Guyana expands oil search

Mar 11, 2026 News

…launches massive 25,000 km² offshore seismic survey

(Kaieteur News) – The Government of Guyana (GoG), through the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), has partnered with Viridien to launch a major 3D multi-client seismic survey covering about 25,000 square kilometres offshore Guyana, a move aimed at further de-risking the country’s oil-rich basin and strengthening exploration prospects.

A 3D seismic survey is an advanced geophysical method that uses sound waves to produce detailed, three-dimensional, high-resolution images of the earth’s subsurface. The technology is commonly used to map geological structures, identify potential oil and gas deposits and optimise drilling.

Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat along with representatives of Viridien

In a statement on Monday, the ministry said the survey will include all 11 blocks from the 2022 Licensing Round located south of the Stabroek Block and extending to the Guyana–Suriname border. The agreement also provides for the reprocessing and integration of existing seismic datasets across the three survey lots.

“Thanks to advanced seismic acquisition and processing technologies, the 3D survey will materially de-risk the Guyana Basin, thereby enhancing the exploration decision-making process and increasing investor confidence,” the ministry stated.

It added that the data generated from the survey will strengthen the basin’s marketability in future bid rounds and position Guyana competitively within the regional exploration market.

According to the ministry, the agreement allows for large-scale seismic acquisition without direct public expenditure. This will be done through pre-funding arrangements, where energy companies provide early capital for geophysical surveys in exchange for exclusive early access to the data.

All data acquired will remain the sole property of the Government of Guyana, preserving the country’s sovereign ownership of national petroleum data. However, the data can be licensed to third parties for a fee. Notably, acquisition activities will begin once the necessary pre-funding commitments are secured. The survey phase is expected to take approximately one year, followed by data processing and interpretation.

Viridien was selected following an international procurement process that began on September 6, 2024. The ministry said the agreement continues a long-standing partnership and represents a step toward strengthening Guyana’s offshore petroleum framework and advancing the modernisation of the energy sector.

The company, formerly CGG Services (US) Inc., has maintained a working relationship with the Government of Guyana since 2010. During that time it has acquired, processed and managed the country’s seismic data.

Viridien is a global advanced technology and Earth data company specialising in geoscience, subsurface imaging and high-performance computing for the energy, mining and environmental sectors. In addition to sector-wide benefits, the acquisition partners have agreed to maximise the use of local content in accordance with national legislation and provide technical training and capacity-building for petroleum sector regulatory agencies.

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natural resources, oil search, Vickram Bharrat, Viridien

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