June 16 (oilnow.gy) ExxonMobil Guyana is moving ahead with fresh exploration drilling at the Barreleye-3 well in the Stabroek Block, continuing work to evaluate one of the discoveries that could help shape the next wave of development offshore Guyana.
The drilling campaign is scheduled to begin on June 13 and continue until August 31, 2026, according to a Maritime Administration Department Notice to Mariners issued on June 12.
The Barreleye-3 well site is located approximately 105.2 nautical miles offshore Guyana in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The drilling area covers about one square kilometre.
The campaign forms part of ExxonMobil’s continued appraisal of the Barreleye discovery, which was announced in 2022 and is located about 20 miles southeast of the Liza field. Liza was Guyana’s first major offshore discovery and the launchpad for the country’s rapid rise as a crude producer after first oil in December 2019.
Barreleye has remained one of the discoveries of interest in the Stabroek Block portfolio. Earlier drilling encountered about 230 feet of hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone, pointing to the kind of reservoir quality that has made the block one of the most closely watched deepwater basins in the world.
ExxonMobil has already completed the Barreleye-2 appraisal well, which included a drill stem test. The latest phase at Barreleye-3 is expected to provide additional data on reservoir characteristics and help inform future development options.
The work comes as Guyana’s offshore oil industry continues to expand around a growing network of floating production, storage and offloading vessels. The Stabroek Block is already producing from multiple developments, with national output now above 900,000 barrels per day and additional projects being advanced to lift production capacity further.
For ExxonMobil and its co-venturers, appraisal drilling remains an important part of the long-term strategy in Guyana. While new production vessels and subsea infrastructure are driving near-term output growth, wells like Barreleye-3 help determine how future discoveries may be tied into existing hubs or developed as part of new production concepts.
The Stabroek Block is operated by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, which holds a 45% stake. Hess holds 30%, while CNOOC holds 25%. Since the first commercial discovery at Liza in 2015, the partners have built a resource base estimated at around 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
The Barreleye-3 campaign adds to a busy period offshore Guyana, where exploration, appraisal, construction and production work are taking place simultaneously across the Stabroek Block. For Guyana, each new phase of drilling is not just a technical exercise; it is part of the broader question of how far and how fast the country’s offshore oil sector can continue to grow.
Brazil Energy Insight 
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