Exxon says faulty gas compressor reassembled, testing to be done
ExxonMobil yesterday said that the reassembly of the Liza Destiny oil platform’s flash gas compressor has been completed and is now being prepared for testing at the MAN Energy Solutions workshop in Germany.
It also says that it is continuing to manage production and flare levels on the platform.
Almost a month ago, Exxon revealed that the flash gas compressor on the Liza Destiny floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) platform had malfunctioned resulting in it having to temporarily increase 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 finalizing upgrades to the suction silencer and recommendations for the scope of repairs and potential silencer.
Technical experts are finalizing upgrades to the suction silencer and recommendations for the scope of repairs and potential upgrades to the discharge silencer.
“On the Liza Destiny, we continue to manage production and flare levels, maintaining a careful balance of sustained production and appropriate environmental considerations,” the statement said, before adding that regular updates are provided to the government and other key stakeholders.
Exxon stated that they are working tirelessly to restore operations and reduce the flare to pilot levels of less than one percent of the produced gas.
No timeline on the expected completion of repairs was provided but the oil company had recently stated 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.
The latest update provided by the Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat indicated that oil production was upgrade to the discharge between 110,000 bpd and 115,000 bpd.
According to the former director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Vincent Adams, Exxon would need to be producing 105,000 bpd in order to bring flaring into compliance with the
Liza-1 permit. He said had he still been the Director he would have gone as far shutting down Exxon’s operations until it brought flaring under control and corrected its equipment problems.
APNU+AFC front bencher Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday called for a 10% retroactive salary increase for public servants pending negotiations with the relevant agencies including the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
Labelling the proposal as a “simple demand”, Ramjattan told the second day of the 2021 budget debate that it is in recognition of the hardships being faced during the COVID19 pandemic.
“I propose that there be a wage increase of 10 percent across the board retroactive to January pending the final negotia- “m tions with all stakeholders m in Government and the “P GPSU and in the Public en Service other unions,” R
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Ramjattan said.
He said that the 10% is a minimum” of the “lots more” that is desired. Please, if you have any heart nsure that happens,” Ramjattan implored the govrnment side.
During the presentation of udget 2021 earlier this month, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with esponsibility for finance, Dr.Ashni Singh did not specfy an increase in wages for ublic servants.
Yesterday’s debate was lled with continuous heckng from both the Opposition nd Government benches. In
few cases, the Speaker of he House, Manzoor Nadir ven called out some memers for “shouting” during he contributions of other members.
Monday’s first day of ebate drew widespread critiism over vulgar and crass ehaviour by a number of MPs on both sides of the House.
Opposition Member of arliament Dawn HastingsWilliams yesterday joined Ramjattan in his call for an ncrease in wages and alaries for public servants ncluding members of the oint Services.
Hastings-Williams said hat Budget 2021, does not nclude anything significant or public servants. As such, he called on the Government o provide details on its plans or a salary increase for pubc servants this year.
“What is wrong with makng that announcement durng the four-hour-plus budget peech, Mr. Speaker? Doesn’t the Minister have the uthority to pronounce on uch matters? Is there somene else designated to make uch pronouncements? Or re we telling the nation that here is another substantive inance Minister in waitng?” Hastings-Williams uestioned.
“My question, therefore Mr. Speaker, to the Honourble Minister of Finance is what percentage increase in wages and salaries is this overnment prepared to give o our public servants and our oint Services?” she further sked.
In response, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said the Government, through the Ministry of the Public ervice has already indicated hat money is included in the udget for the increase of ublic servants’ salaries.
“…So to come here and try to play on the emotion of people is very cheap politics,” Mustapha said.
“Mr. Speaker, to come here, to come here, and ask for a 10 percent wage increase for public servants, when they dismissed (so many people). How ironic that is? How ironic that is?” Mustapha asked during the beginning of his 35-minute contribution to the debate.
He argued that the budget will improve the lives of every citizen and sector of this country.
`Borrowing’
Ramjattan also chastised the Government for “borrowing” in order to finance the budget.
“The government is simply not spending in accordance with its means,” he charged.
Ramjattan urged that the Government should not get into the habit of borrowing, since this can become a burden to future generations.
“This thing is going to create huge debts for the future generation,” he asserted.
He further stated that last year’s budget, as “emergency as it was” saw borrowing of almost $90B. “Which is a kind of a deficit, huge deficit budget,” Ramjattan said.
Ramjattan added that although the coalition was accused of “taxing and spending”, the PPP mantra is “borrowing and spending”.
However, Mustapha said the Government borrowing of funds was “necessary”.
He said this was as a result of the “unhealthy” state the APNU+AFC coalition left the treasury in August, 2020.
“Mr Speaker, the honourable member talked about debt and they didn’t borrow when they were in Government. The treasury was healthy, the economy was healthy when the PPP left Government in 2015. They didn’t had to borrow money,” Mustapha said.
What we received August last year? The treasury was in a deficit, that the treasury was bankrupt. As a result of that there was no fund in the country Mr Speaker,” he added.