By: Staff Writer
February 16, 2024
Venezuela has been building up military personnel at the border with Guyana amid the ongoing dispute over the Essequibo region.
The Venezuelan government also accused Guyana of granting illegal oil exploration concessions in territory the two nations are disputing. Venezuela said it would reserve the right to take any diplomatic actions necessary.
The comments Sunday came after Guyana said Saturday that it has satellite imagery showing Venezuelan military movements near the South American country’s eastern border with Guyana.
The two sides have feuded over border lines for decades. Venezuela has been laying claim to the mineral-rich Essequibo region, which covers about two thirds of Guyana’s surface area.
Both sides accused the other of breaching a peace agreement signed in St Vincent and the Grenadines in December to ease tensions over border demarcation lines.
Meanwhile, Guyana signed a contract with Norweigian, DeepOcean, for subsea construction and inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR).
The contract marks DeepOcean’s first substantial contract with ExxonMobil in the Americas and its debut in the burgeoning Guyana offshore market.
“We consider this is a confirmation of our team’s expertise and the technical solutions we bring to the table,” said Tony Stokes, president of DeepOcean’s American operation, which will manage the work from DeepOcean’s side.
The contract entails DeepOcean’s involvement in a wide range of subsea operations, including subsea construction, jumper installations, and subsea IMR work, all of which will take place at ExxonMobil Guyana’s operations in the Stabroek Block, situated roughly 120 miles offshore Guyana.
DeepOcean will utilize the Siem Day multi-purpose support vessel (MPSV), which is outfitted with a 250-tonne crane and state-of-the-art technology and features that allow for efficient and safe operation even in challenging offshore environments. The vessel’s large deck space, advanced dynamic positioning systems, and dual ROV spreads guarantee superior performance and maximum productivity.
The Stabroek Block is hailed as one of the world’s most promising oil and gas discoveries, with estimated recoverable resources exceeding eight billion oil-equivalent barrels to date.
“We are highly committed to delivering high-quality subsea services and solutions, and we look forward to working closely with ExxonMobil Guyana to support their operations in the various field developments in the Stabroek Block,” added Stokes.