ExxonMobil Guyana today commissioned a multi-million-dollar capping stack as part of its oil spill response plan.

The capping stack, which is an equipment that is placed over an oil wellhead in the event of a spill, was designed and built by Trendsetter Engineering. It is, however, owned by Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) – an industry-funded, not-for-profit cooperative that responds to oil spills.

 The capping stack would be leased to ExxonMobil as part of a new Guyana-based capping stack service. ExxonMobil is the first subscriber.

President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge said the capping stack that is currently being housed at the Guyana Shore Base company, is one of only 13 capping stacks in the world, and one of only two in Latin America.

He said the arrival of the state-of-the-art equipment is an indication of the company’s commitment to safety Guyana.

“ExxonMobil was one of the very first global operators to integrate rapid-response, subsea-capping-stack technology into our formal global oil spill response planning. So, we are very familiar with the technology’s capabilities. As I have said before, our journey in Guyana is a partnership at its core. We are here to collaborate with the government, with communities, and with local businesses to ensure the benefits of our operations are widely shared while keeping people safe and protecting the environment. That collaboration includes protecting Guyana’s environment and incredible eco-system. ExxonMobil Guyana is proud to be the inaugural subscriber to this new Guyana-based capping stack service,” Routledge said.

The ExxonMobil Guyana boss said the capping stack is the centerpiece of a larger emergency response and spill-containment tool kit that Exxon would deploy in the event of a spill.

Other mitigation measures include containment booms, skimmer devices, oil dispersants, helicopter surveillance and surface and wildlife response.

“At ExxonMobil Guyana safety is our absolute top priority, full stop. Day in and day out, our team of teams, is laser focus on preventing an instant of any size from ever happening. However, in the unlikely event an instant should occur, we have state-of-the-art response capabilities in country and the financial resources to meet any clean up requirements. This capping stack…is one example of those in-country technology capabilities. I want to thank GYSBI for hosting us here today, and housing this important piece of equipment for Guyana. GYSBI also houses our containment booms, skimmer devices, oil dispersants and numerous other components of the extensive emergency response toolkit that we have placed here since we began our operations,” the ExxonMobil Guyana President said.

He said it is Exxon’s hope that operators in Guyana and in other parts of the region subscribe to the capping stack service.

Head of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Oil and Gas Division, Joel Gravesande told reporters that Exxon’s subscription to the capping stack service forms part of the requirement under the Yellowtail Development Permit.

“Whenever responding to an emergency, the time it takes to respond to that emergency is vital, and having this capping stack in country, the only one in the region and one of 13 globally, it will reduce our response time to capping a well from nine days to three days, which will aid enormously,” Gravesande explained.

It was also noted that the permit also requires the company to have subscription to other capping stacks around the world. Gravesande said Exxon is also mandated to maintain the in-country capping stack in keeping with international standards. (Svetlana Marshall)

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