A consortium that includes Qatar Petroleum has won exploration rights in two offshore blocks in the Republic of Suriname under production-sharing contracts as part of the recent Surinam offshore bidding round.
Suriname's state oil company Staatsolie announced the winning bids in the competitive round, whereby a consortium of subsidiaries of Qatar Petroleum (20%), Total Energy (40% operator), and Statsoli (40%) were awarded exploration rights. Shallow Zones 6 and 8, directly adjacent to Zone 58, have productive discoveries.
"We are delighted to win the exploration rights in Blocks 6 and 8, which marks Qatar Petroleum's first entry into Suriname," said Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs, and President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum.
"This success will enhance our presence in the Guyana-Suriname Basin, and Qatar Petroleum's presence in Latin America, and represent another successful step towards achieving our international growth ambitions," he added.
Adjacent marine zones 6 and 8 lie directly south of Zone 58 in shallow waters off the shores of southern Suriname, near the border with Guyana, with water depths ranging from 30 to 65 metres.
The two areas cover a total area of about 2,750 square kilometres.