en.Wedoany.com Reported - ExxonMobil Guyana is advancing new exploration drilling operations at the Barreleye-3 well in the Stabroek block, continuing to evaluate a discovery that could influence the next phase of development offshore Guyana.
According to a navigation notice issued by the Maritime Administration Department on June 12, the drilling activity is scheduled to begin on June 13, 2026, and continue until August 31, 2026. The Barreleye-3 well site is located within Guyana's exclusive economic zone, approximately 105.2 nautical miles from the coast, covering a drilling area of about 1 square kilometer.
This operation is part of ExxonMobil's ongoing evaluation of the Barreleye discovery, which was announced in 2022 and is located about 20 miles southeast of the Liza field. Liza, Guyana's first major offshore discovery, has been the starting point for the country's rapid rise as a crude oil producer since first oil production in December 2019. Previous drilling encountered approximately 230 feet of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone, demonstrating the reservoir quality of this block as one of the world's most closely watched deepwater basins.
ExxonMobil has completed the Barreleye-2 appraisal well (including a drill stem test). The latest phase at Barreleye-3 is expected to provide additional reservoir characterization data to inform future development plans. Currently, Guyana's offshore oil industry is expanding around a network of floating production, storage, and offloading vessels. The Stabroek block is already producing oil from multiple development projects, with national daily output now exceeding 900,000 barrels, and more projects are underway to further boost capacity.
For ExxonMobil and its joint venture partners, appraisal drilling remains a key component of the long-term strategy in Guyana. New production vessels and subsea infrastructure are driving near-term production growth, while wells like Barreleye-3 help determine how future discoveries can be tied into existing hubs or developed as part of new production concepts.
The Stabroek block is operated by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, holding a 45% interest, with Hess holding 30% and CNOOC holding 25%. Since the first commercial discovery at Liza in 2015, the partners have established a resource base of approximately 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent. The Barreleye-3 operation adds to an already busy period offshore Guyana, with exploration, appraisal, construction, and production activities ongoing simultaneously in the Stabroek block.
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