Frédéric Beys, Project Director for TotalEnergies’ GranMorgu development, said the company’s first Suriname oil project has been slowed by geological and logistical challenges that shaped its design and timeline.
“The geology of Block 58 in Suriname is much more complex than what we had in mind when we started the exploration campaign,” he explained on the sidelines of the Suriname Energy Summit back in June.
He noted that discoveries in the central part of the block revealed smaller reservoirs than expected. “One single reservoir is not enough to justify an economical development. So, we had to gather several reservoirs together to have a substantial volume to be developed,” Beys said. The result, he added, is an unusually large subsea layout to connect the fields.
TotalEnergies stresses stability as company set to invest billions into GranMorgu project | OilNOW
Beys said technical complexity also stems from the seabed itself. “From a technical standpoint, what makes this development unique is the complexity of the seabed… the shallower depth is only 100 meters, and the deepest location of our wells is by 1000 meters,” he said.
The logistical framework also presents constraints, with operations heavily reliant on Suriname’s capital port. “One of the specificity of this development is that we are using extensively the logistic base… located in Paramaribo. And as everybody knows, Paramaribo is the shallow-water port. We saw constraints linked to the tide,” Beys pointed out.
Despite delays, TotalEnergies has advanced through a demanding appraisal program. “Last three years of exploration and appraisal with 14 wells drilled up to the finalization of the perimeter that we are currently developing into this GranMorgu project,” he said.
Beya said that the company is anchoring operations in Suriname to boost local participation.
“We have decided to locate as much as possible activities in Suriname… During the operations of the FPSO, there will be permanent service to be supplied from onshore to offshore with development of local industry,” he said.
GranMorgu project’s development has already commenced, with first production targeted for 2028. Dutch floater specialist SBM Offshore, in partnership with Technip Energies, has been awarded contracts to construct and install a floating production, storage and offloading vessel for the project.
