GEORGETOWN (Reuters) - U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil ( XOM ) has pulled out of negotiations with Guyana's government on terms for exploring and developing a shallow-water block, the South American country's vice president said on Thursday.

Exxon, U.S.-based Hess Corp ( HES ) and China's CNOOC won block S8 in a bidding round launched in late 2022. They had been engaged in negotiations for non-fiscal terms of the project.

The company had wanted to use the offshore area for carbon capture, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters in a briefing. It was not immediately clear if Hess and CNOOC continue in talks with the government for the area.