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ExxonMobil rig concludes exploration offshore Guyana: resumes seismic studies

Tuesday, August 4th 2015 - 05:49 UTC
Full article 4 comments
Minister Trotman said the Deepwater Champion left the disputed area because its exploratory work was done, having found a major deposit of crude oil. Minister Trotman said the Deepwater Champion left the disputed area because its exploratory work was done, having found a major deposit of crude oil.
“Once the discovery was made, there is no more need for an exploration rig. You now have to have a production platform” said Trotman. “Once the discovery was made, there is no more need for an exploration rig. You now have to have a production platform” said Trotman.
In reaction to the oil discovery, Maduro issued decrees extending Venezuela maritime boundaries to include the seas off the Essequibo region In reaction to the oil discovery, Maduro issued decrees extending Venezuela maritime boundaries to include the seas off the Essequibo region

An ExxonMobil rig that re-ignited a maritime boundary dispute between Guyana and Venezuela has now left the area, a Guyanese official said on Monday, but denying it was because of Venezuelan pressure.

 Guyana's Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said the Deepwater Champion left the disputed area because its exploratory work was done, having found a major deposit of high quality crude oil.

“Once the discovery was made, there is no more need for an exploration rig. You now have to have a production platform” said Trotman. He added that ExxonMobil is continuing to conduct seismic studies to “see if there are other wells nearby.”

Venezuelan suggestions that ExxonMobil moved the rig because of pressure was nothing more than posturing ahead of elections, he said.

“They are on their hustings over there and we continue to conduct our business over here as per normal,” he said.

In March, Exxon Mobil set off a round of recriminations between Venezuela and Guyana after making a significant oil find in an offshore concession granted by Georgetown.

Venezuela, which has long had claims on Guyana's Essequibo region, charged that the concession was in disputed waters.

President Nicolas Maduro issued decrees extending Venezuela maritime boundaries to include the seas off the Essequibo region, which makes up two thirds of the territory of the former British colony, and declaring those waters as part of its integrated defense zone.

Last week, Maduro met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon seeking UN support for mediation, while Guyana's President David Granger called for a definitive legal settlement of the dispute in The Hague.

Ban has decided to send a fact-finding mission to Caracas and Georgetown.

Guyana maintains that valid land borders were set in 1899 by an arbitration court decision, a decision Venezuela has never recognized.

Guyana claims a long-standing UN-led mediation process meant to resolve the dispute has yielded little results and that its neighbor is using the delays to its advantage.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • ilsen

    Maduro will use anything, absolutely anything, in order to try a boost his poll ratings.
    Currently at 20% and falling.
    Even the best propaganda can't fool an empty stomach.

    Aug 04th, 2015 - 03:43 pm 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 1 ilsen

    How long do you think MADuro and the rest of the crooks have until they are kicked out or killed?

    I cannot make my mind up due to the clutter coming out of the so called 'government'.

    Aug 04th, 2015 - 05:58 pm 0
  • ilsen

    @2 ChrisR

    Probably about this time next year. Although Castro got away with this shit for decades. So I don't really know either.

    It's the boiling frog syndrome. Venezuelans know it is only going to get worse but seem struck down by some form of inertia.

    Caracaschronicles.com has some interesting articles at the moment.

    Aug 04th, 2015 - 07:07 pm 0
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