ExxonMobil Corporation has confirmed that the fifth floating production, storage and offloading vessel destined for Guyana has set sail, with the company telling investors that production startup at the Uaru project remains on schedule for the fourth quarter of 2026.

The disclosure came during ExxonMobil's second quarter earnings presentation on Friday, marking a significant step toward pushing Guyana's oil output to nearly 1.2 million barrels per day before the end of the year.

The Vessel and Its Journey

The FPSO, named Errea Wittu, a phrase meaning "abundance" in the Warrau language, was constructed by Japanese shipbuilder MODEC. Construction officially commenced in November 2023, beginning with a first steel cutting ceremony for the vessel's topside modules in Singapore, followed by a similar milestone in China.

ExxonMobil received government approval for the Uaru project in April 2023, with the development carrying a price tag of US$12.7 billion. In its second quarter earnings presentation, ExxonMobil informed shareholders: "Fifth Guyana FPSO set sail with production startup on plan for 4Q26, increasing capacity by 250 Kbd." The vessel will be deployed approximately 200 kilometers offshore Guyana at a water depth of 1,690 meters.

Production Capacity and Technical Specifications

The Errea Wittu was designed to process approximately 250,000 barrels of oil per day, and its capabilities extend well beyond crude oil handling.

The vessel has a gas treatment capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day, water injection capacity of 350,000 barrels per day, and the ability to handle 300,000 barrels per day of produced water.

The FPSO is also capable of storing around two million barrels of crude oil onboard. The addition of 250,000 barrels per day from the Uaru project will be layered on top of Guyana's current production capacity of approximately 915,000 barrels per day, bringing total national output to almost 1.2 million barrels per day before the close of 2026.

Existing Production Base

Guyana currently has four FPSOs producing oil in the Stabroek Block. The Liza Unity, Liza Destiny, Prosperity, and One Guyana vessels together produce a combined average of 915,000 barrels per day.

The Uaru development represents the fifth offshore deep-water development in the Stabroek Block, and the arrival of Errea Wittu will bring the number of operational FPSOs in Guyanese waters to five once production begins.

To date, ExxonMobil has received regulatory approval from the Government of Guyana for seven projects in the Stabroek Block.

Projects in the Pipeline

Beyond Uaru, ExxonMobil has a substantial pipeline of sanctioned and proposed developments in the Stabroek Block. The sixth development, Whiptail, was sanctioned in April 2024. That project, valued at USD 12.7 billion, is anticipated to add 250,000 barrels per day by the end of 2027.

The seventh project, Hammerhead, received government approval in September 2025.

That development carries a price tag of US$6.8 billion and is expected to come online by 2029, producing 150,000 barrels per day.

Looking further ahead, ExxonMobil has submitted plans to the Government of Guyana for two additional projects beyond those already sanctioned. In March of this year, ExxonMobil's Country Manager Alistair Routledge indicated the company was set to submit a Field Development Plan for the eighth project, Longtail, to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

A ninth project is also being developed simultaneously, centered on the gas resources in the Haimara discovery. Routledge described the project, saying: "For those of you who were at the energy conference back in February, we began to talk about what could potentially be project number nine which will be anchored on the Haimara discovery in the southeast part of the Stabroek Block."

Investor Communication

The disclosure of Errea Wittu's departure was made directly to shareholders during ExxonMobil's second quarter earnings presentation, framing the milestone as part of a steady progression of Guyana's offshore output growth.

The confirmation that production startup remains on plan for the fourth quarter of 2026 signals that the USD 12.7 billion Uaru project is proceeding according to the timeline the company has communicated to the market since the project received government approval three years ago.