Several seismic surveys are underway or planned offshore Guyana, as companies and the government gather new subsurface data to guide exploration in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
These programs target both shallow-water and ultra-deepwater acreage and are designed to improve geological understanding before drilling decisions are made.
Below is a breakdown of three recent seismic surveys announced for Guyana’s offshore basin:
Government of Guyana multi-client seismic survey
- Who: Government of Guyana in partnership with Viridien (formerly CGG).
- What: Multi-client 3D seismic survey designed to collect new subsurface data and integrate existing datasets.
- Where: Offshore Guyana in shallow-water acreage south of the Stabroek Block, including the 11 blocks offered in the 2022 licensing round and areas extending toward the Guyana–Suriname maritime boundary.
- When: Announced in March 2026. Acquisition is expected after pre-funding commitments from industry companies.
- Why: To reduce exploration risk and provide companies with improved geological data for frontier acreage before drilling activity.
- Coverage: Approximately 25,000 square kilometers of offshore area.
- Data ownership: The Government retains ownership of the dataset while companies can purchase access through the multi-client model.
TotalEnergies Block S4 seismic survey
- Who: TotalEnergies as operator, with partners QatarEnergy and Petronas.
- What: Planned 3D seismic acquisition as part of the initial exploration work program.
- Where: Block S4, located about 50 to 100 kilometers offshore Guyana.
- When: Mobilization expected around August 2026, with survey operations estimated to last about 70 days.
- Why: To identify potential drilling targets and evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of the block.
- Coverage: About 2,000 square kilometers of 3D seismic data.
- Block size: Approximately 1,788 square kilometers.
- Water depth: Roughly 20 to 30 meters.
- Estimated survey cost: Around US$25 million.
Latitude Energy deepwater seismic survey
- Who: Latitude Energy Inc., a Guyanese company, working with Shearwater GeoServices.
- What: Proposed 3D seismic survey targeting ultra-deepwater acreage.
- Where: Offshore blocks D1, D2, and D3 in Guyana’s EEZ, located about 220 kilometers offshore.
- When: Proposal submitted in 2025 as part of preparations for a seismic acquisition campaign.
- Why: To generate high-resolution subsurface imaging and assess exploration potential in deepwater sections of the Guyana Basin.
- Seismic acquisition area: About 13,512 square kilometers.
- Operational survey area: Approximately 16,857 square kilometers.
- Water depth: Around 2,500 to 3,500 meters.
- Estimated investment: About US$81 million.
