at a million barrels per lift. By the time the country is producing at a peak of 120 barrels of oil per day, a new lift would be anticipated every eight to 10 days.

Should ‘first oil’ be possible in December, Guyana would not lift its first volume of crude until one month after as the first entitlement of crude will go to ExxonMobil being that the first lift often comes with a fair amount of impurities and Exxon has the ability to refine the same.