Testing has begun on the faulty flash gas compressor which had to be resent to the manufacturers in Germany last month, ExxonMobil stated yesterday while reiterating that flaring continues daily offshore at some 16 million cubic feet of gas per day.
With still no definite indication of when the problem will be fully rectified, the company also said that the technical team working on the machine plans to “progress modification of the discharge silencer simultaneously following an evaluation and assessment to determine the scope of required repairs.”
“Testing of the Flash Gas Compressor has begun after it was safely and successfully installed on the test bench at the MAN Energy Solutions workshop in Germany over the weekend,” ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs official Janelle Persaud said in an update on the issue.
“The repair process remains on track for re-installment of the compressor in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we continue to take all necessary precautions to keep the flare as low as safely possible as we seek to maintain a balance between steady production and appropriate environmental considerations.”
Exxon revealed that the flash gas compressor on the Liza Destiny floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) platform had malfunctioned, resulting in the temporary increase in flaring above pilot levels in order to maintain safe operations.
Following the malfunction, the gas compressor and other key parts from the FPSO were sent to Germany for repairs. In an operations update yesterday, Exxon said that the reassembly of the flash gas compressor has been completed and is now being prepared for testing. It was noted that over the weekend, the MAN team completed adjustments to achieve the required clearances on the discharge side of the compressor and also, verification of internal machinery profiles.
Additionally, the statement said that technical experts are also finalising upgrades to the suction silencer and recommendations for the scope of repairs and potential upgrade to the discharge silencer.
No timeline on the expected completion of repairs was provided but the oil company has said that it could take eight weeks.
Following the removal of the gas compressor, oil production was pared to 120,000 barrels per day (bpd) – the previously stated maximum capacity of the FPSO – while gas flaring has increased to 16 million cubic feet per day.
According to former director of the Environmental Protection Agency Dr Vincent Adams, Exxon would need to be producing 105,000 bpd in order to bring flaring into compliance with the Liza-1 permit.
While Adams has said that there is no provision for flaring 14 billion cubic feet in the Liza 1 Permit, as stated by both Exxon and Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, the minister has promised to provide this newspaper with the excerpt from the permit that highlights such a provision. However, to date this has not been forthcoming.
