Five vessels have been identified for ExxonMobil Guyana’s offshore pipeline inspection and maintenance programme, which was scheduled to begin on October 14 and conclude on December 1.
A Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) notice dated October 10 lists the shallow-water barge Neptune 289, along with Brutus, Sandy M, Blue Whale and Adel, for the activities extending from the West Coast of Demerara into Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The notice identifies a marine exclusion zone and work area approximately 4.3 nautical miles, or eight kilometres, offshore, covering about 24.2 square kilometres.
Mariners are instructed to remain clear of the vessels and exercise extreme caution nearby. Communications can be made with the vessels or the Georgetown Lighthouse on VHF Channel 16.
The notice provides operational details but does not describe the condition requiring maintenance or specify the repairs to be undertaken.
ExxonMobil had previously announced that work offshore Crane would address a “finding” identified during inspections earlier this year.
When asked in the company’s media WhatsApp group what the finding was, Media Relations Advisor Keisha Gilkes said: “Further testing and evaluation will be done to confirm the exact nature of the issue.”
The maintenance follows earlier controversy over videos released by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed showing bubbling on the water’s surface offshore Georgetown. In July Mohamed alleged the bubbling indicated a rupture in the Gas-to-Energy pipeline and accused the government of concealing the problem. The EPA and MARAD rejected the rupture claim, saying no natural gas was flowing through the line, but acknowledged that a joint investigation had identified a “slight anomaly” and that further inspections were continuing. The maintenance notice does not establish whether the current work concerns the same anomaly
The pipeline forms part of the Gas-to-Energy project intended to supply natural gas to the power plant and natural gas liquids facility at Wales.
Stabroek News reported in November 2025 that ExxonMobil said the pipeline had been completed in December 2024 and remained in preservation mode while awaiting completion of the onshore facility.
At that time, ExxonMobil Operations Manager Kevin Hirshberg said dry nitrogen was being used to maintain pressure and prevent corrosion, and that the pipeline was being monitored. Those assurances preceded the inspection finding now being addressed.
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