Total Energies commence application process for US$25M oil exploration

Jan 04, 2026 News

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…granted EIA waiver

(Kaieteur News) – French oil major, Total Energies have commenced the application process for a US$25 million exploration campaign in Block S4, a shallow water concession, offshore Guyana.

Total said the seismic acquisition project is anticipated to last about 70 days, including mobilization and demobilization. It is expected to start in August 2026 and last till October 2026 though vessel availability could result in a one-month delay. Further, the processing of seismic data will commence after the data reaches the processing centre and take around 12 months to complete.

The Project Summary, seen by Kaieteur News, indicates that the company intends to invest around US$25M for the activities but will have the final number upon completion of tender processes.

With regard to local content, TotalEnergies anticipates that 50-60 persons will be onboard the seismic vessel. The workforce, it said, must be highly skilled to manage the advanced technology of towing systems of the cables and source arrays. As such, maritime positions can be occupied by local employees for roles such as marine mammal observers, passive acoustic monitoring operators, galley staff, and able-bodied seamen.

On November 11, 2025 the government of Guyana signed an exploration and production pact with Total Energies which holds 40% interest in the block, along with, Qatar Energy and Petronas with 35% and 25% respectively.

As the operator, Total said the 3D survey will be conducted in waters measuring 20 to 30 meters deep, covering an area of 2000 square kilometers (km). The location of the survey is about 40km from shore. The company noted that the latest seismic processing technology will be used to process the data acquired with geophysical and geological studies to develop new prospects for drilling during the first exploration period.

During the acquisition, gravity and magnetic recordings will be undertaken as well on the 3D seismic vessel. A marine seismic survey is a method of determining geological features below the seafloor using a technical process which involves sending sound waves into the rock layers beneath the sea floor and then recording the time it takes for each wave to bounce back as well as measuring the strength of each returning wave.

The company explained, “The sound waves are generated by an acoustic pulse at regular intervals, and the energy penetrates the subsurface geological layers and reflects back to the surface where the seismic signal is digitized and recorded on a seismic cable.”

These sound waves are likely to have an impact on marine life, especially fish, according to the document. “Potential impacts on fisheries of seismic survey activities are disturbance and avoidance reactions by fish due to underwater noise from airgun arrays, potentially causing temporary displacement and reduced catches of fishes in the vicinity of the survey area.”

The company however noted that disturbance to fish can be minimized by using the lowest practicable airgun source strength necessary to achieve the seismic survey objectives.

In addition to the impact on fish, the company said temporary disturbance and interferences with shipping routes may occur due to the physical presence of the seismic survey vessel while “potential accidents during the project could include a small volume spill due to collision or a fueling accident”. The possibility of such an event it said was considered negligible.

No EIA

In a decision published on January 2, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that the project will not significantly affect the environment and is therefore exempt from the requirement to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The regulator pointed out that the proposed project is a temporary marine geophysical research survey, anticipated to last approximately 70 days, or just over two months and does not include the construction of permanent infrastructure, drilling, or seabed excavation.

Additionally, it said that the project will utilize a specialized seismic vessel equipped with advanced technology for towing systems, source arrays, and digitized recording cables. Meanwhile, “potential impacts, primarily underwater noise and waste, are well-understood and will be effectively managed through a project-specific Environmental Management Plan (EMP). All vessel discharges and waste generation will strictly comply with MARPOL international standards,” the EPA stated.

Although the company will not be required to conduct an EIA, the project has not yet been approved, pending the submission of an EMP.

In the meantime, persons may object to the EPA’s decision within 30 days from the publication of the notice and should be addressed to the Chairman of the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB).

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• Block S4, Daniel Larranaga, EIA, oil exploration, Total Energies

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