Petroleum Systems of the Guyana-Suriname Basin

1. Basin Evolution, Tectonics, and Margin Framework

Marcel Chin-A-Lien – Petroleum & Energy Advisor – January 2026

Sapin, F. et al. (2011) ‘Tectonostratigraphic evolution of the Guyana Basin’, AAPG Bulletin, 95(8), 1339–1368.
Trude, J. et al. (2023) ‘Structure and tectonics of the Guyana Basin’, Geological Society, London, Special Publications.
Delhaye-Prat, V. et al. (2024) ‘Tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Suriname margin’, Earth-Science Reviews.
Graindorge, D. et al. (2022) Deep structure of the Demerara Plateau and its tectonic implications. IFREMER / Archimer.
Casson, M. et al. (2021) ‘Cretaceous continental margin evolution revealed using integrated stratigraphic analysis’, Basin Research.

2. Petroleum Systems, Source Rocks, Charge, and Play Elements

Bihariesingh, V. (2014) Is the Cretaceous an effective petroleum system offshore Suriname? AAPG Search and Discovery.
Cedeño, A.F. (2019) ‘Petroleum system(s?) in the Guyana–Suriname Basin’, EAGE Conference Proceedings.
Griffith, C. (2015) ‘Evidence for a Jurassic source rock in the Guyana–Suriname Basin’, AAPG Search and Discovery.
Griffith, C. (2017) Hydrocarbon potential of Jurassic source rock in the Guyana–Suriname Basin. AAPG Search and Discovery.
Griffith, C. (2019) Hydrocarbon potential of the Jurassic source rock in the Guiana Basin. AAPG Search and Discovery.
Raghoenath, V. and Sontohartono, Z. (2014) ‘Overview of the Cretaceous petroleum systems of the Suriname–Guyana Basin’, AAPG GTW Abstract.
Nibbelink, K. (2019) ‘Hydrocarbon system and major tectonic events of the Guyana Basin’, AAPG LACR GTW Abstract.

3. Seismic Stratigraphy, Canyon–Fan Systems, Depositional Architecture

Workman, W. (2015) The Guyana–Suriname Basin. AAPG Search and Discovery.
Ballard, J.H. (2020) ‘2D and 3D seismic delineation of submarine fan systems in the Guyana–Suriname Basin’, AAPG Pacific Section Convention.
Wood, L., Ugwu-Oju, O. and Cardona, S. (2019) ‘The Berbice Valley and Canyon system of Guyana’, AAPG ACE Abstract.
Moonan, X. (2018) From deep horizon to deep water: exploration context of the Guyana–Suriname Basin. AAPG Search and Discovery.
Loncke, L. et al. (2018) The Demerara marginal plateau. AAPG Search and Discovery.

4. Reservoir Quality, Petro-physics, and Deliverability

Joseph, S. et al. (2025) ‘Petroelastic behavior of Upper Cretaceous turbidites in the Guyana–Suriname Basin’, EAGE Conference Proceedings.
APA Corporation (2021) Sapakara South-1 flow test results (DST summary). APA investor materials.
Sineva, D. et al. (2019) ‘Quantifying the impact of a complex overburden in the Kaieteur Basin’, AAPG LACR GTW Abstract.

5. Seismic Imaging, Inversion, and Quantitative Interpretation

Helfrich, C. (2022) ‘Acoustic-only limitations for seismic imaging in the Guyana–Suriname Basin’, EAGE Conference Proceedings.
Routh, P. (2023) ‘Value of elastic full-wavefield inversion in clastic exploration’, SEG IMAGE, OnePetro.
Zhao, W. (2023) ‘4D deghosting of multi-sensor streamer datasets from offshore Guyana’, EAGE Conference Proceedings.
Brager, D. (2023) ‘Joint seismic interference and simultaneous source imaging’, EAGE Conference Proceedings.

6. Field Development, Production, and Operations (Guyana)

Styslinger, A. et al. (2021) ‘Liza Phase 1 rapid development in a deepwater frontier’, OTC, OnePetro.
Austin, N. (2021) ‘The Liza Field: From discovery to development’, OTC, OnePetro.
Ryan, M.F. (2021) ‘Guyana operations and first oil’, OTC, OnePetro.
Verma, S.K. et al. (2023) ‘Liza Unity: start-up and first-year operations’, SPE ATCE, OnePetro.
Society of Petroleum Engineers (2021) ‘SPE-200951-MS: Independent analysis of Liza Phase 1’, OnePetro.
Society of Petroleum Engineers (2025) ‘SPE-226569-MS: Success factors in fast-track deepwater developments’, OnePetro.

7. Suriname Offshore Development, Block 58, and State Reporting

TotalEnergies (2022) Another significant discovery on Block 58 offshore Suriname (Krabdagu-1).
TotalEnergies (2024) Final Investment Decision for the GranMorgu development offshore Suriname.
TotalEnergies (2026) GranMorgu Suriname oil project.
APA Corporation (2024) Final Investment Decision for Block 58, Suriname.
Staatsolie (2021) Annual Report 2021.
Staatsolie (2022) Summary Annual Report 2021.
Staatsolie (2023) Sustainability Report 2023.
Staatsolie (2024) TotalEnergies and APA announce Final Investment Decision for Block 58.

8. Operator Disclosures, Reserves, and Resource Assessments

ExxonMobil (2017) Final investment decision for Liza Phase 1.
ExxonMobil (2018) Liza-4 well confirms additional oil-bearing sandstone.
ExxonMobil (2022) Stabroek resource estimate increased to nearly 11 billion boe.
ExxonMobil (2025) Guyana project overview (Stabroek Block).
ExxonMobil (2025) Daily oil production hits 900,000 barrels.
Hess Corporation (2025) Form 10-K for FY 2024.
CNOOC Limited (2025) Annual Report 2024.
U.S. Geological Survey (2001) Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources.
U.S. Geological Survey (2012) Assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of South America and the Caribbean.

9. Conferences, Workshops, and Proceedings Collections

EAGE (2022) First EAGE Guyana–Suriname Basin Conference.
EAGE (2024) First EAGE Conference on Energy Opportunities in the Caribbean.
EAGE (2025) Second EAGE Conference and Exhibition on Guyana–Suriname Basin.
AAPG (2017) Deepwater exploration of the Columbus & Guiana basins (GTW).
AAPG (2019) Recent discoveries and exploration opportunities in the Guiana Basin (GTW).

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About the Author — Marcel Chin-A-Lien

Global Petroleum and Energy Advisor

49 Years of Transformative Expertise | Exploration, Oil & Gas Giant Fields Finder – Business Development, M&A, PSC Design, Contract Strategy

Marcel Chin-A-Lien brings nearly five decades of unmatched global expertise at the highest levels of the energy sector—where technical mastery meets business acumen to unlock extraordinary value.

His career has delivered multi-billion-dollar giant field discoveries, spearheaded the iconic first capitalist upstream ventures in the USSR, shaped successful offshore bid rounds, and secured enduring cash flow streams from exploration and production activities across mature and frontier basins such as the Dutch North Sea.

An outstanding fusion of technical, commercial, and managerial insight, Marcel holds four postgraduate petroleum degrees spanning geology, engineering, international business, and management—uniquely positioning him to bridge the worlds of exploration strategy, M&A, PSC design, and contract negotiation.

Fluent in seven languages and culturally attuned to diverse business environments, he has navigated complex geographies from Europe to Asia, Africa, and the Americas—driving innovation, de-risking investments, and aligning stakeholder interests from national oil companies to supermajors.

Whether advising on frontier basin entry, government negotiations, fiscal regime optimization, or asset valuation, Marcel’s critical insights integrate Exploration & Production with Business Development and Commercial Realism—generating sustainable growth in volatile energy markets.

Credentials and Distinctions

Drs – Petroleum Geology
Engineering Geologist – Petroleum Geology
Executive MBA – International Business, Petroleum, M&A
MSc – International Management, Petroleum
Energy Negotiator – Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN)
Certified Petroleum Geologist #5201 – AAPG (Gold Standard)
Chartered European Geologist #92 – EFG (Gold Standard)
Cambridge Award – “2000 Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century”, UK
Paris Awards – “Innovative New Business Projects”, GDF-Suez (2x Gold Awards, 2003)

Strategic Expertise

Exploration Strategy & Giant Field Discovery
Upstream M&A and Asset Valuation
Production Sharing Contract (PSC) Design & Fiscal Optimization
Government and IOC Negotiation Advisory
Bid Round Structuring and Evaluation
Integrated Technical-Commercial Due Diligence

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Regards, Marcel Chin-A-Lien