—further testing needed to determine nature of issue

ExxonMobil Guyana yesterday announced that it will undertake maintenance on a near-shore section of the Gas-to-Energy pipeline off Crane, West Coast Demerara, to address an unspecified finding identified during inspections earlier this year.

The work is scheduled to begin on October 14 and continue until around December 1, ahead of the start of Gas-to-Energy operations.

Asked in the company’s media WhatsApp group what the “finding” referred to in the statement was, Keisha Gilkes, Media Relations Advisor in ExxonMobil’s Public and Government Affairs department, said: “Further testing and evaluation will be done to confirm the exact nature of the issue.”

The company’s statement did not describe the finding or explain what maintenance would be required. It also did not indicate whether the work is related to the bubbling highlighted by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed in July, when he alleged that the pipeline had ruptured.

ExxonMobil said the pipeline is currently pressurised with nitrogen, an inert gas, and is not yet operational. On that basis, the company said it poses no risk to the public or the environment.

“The work will address a finding on a near-shore section of the pipeline identified by inspection activities earlier this year, and is part of our commitment to maintaining the safety, integrity and reliability of the infrastructure,” the statement said.

It added that the activities would be conducted in accordance with international standards and would help ensure the pipeline’s long-term integrity.

“We aim to complete this work before startup of Gas-to-Energy operations to minimize potential for maintenance interruptions in the future,” ExxonMobil stated.

The company said it is coordinating with relevant stakeholders and that the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) would issue a marine notice providing information for vessels operating in the area.

Kiskadee Watch reported on July 10 that Mohamed had released videos from a boat approximately two miles off the Marriott Hotel in Kingston. He alleged that the pipeline had been ruptured for more than three months and accused the government of concealing the matter.

Mohamed claimed that bubbling on the water’s surface marked the pipeline’s location. He questioned its placement in an area traversed by vessels and the adequacy of feasibility studies, while raising concerns about what could happen if damage occurred once natural gas was flowing

In a joint response, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and MARAD rejected the rupture allegations but acknowledged a “slight anomaly” which they said had been investigated. They said the line was not operational and contained no natural gas.

The agencies also disclosed that ExxonMobil had been conducting scheduled inspections since May, involving five vessels along the West Coast of Demerara. Further checks were continuing to confirm the pipeline’s integrity, they said.

Former EPA Executive Director Dr Vincent Adams subsequently told Kiskadee Watch that the reported anomaly warranted an independent investigation and scrutiny of emergency preparedness before natural gas was introduced into the line. He warned that an incident during gas operations could have more serious consequences than one involving nitrogen.

The pipeline is intended to transport associated natural gas from the Liza offshore development to Wales, West Bank Demerara, to supply a 300-megawatt power plant and a natural gas liquids facility.