Gregory P. Hill
President and Chief Operating Officer at Hess
Thanks, John. In the second quarter, we continued to deliver strong operational performance. Company-wide net production averaged 307,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day excluding Libya, above our guidance of 290,000 to 295,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, driven by good performance across the portfolio. In the third quarter, we expect company-wide net production to average approximately 265,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day excluding Libya, which reflects the Tioga Gas Plant turnaround in the Bakken and planned maintenance in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Asia. For full year 2021, we now forecast net production to average approximately 295,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day excluding Libya, compared to our previous forecast of between 290,000 and 295,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, so we're now forecasting to be at the top of the range.
Turning to the Bakken. Second quarter net production averaged 159,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. This was above our guidance of approximately 155,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, primarily reflecting increased gas capture which has allowed us to drive flaring to under 5%, well below the state's 9% limit. For the third quarter we expect Bakken net production to average approximately 145,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which reflects the planned 45 day maintenance turnaround and expansion tie-in at the Tioga Gas Plant. For the full year 2021, we maintain our Bakken net production forecast of 155,000 to 160,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
In the second quarter, we drilled 17 wells and brought nine new wells online. In the third quarter, we expect to drill approximately 15 wells and to bring approximately 20 new wells online. And for the full year 2021, we now expect to drill approximately 65 wells and to bring approximately 50 new wells online. In terms of drilling and completion costs, although we have experienced some cost inflation, we are confident that we can offset the increases through technology and lean manufacturing efficiency gains and are therefore maintaining our full year average forecast of $5.8 million per well in 2021.
We've been operating two rigs since February, but given the improvement in oil prices and our robust inventory of high return drilling locations, we plan to add a third rig in September. Moving to a three rig program will allow us to grow cash flow and production, better optimize our in basin infrastructure and drive further reductions in our unit cash costs.
Now moving to the Offshore. In the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, second quarter net production averaged 52,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day compared to our guidance of approximately 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. In the third quarter, we forecast Gulf of Mexico net production to average between 35,000 and 40,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, reflecting planned maintenance downtime as well as some hurricane contingency. For the full year 2021, our forecast for Gulf of Mexico net production remains approximately 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. In Southeast Asia, net production in the second quarter was 66,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, above our guidance of approximately 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Third quarter net production is forecast to average between 50,000 and 55,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, reflecting planned maintenance at North Malay Basin and the JDA as well as Phase-3 installation work at North Malay Basin. Full year 2021 net production is forecast to average approximately 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Now turning to Guyana, in the second quarter gross production from Liza phase one averaged 101,000 barrels of oil per day or 26,000 barrels of oil per day net to Hess. The repaired flash gas compression system has been installed on the Liza Destiny FPSO and is under test. The operator is evaluating the test data to optimize performance and is safely managing production in the range of 120,000 to 125,000 barrels of oil per day. Replacement of the flash gas compression system with a modified design and production optimization work are planned for the fourth quarter, which will result in higher production capacity and reliability. Net production from Liza Phase-1 is forecast to average approximately 30,000 barrels of oil per day in the third quarter and for the full year 2021. The Liza Phase-2 development will utilize the 220,000 barrels of oil per day Unity FPSO which is scheduled to sail away from Singapore at the end of August and first order remains on track for early 2022.
Turning to our third development Payara. The Prosperity FPSO oil is complete and will enter the Keppel yard in Singapore following sale away of the Liza Unity. Topsides fabrication has commenced the dynamic and development drilling began in June. The overall project is approximately 45% completed. The Prosperity will have a gross production capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day and is on track to achieve first oil in 2024.
As for our fourth development at Yellowtail. The joint venture anticipate submitting the plan of development to the Government of Guyana in the fourth quarter, with first oil targeted for 2025, pending government approvals and projects sanctioning. During the second quarter the Mako-2 Appraisal well on the Stabroek Block confirmed the quality, thickness and areal extent of the reservoir. When integrated with the previously announced discovery at Uaru-2, the data supports a potential fifth development in the area east of the Liza complex.
As John mentioned, this morning we announced a discovery at Whiptail, located approximately four miles southeast of oru Uaru-1. Drilling continues at both wells to test deeper targets. In terms of other drilling activity in the second half of 2021 after Whiptail-2, the Noble Don Taylor will drill the Pinktail exploration well, which is located five miles southeast of Yellowtail one, followed by the Tripletail-2 appraisal well, located five miles south of Tripletail-1. The Noble Tom Madden will spud the Kaieteur Block-1 exploration well located 4.5 miles southeast of the Turbot-1 discovery in early August. Then in the fourth quarter, we will drill our first dedicated test of the deep potential at the [Indecipherable] prospect located 9 miles northwest of Liza-1.
In the third quarter, The Noble Sam Croft will drill the Turbot-2 appraisal well then transition to development drilling operations for the remainder of the year. The Stena Carron will conduct a series of appraisal drill stem tests at Uaru-1, Mako-2 and then Longtail-2.
In closing, we continue to deliver strong operational performance across our portfolio. Our Offshore assets are generating strong free cash flow. The Bakken is on a capital-efficient growth trajectory and Guyana keeps getting bigger and better, all of which positions us to deliver industry-leading returns, material cash flow generation and significant shareholder value.
I will now turn the call over to John Rielly.