TotalEnergies will begin drilling the Macaw-1 exploration well in Suriname’s Block 64 by mid-May 2025. According to the state-owned Staatsolie, the well is the first of five exploration wells planned offshore Suriname this year.
The Macaw-1 is part of an “ambitious” drilling campaign that could open new oil and gas plays across the Suriname-Guyana basin. Staatsolie said it marks a record number of offshore exploration wells to be drilled in Suriname in a single year.
Three of the five wells, including Macaw-1, are located outside the so-called “golden lane.” This term refers to a geologically favorable area for oil and gas accumulation.
Suriname’s National Environmental Authority granted TotalEnergies a drilling permit at the end of April. Stena Drilling will carry out the work using the Stena DrillMAX, a vessel previously deployed in Guyana by ExxonMobil. Following maintenance in Curaçao, the rig is expected to leave on 15 May and spud the well by 19 May.
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Drilling operations will last 80 working days. The campaign will be fully supported from a shore base in Paramaribo. Supplies, fuel, provisions, and crew transfers will be managed locally.
According to Staatsolie, the support from Paramaribo signals growth for Suriname’s local content in the offshore oil and gas industry. The remaining four wells scheduled this year will also rely on Suriname’s shore base services.
Block 64 lies about 280 kilometers offshore in water depths ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 meters. TotalEnergies is the operator with a 40% stake. PETRONAS and QatarEnergy each hold 30%.
