Exxon installs first subsea tree for Liza Phase 1 offshore Guyana

The subsea tree being lowered into the water by the crane
The subsea tree being lowered into the water by the crane

ExxonMobil Guyana yesterday announced the installation of its first subsea tree for its Liza Phase 1 Development Project, offshore Guyana.

According to a press release from the company yesterday afternoon, the tree monitors and controls the production of a subsea well and is affixed to the wellhead of a completed well. It can also manage the injection of fluids and gas into the well.

The tree arrived in Guyana on the Chouest C-Installer in February and installation and four days of testing began on April 11.

The subsea tree being installed underwater by the Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV).

The release, which called the installation a milestone, said it was lowered into the water from the back deck of the multipurpose installation vessel via a crane and was set in 1,700 meters of water onto the first completed well. It was then latched and locked in place using a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), after which the valves were then pressure tested.

The next tree is expected to be installed in May.

The release noted that the Liza Phase 1 Development Project includes a subsea production system and a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel designed to have the capacity to process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day from four subsea drill centres consisting of 17 wells, including eight producers, six water injectors and three gas injections.

It noted that production startup is scheduled for early 2020.