KEY POINTS
- ExxonMobil temporarily halted operations at Guyana’s Liza Unity FPSO after a laundry-room fire.
- The fire was quickly extinguished, and all personnel aboard the vessel were confirmed safe.
- ExxonMobil’s Guyana consortium produced 895,000 barrels per day in May and 869,000 bpd in June.
ExxonMobil has temporarily suspended operations at one of its offshore facilities in Guyana after a fire broke out aboard the Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, Bloomberg News reported.
The incident occurred on Sunday, August 23, and prompted the oil major to activate its established safety procedures. The fire, which reportedly started in the vessel’s laundry room, was quickly extinguished before it could cause wider damage.
ExxonMobil said operations would remain suspended while necessary safety checks and inspections are completed.
No injuries or fatalities were reported in connection with the incident. All personnel aboard the Liza Unity were accounted for and confirmed safe, according to the report.
The swift containment of the fire helped prevent the incident from escalating into a more serious operational or safety emergency. However, ExxonMobil temporarily halted activities as a precaution while the company assesses the facility and ensures that it is safe to resume normal operations.
Crude Offloading Affected
Although the fire was brought under control, the temporary shutdown affected crude oil offloading operations from the Liza Unity.
The FPSO is an important component of ExxonMobil’s growing offshore oil operations in Guyana, where the company and its partners have significantly expanded production in recent years.
The duration of the disruption remains unclear, with operations expected to resume after the required safety inspections and checks have been completed.
The incident comes as Guyana continues to experience a major expansion in oil production following the development of its offshore resources.
Recent government data showed that the ExxonMobil-led consortium produced about 895,000 barrels of oil per day in May and 869,000 barrels per day in June.
The figures highlight the growing importance of ExxonMobil’s offshore operations to Guyana’s emerging oil industry and the country’s wider economy.
Guyana has become one of the world’s fastest-growing oil-producing countries since ExxonMobil and its partners began commercial production from the Stabroek Block. Multiple offshore projects have since been developed, significantly increasing the country’s production capacity.
ExxonMobil is expected to complete the necessary inspections before restoring operations at the affected facility.
The company had not immediately responded to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours.
While the fire was limited in scope and no injuries were reported, any interruption involving an offshore production facility can affect crude handling and export schedules, particularly when production volumes are substantial.
The incident therefore places temporary attention on the operational and safety challenges associated with Guyana’s rapidly expanding offshore oil sector.
