EXXONMOBIL’S proposed Longtail Development will stand apart from its earlier ventures because it is designed to focus mainly on gas and condensate production instead of crude oil. If approved, Longtail will mark the first time ExxonMobil develops a major non-associated gas field in the country, bringing a range of potential benefits for the Guyanese economy.
The project will bring together the Longtail, Tripletail, and Turbot discoveries, which were made between 2017 and 2019. Together, they are projected to produce about one billion cubic feet of gas per day and around 250,000 barrels of condensate per day, based on the project’s design rates. Condensate is a clear, water-like hydrocarbon that yields high-value fuels such as gasoline and jet fuel when refined. Because of its light composition, it can attract a market premium over heavier crude oils, depending on refining demand and global supply conditions.
If it moves forward, the Longtail development will include a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel with a storage capacity of two million barrels of condensate. This vessel will offload every three to five days. The offshore system is expected to feature between 24 and 60 wells, along with subsea manifolds and injection systems. Initially, the gas will be processed and reinjected into the reservoir to help maintain pressure and increase condensate recovery. Later, when re-injection is no longer needed, the gas will be exported.
The estimated cost of the project is about US$12.5 billion. It will be located to the east of ExxonMobil’s other developments in the Stabroek Block and designed to operate for about 30 years. This lifespan is longer than the company’s oil projects, since gas production takes place more slowly and involves recycling gas to recover as much condensate as possible.
If approved, Longtail will eventually connect to other offshore facilities and to the Gas-to-Energy pipeline. This will allow gas from the project to be supplied for domestic use as the local energy market grows. According to ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge, this connection will help integrate Guyana’s offshore resources into the country’s wider development goals.
Like previous projects, Longtail will bring economic benefits through job creation and business opportunities. It will employ workers in engineering, logistics, and other service areas, while further strengthening local supply chains that have developed under Guyana’s Local Content Act. Increased activity will also mean higher government revenues, which can be used to fund national development projects.
These revenues will give the government greater flexibility to invest in areas such as education, renewable energy, and digital technology. By supporting programmes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the government will be able to prepare the next generation for careers linked to the energy and technology sectors.
In simple terms, the Longtail project represents continuity as well as change. It continues the momentum of offshore development that has transformed Guyana’s economy, but it also introduces a new direction focused on gas and condensate production. Through its combination of premium output and strong economic linkages, Longtail will play a key role in supporting a more diversified economy for Guyana once given the green light by the government.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.