Petronas Suriname E&P, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysian energy giant Petronas, has announced a significant expansion of its offshore assets following two new oil and gas discoveries and successful appraisal activities in Block 52. These Suriname offshore discoveries, located off the coast of the South American nation, mark a substantial increase in the company’s regional footprint and technical success within the Suriname-Guyana basin.
The exploration campaign involved the drilling of the Caiman-1 well, which reached a total depth of 5,065 meters in 90 meters of water. This operation successfully identified multiple oil-bearing Cretaceous sandstone intervals. Parallel to this, the Swartzia Aspasia Complex-1 (SAC-1) exploration well was drilled to a depth of 4,560 meters in 610 meters of water. Located 8 kilometers east of the previously identified Sloanea-1 gas find, the SAC-1 well intersected gas-bearing sandstone reservoirs. Subsequent drill stem testing confirmed high reservoir quality and strong gas deliverability, reinforcing the potential for future energy development in the region.
Appraisal Success and Resource Volume
In addition to the primary exploration successes, the Roystonea-2 appraisal well has provided critical data regarding the lateral extent of existing reservoirs. Drilled 7 kilometers north of the original Roystonea-1 site, the appraisal well confirmed the continuity of oil-bearing intervals. The results from the drill stem testing indicated robust oil productivity, further validating the scale and commercial potential of the reservoir system. These Suriname offshore discoveries are part of a broader strategy to establish the area as a significant deepwater hub.
The latest results from Block 52 bring the total number of successful wells completed by the company in Suriname to eight. Collectively, these operations have unlocked recoverable resources estimated at more than 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent. This milestone highlights the effectiveness of modern deepwater drilling techniques and disciplined project execution in high-prospectivity corridors.
Strategic Partnerships and Regional Outlook
Petronas maintains an 80% participating interest in Block 52 as the operator, while the remaining 20% is held by Paradise Oil Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname (Staatsolie). This partnership continues to focus on the “Golden Lane,” a highly prospective area that the company aims to transition into long-term value for the nation. The ongoing hydrocarbon exploration efforts build upon the commerciality declared for the Sloanea gas field in late 2025, with a final investment decision for that specific development expected by the end of the current year. Beyond Block 52, the company holds interests in seven other offshore blocks in Suriname, including blocks 9, 10, 48, 53, 63, 64, and 66.
Mohd Jukris Abdul Wahab, Petronas’ Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer of Upstream, said, “Eight successful wells in Suriname with recoverable resources of more than one billion barrels of oil equivalent unlocked, reflect the strength of our technical capabilities, disciplined execution, and strong partnership in Suriname.”
