US independent Hess will dedicate $1.7 billion of its total capital spending this year to offshore oilfield developments in Guyana, in addition to drilling 10 exploration and appraisal wells on the prodigious Stabroek block.

Hess’ second principal oil and gas asset — the Bakken shale play in North Dakota, in the US — will also be the recipient of significant spending, with Hess earmarking $1.1 billion for a four-rig drilling programme.

Hess expects to drill about 110 gross operated wells in 2023 and to bring online about 110 wells.