TotalEnergies to shoot 3D seismic survey in Guyana shallow water block

Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, 23:00 by Writer

The France-headquartered TotalEnergies-led consortium will be investing at least $20 million in conducting a 3D seismic survey in a shallow water block, S4, offshore Guyana, TotalEnergies Vice President of Exploration in the Americas Daniel Larranaga said on Tuesday.

He said the seismic survey would be conducted in the 1,800 square kilometre block during late next year and could last at least six months. “It’s about seismic acquisition but as we progress to exploration, hopefully with discoveries to come, then you would have a large impact,” Larranaga told reporters after signing a five-year exploration agreement with the Guyana government.

Asked what led to TotalEnergies interest in the S4 block, located directly offshore the county of Demerara, he recalled that 35 years ago his company had spud an exploration well at Arapaima. “Our exploration kept this idea in mind for years so what we’re chasing is not exactly the same geological play as in the deep water but we believe it can be very prospective,” he said.

He said shooting of the 3D seismic would be shot as soon as the consortium receives “the contractual arrangements and permitting available from the authorities,” a process he said would be “very fast compared to industry standards.” No decision has been decided on which company would be selected to conduct that seismic study.

He also said that exploration activities will be initially integrated with TotalEnergies’ offshore operations in Suriname’s GranMorgu production that is under construction.

The TotalEnergies official said the co-venturers would be engaged in social projects and promised to abide by the local content provisions of the contract and “hire local contractors and hire local personnel whenever needed.”

TotalEnergies has a 40% stake and 30% each for Qatar Energy International E&P LLC and Petronas E&P Overseas Ventures SDN BHD (Malaysia).

The Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, says the consortium will be paying a US$15 million signature bonus, US$5 million more than the stipulated sum in the production sharing contract, directly into Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund.

He stopped short of contrasting that with the secrecy that had shrouded the US$18 million signature bonus with the then APNU+AFC-led administration and ExxonMobil in 2016.

Mr Bharrat said the agreement would be made public and published on his ministry’s website.

Guyana currently produces just over 900,000 barrels of oil per day.