PETRONAS Exploration & Development Strategy in Suriname (2025): Unlocking the Offshore Frontier

PETRONAS continues to strengthen its upstream footprint in offshore Suriname, with a robust 2025 exploration and appraisal drilling campaign across Blocks 52, 48, and 53. The Malaysian energy giant is positioning itself as a key player in what many are calling the next Guyana.

Staatsolie Block Map of Offshore Suriname with PETRONAS Holdings.

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Block 52 – Core Development Focus

Operator: PETRONAS (50%)

Partner: ExxonMobil (50%)

Recent Discoveries:

   •   Sloanea-1 (2020): Opened the block’s potential.

   •   Roystonea-1 (2023): Multiple oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs.

   •   Fusaea-1 (2024): Further boosted confidence in the basin.

Key 2025 Plans

   •   3 wells to be drilled starting June 2025 using the Noble Developer semisub rig.

      •   2 new exploration wells

      •   1 appraisal well

   •   Campaign Duration: ~200 days

   •   Resource Potential (Roystonea & Fusaea): ~400 million barrels

   •   Development Potential: FPSO with 100,000 bbl/day capacity (future FID by 2027)

Significance:

These discoveries could lay the foundation for Suriname’s second producing deepwater hub, complementing developments by TotalEnergies and APA Corporation.

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Block 48 – 100% PETRONAS-Owned

PETRONAS holds full ownership of Block 48, giving it operational flexibility. While 2025 drilling specifics have yet to be announced, internal evaluations are ongoing as part of a broader frontier exploration strategy.

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Block 53 – Strategic Minority Stake

   •   PETRONAS Interest: 30% (Non-Operator)

   •   Discovery: Baja-1 (2022) – A notable oil find.

   •   Role: Active technical and strategic contributor alongside Operator APA Corp.

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Economic & Strategic Context

Suriname, like neighboring Guyana, is poised for transformational economic growth driven by offshore oil. PETRONAS’s activities—particularly in Block 52—signal growing investor confidence and provide:

   •   Job creation

   •   Infrastructure development

   •   Potential boost to national revenues through future production sharing

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Key Timelines at a Glance

Event	Block	Type	Timing
Sloanea-1 Discovery	52	Exploration	2020
Roystonea-1 Discovery	52	Exploration	2023
Fusaea-1 Discovery	52	Exploration	2024
Drilling Campaign (3 Wells)	52	Exploration/Appraisal	June–Dec 2025
Final Investment Decision (Expected)	52	Development	~2027
Potential First Oil	52	Production	~2030

Further Reading & Sources

• Hart Energy – Third Suriname Find May Support FPSO
• Starnieuws – Drilling Campaign Details
• PETRONAS Official Newsroom
• Ocean Energy Resources – Rig Mobilization
• Dew Suriname – FID Preparation

What Do You Think?

• How do you see Suriname’s energy landscape evolving in the next 5 years?
• Can PETRONAS emerge as a long-term anchor in this promising offshore basin?

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