Exxon Mobil Corp. finds more oil in deep waters off Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Exxon Mobil Corp. is reporting another significant oil discovery in deep Atlantic Ocean waters off Guyana.

The company says its Ranger-1 well hit a major oil reservoir in an area known as the Stabroek Block off the South American country. The well was drilled to a depth of 21,161 feet (6,450 metres) in 8,973 feet (2,735 metres) of water.

The discovery announced Friday by Exxon Mobil and partner Hess Corp. is the sixth significant find in the block since 2015. The area holds an estimated 3.2 billion barrels of recoverable oil. Exxon Mobil officials told reporters in Guyana last week that production would start in late 2019 or early 2020.

Neighbouring Venezuela is pressing a territorial claim to an area of Guyana that includes part of the Stabroek Block.