Despite objections from neighbouring Venezuela, US-based oil company, ExxonMobil, is all set to start oil exploration offshore Guyana, today. It expects to spend up to US$200M during the search.ExxonMobil’s Deep Water Champion exploration ship expected to start drilling for oil offshore Guyana today.According to a Government statement yesterday, the Deep Water Champion exploration ship is in position at the Stabroek Block offshore in Guyana.With this being Guyana’s third shot at finding oil in its waters, the drilling is being looked at with much hope.Yesterday, President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, visited ExxonMobil’s head office located on New Market Street, Georgetown, and were given a tour of the facility and briefed on the scope of its operations by the company’s, Country Manager,cheap nfl jerseys online, Jeff Simons.ExxonMobil, the largest public trading international company in the world, has a leading inventory of oil and gas projects, and is the world’s largest refiner of petroleum products.It has a long history of using science and innovation to find safer and cleaner ways ofPresident Donald Ramotar,Cheap Jerseys, Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Robert Persaud and ExxonMobil’s Country Manager, Jeff Simon during a tour of the company’s head office at New Market Street yesterday.bringing energy to the world.The total area allotted to Exxon for exploration (the Liza Area or the Stabroek Block) covers 26,806 square kilometers. The company intends to drill at a depth of 1750 metres.“President Ramotar,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, who was impressed with the size of the company’s operation, described the exploratory area as a “small village”,China NFL Jerseys, noting that it ought to take a lot of effort to manage and execute all logistics,” the GINA statement said.“I’m quite impressed with what is taking place,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, and looking forward to going out myself,” the President noted.Minister Persaud urged the company to ensure that the activities envisioned are within the specified timeframe. “All government agencies are fully mobilised for an efficient and effective exploration”.The explorations are expected to be executed over a period of 10 years in three periods including two phases in each period. Each period lasts for one to two years.The scope of operations include a drillship, with approximately 200 crew and contractors; helicopter support, with two from Ogle including a utility and a Search and Rescue at all times; four support vessels and two shore bases running from Georgetown and Trinidad, and a waste treatment facility at the John Fernandes site at Houston.Guyana has been receiving a lot of international attention from huge companies, especially in the oil sector. The US Geological Survey said in 2000 that the Guyana-Suriname Basin has the second largest unexplored oil potential in the world after Greenland.Guyana first struck oil in the 1980s in the Takutu Basin, and there is high optimism that oil will be found in commercial quantities.ExxonMobil will now join other investors such as CGX Energy, Repsol, Anadarko Guyana Co,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, and Gas and Nabi Oil and Gas in exploring oil in the Guyana basin.ExxonMobil’s exploration met resistance with news last week that Venezuela is objecting to the drilling.That neighbouring country has claims on a large section of Essequibo, including large swaths of the oceans.However, ExxonMobil said it remained unfazed by Venezuela’s objections as it has an agreement to explore with Guyana, not that country.Guyana is now reconsidering arrangements it has with the United Nations to settle that dispute with Venezuela.