Staatsolie announced today that Chevron Suriname Exploration Limited is expected to begin drilling the Korikori-1 exploration well this month. The well is located approximately 78 kilometers offshore, in the north-central part of Block 5 at a water depth of around forty meters. Block 5 is operated by Chevron (40%) in partnership with Paradise Oil Company (POC) (40%) and Qatar Energy (20%).
Suriname’s National Environmental Authority (NMA) granted Chevron a permit for the drilling operations at the end of July 2025. The well will be drilled by the Noble Regina Allen rig which is expected to arrive in the first half of October. The drilling operations will take approximately 90 days and are intended to confirm the presence of hydrocarbons in the subsurface. Upon successful termination of the well operations and data acquisition, initial indication of quantity and quality of any hydrocarbon present can be estimated.
The rig will be supplied from Surinamese port facilities (shore base) including fuel and consumables. Personnel will be flown to the rig from Paramaribo. This contributes to increasing opportunities for local entrepreneurs and suppliers of goods and services to participate in Suriname’s offshore oil and gas industry (local content).
Block 5 is located in the western part of Suriname’s shallow offshore area and forms part of the Suriname-Guyana Basin. The block covers an area of approximately 2,200 km² and lies 45 to 82 kilometers offshore, north of the Nickerie district. Water depths range between thirty and sixty meters.
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