Exxon talks proceed on shallow-water block in Guyana public sale, firm says

HOUSTON (Reuters) – U.S. oil main Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) and companions are persevering with to barter with Guyana’s authorities on the phrases for creating a shallow-water oil block, an Exxon spokesperson mentioned on Monday.

Exxon, Hess (NYSE:HES) and CNOOC (NYSE:CEO) gained offshore block S8 in a bidding spherical launched in late 2022 by President Irfaan Ali’s administration.

The group stays within the block and talks are persevering with, an Exxon Mobil spokesperson mentioned through e-mail. The spokesperson declined to reveal whether or not it aimed to make use of the block for carbon seize and storage, or for oil and fuel exploration.

The South American nation’s vice chairman had mentioned final month that the group had withdrawn from the public sale after the federal government was bored with a carbon sequestration undertaking. However on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo mentioned Exxon had since written to the federal government on curiosity within the block.

“They mentioned there might need been a misunderstanding, they haven’t walked away from” negotiations, Jagdeo mentioned in response to a request for added public sale particulars at his weekly briefing. “Let’s examine the way it goes.”

Eight of the 14 oil and fuel blocks Guyana provided within the spherical obtained bids, together with by massive oil companies Petronas, CNOOC and TotalEnergies (EPA:TTEF). Jagdeo mentioned he anticipated an settlement with TotalEnergies within the close to future.