Hebron

Location and Geology

The Hebron oil field is located offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, in the Jeanne d’Arc Basin, approximately 340 kilometers southeast of St. John's[5|. The field is situated in a water depth of about 93 meters (300 feet).

Discovery and History

The Hebron field was first discovered in 1980 through the drilling of the Ben Nevis I-45 well. The project experienced numerous delays due to low oil prices and technical difficulties. In 2002, Chevron, the original operator, shelved the project. ExxonMobil took control of the project from Chevron in October 2008.

Project Development

• The Hebron project involves the development of the Hebron, West Ben Nevis, and Ben Nevis fields.
• The development application was submitted to the provincial government in April 2011, and construction began in October 2012.
• The project achieved significant milestones, including the completion of the gravity-based structure (GBS) at the Bull Arm construction yard and its tow-out to the field site in 2014. First oil production started in November 2017.

Gravity-Based Structure (GBS)

• The Hebron platform is a large, stand-alone concrete GBS designed to withstand sea ice, icebergs, and other meteorological and oceanographic conditions.
• The GBS is 120 meters tall, 130 meters in diameter, and weighs approximately 750,000 tonnes. It supports an integrated topsides deck that includes living quarters and facilities for drilling and production.
• The GBS has a storage capacity of 1.2 million barrels of oil and includes 52 well slots.

Production and Reserves

• The Hebron field is estimated to contain more than 700 million barrels of recoverable resources, with the oil having an API range of 18 to 25 degrees, making it heavier than the oil from the Hibernia field.
• At its peak, the project is expected to produce up to 150,000 barrels of oil per day.

Partners and Ownership

• The project is operated by ExxonMobil Canada Properties, which holds a 35.5% equity stake.
• Other partners include Chevron Canada Resources (29.6%), Suncor Energy (21%), Equinor Canada (9%), and the state-owned Oil & Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador (4.9%).

Contractors and Construction

• Key contractors involved in the project include Kiewit-Aker Contractors for the GBS, WorleyParsons for the topsides, and Subsea 7 for project management and installation of offshore loading systems.
• The construction phase created about 7,500 jobs during its peak and involved hundreds of vendors throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Safety and Achievements

• The project achieved more than 40 million hours without a lost-time injury during its construction phase, demonstrating ExxonMobil’s commitment to safety and responsible project management.

Economic and Social Impact

• The Hebron project has delivered significant benefits to Newfoundland and Labrador, including employment, training, research and development opportunities, and substantial royalty and tax revenues. The province paid CAD 110 million for its stake, which is expected to yield approximately CAD 20 billion in returns.

Recent Developments

• In 2020, the field produced its 100 millionth barrel of oil.
• In December 2023, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board approved the Development Plan Amendment (DPA) for the Hebron Field, allowing for the development of additional sands within the Jeanne d’Arc Formation.