Shearwater secures 3D seismic survey project with Petronas in Suriname

Norwegian marine geoscience and technology company Shearwater Geoservices has secured a 3D seismic survey in Suriname with Malaysia’s state-owned energy giant Petronas, covering an expansive 6,000-square-kilometer area. 

The project builds on Shearwater’s existing work with Petronas in the region, following previous acquisition activities in Block 52.

Shearwater’s Amazon Warrior vessel has been allocated for the three-month campaign, set to commence in Q4 2024. According to Shearwater Geoservices, the survey is focused on delivering high-quality seismic data to aid in unlocking the resource potential within the prolific Suriname-Guyana basin.

“High-quality seismic data is a key enabler for unlocking the vast resource potential of the prolific Suriname-Guyana basin and accelerating exploration activities,” said Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater.

“Shearwater’s state-of-the-art technology and capabilities enable safe and efficient acquisition of exploration seismic data with the highest quality for our clients, supporting their ambitions in this exiting area.”

Covering an area of 4,749 square kilometers, Block 52 is located north of the coast of Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital city, within the prospective Suriname-Guyana basin. With a 50% participating interest, Petronas Suriname E&P is the operator of the block while ExxonMobil is the firm’s partner.

Petronas handed out a one-well contract in July 2023 to Noble Corporation’s Noble Discoverer semi-submersible rig to drill an exploration well in Block 52. The drilling activities were slated to start in August 2023 and the deal also came with a one-well extension option.

However, the work scope was transferred to the 2015-built Noble Voyager rig in January 2024. When April 2024 rolled in, Petronas exercised the option to extend the rig’s assignment and drill one additional well in Block 52 offshore Suriname at a day rate of $470,000. 

In October, Shearwater GeoServices added more work in Africa to its to-do list, following the award of a deepwater ocean bottom node (OBN) project.