The capping stack which can be used to contain an oil spill has been installed at the Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base Inc. (VEHSI), the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, during a visit to the facility yesterday, said the development reflects Guyana’s commitment to building a world-class and responsible oil and gas industry.
The capping stack arrived in Guyana in 2024 and was being housed at Guyana Shore Base Inc. It was recently transferred to VESHI where it will be easily accessible.
A capping stack is a specialized piece of emergency equipment used on a damaged oil well to stop the flow of oil or gas and bring the well back under control.
The capping stack is one of only 13 available globally and one of just two stationed in South America and the Caribbean region.
“In our country, Guyana, this piece of equipment is one of 13 that are available globally, and in this part of the world, there are only two, one in Brazil and one in Guyana,” Bharrat stated, according to DPI.
He said that Guyana’s requirement for an in-country capping stack under its Production Licence and Environmental Permit framework demonstrates the government’s focus on preparedness and environmental protection as oil production expands.
The minister said that prior to the equipment being stationed in Guyana, operators subscribed to access a capping stack stored in Houston, Texas. Mobilising that equipment to offshore operations in the Stabroek Block could take approximately one week.
With the capping stack now housed at VEHSI, the response time has been reduced dramatically.
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