An Exxon Mobil production consortium’s crude output in Guyana fell to between 400,000 and 500,000 barrels per day from July 2 through the end of the month, according to government data seen by Reuters on Monday, a sign that work on production facilities has begun.

Exxon earlier this year said it would shut two offshore oil production vessels in Guyana for two weeks each between July and August to connect a natural gas pipeline that would feed planned onshore electric power plant and gas-processing facilities.

Oil output from the consortium’s two Liza floating production facilities off the coast of Guyana was halted between July 19 and 31 while output from a third platform was unaffected, the data showed.

The three production vessels had been pumping up to 669,000 barrels per day on June 30. The Exxon-led consortium is responsible for all production in the South American nation.

An Exxon spokesperson had no immediate comment.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Kemol King in Georgetown, writing by Marianna Parraga in Houston)