PARAMARIBO, March 18, 2026, 18:34 SRT
Suriname is ramping up its offshore exploration, moving past the deepwater zone responsible for its initial discoveries. A fresh industry report points to a possible continuation of the Guyana-Suriname basin’s so-called “Golden Lane,” while plans are in motion for a new seismic campaign that should give a clearer sense of the country’s deepwater potential. The effort targets frontier areas—spots with minimal or no 3D seismic data, the key subsurface mapping technique used ahead of drilling. GeoExpro
Timing is key here: Suriname aims to leverage one flagship offshore project into a wider development pipeline before first oil arrives in 2028. Staatsolie’s open-door offering—a rolling acreage process—now spans roughly 60% of the nation’s offshore territory. Meanwhile, the $10.5 billion GranMorgu project is on track to become Suriname’s first significant offshore production center.
Tuesday’s report from Neil Hodgson, Karyna Rodriguez, and Lauren Found of Searcher—joined by Staatsolie geoscientists—contends that Suriname’s northwest sub-basin could feature the same trap style that drove the Golden Lane discoveries. They described the region as “the next great play to chase,” but pointed to a key shortfall: there’s still no 3D seismic coverage on the northern terrace, notably in Block 59. GeoExpro
Staatsolie is gearing up for a 15-month multi-client 3D towed-streamer survey offshore, according to BNamericas. The company plans to use a vessel-towed cable system to collect seismic data from beneath the seabed. Roughly 45,000 sq km are covered by the survey area, with water depths stretching from 100 up to 4,000 metres. The zone lies anywhere from 90 km out to 370 km offshore. Staatsolie is aiming to acquire seismic data over about 20,000 sq km, BNamericas said.
The move into shallower waters isn’t just talk anymore—data is coming in. Back in January, BGP reported it had wrapped up a 2,100 sq km multi-client 3D survey with TGS and Staatsolie off Suriname, targeting the country’s southern shallow-water zone. TGS points out these blocks are wedged between the deepwater discoveries to the north and established onshore fields further south, as operators look for signs that hydrocarbons may have migrated updip from the basin’s source kitchens.
Operators have stepped in. In November, PETRONAS, Chevron, QatarEnergy and Paradise Oil Company inked production-sharing deals for shallow-water Blocks 9 and 10—together spanning 5,456 sq km. “Confidence in Suriname’s offshore potential,” said PETRONAS Vice President of Exploration Faisal Bakar, describing the decision. PETRONAS Global
Guyana is taking a similar path. On March 9, the government said it was moving ahead with a 25,000 sq km offshore 3D seismic survey, targeting an area south of the Stabroek block and stretching toward Suriname. The move highlights the regional effort to de-risk unexplored acreage by gathering new subsurface data ahead of upcoming drilling calls.
The foundation of the plan is solid. TotalEnergies claims its Block 58 GranMorgu venture with APA contains close to 760 million barrels in recoverable reserves, with first oil projected for 2028 at 220,000 barrels a day. For comparison, Reuters puts Guyana’s Stabroek block—right next door—at over 11 billion barrels discovered, a magnet for majors flooding the basin.
The outlook for what comes next is murkier. GeoExpro’s authors point out that various down- and up-dip tests beyond Golden Lane’s central zone haven’t shown commercial results so far, and the northwest sub-basin remains without 3D seismic—meaning there’s no easy way to weed out false positives ahead of drilling.
Suriname now faces investors with a pitch that’s clearer, if unproven: its basin could stretch beyond the deepwater discoveries that originally drew attention. Caribbean Energy Week kicks off March 30 in Paramaribo, with panels on shallow-water prospects and “Deepwater Excellence” across the Guyana-Suriname basin—a clear signal operators are eyeing more diversity, and not just sticking to one strategy. Caribbean Energy Week
