US supermajor ExxonMobil has started preparations to run a closely watched test off Guyana that might determine where the company will deploy its fourth floating production, storage and offloading vessel in the prolific Stabroek block.

The Irving, Texas-headquartered giant is currently mobilising the Stena Drilling drillship Stena Carron from the adjacent Kaieteur block back to Stabroek to carry out a drillstem test at the Redtail-1 discovery, according to a notice published by Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department.

Last week, ExxonMobil completed drilling of the Tanager-1 wildcat in Kaieteur, and even though the probe encountered a reservoir system that confirmed the extension of the giant Liza field trend into deeper waters, it was rated as non-commercial.

The company is now focusing on the Redtail-1 test in hopes of confirming the reservoir quality and its potential joint development with the Yellowtail-1 and Yellowtail-2 finds.

The Redtail-1 well encountered about 70 metres of high-quality oil-bearing sandstones and was the 17th discovery out of 19 exploration wells drilled by ExxonMobil at Stabroek.

The Greater Yellowtail area — which encompasses the Yellowtail-1, Yellowtail-2 and Redtail-1 finds — has emerged as a likely favoured location for the fourth Stabroek development.

ExxonMobil already has the Liza Destiny FPSO producing at the Liza field since December 2019.

A second floater — the Liza Unity FPSO — is due to enter operation in early 2022, while the Prosperity FPSO is earmarked to produce first oil from the Payara-Pacora development in 2024.

All three FPSOs are being supplied by Netherlands-based floater specialist SBM Offshore.

However, a recent Upstream report suggested ExxonMobil could be considering a competitive bid process for the fourth FPSO, potentially ending SBM’s dominance off Guyana.

ExxonMobil operates the Stabroek block with a 45% stake and is partnered by US independent Hess on 30% and China’s CNOOC International on 25%.

Exploration

ExxonMobil readies Stena drillship for key Guyana reservoir test