KUALA LUMPUR (May 16): National oil firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) subsidiary Suriname E&P BV (Petronas Suriname E&P) has made a third hydrocarbon discovery in Suriname’s Block 52 at the Fusaea-1 exploration well, located about 170km offshore and 9km east from Roystonea-1.

In a statement on Thursday, Petronas said the well was spudded in February and successfully drilled to a total depth of 5,227m with zero lost time injury, encountering several oil and gas-bearing Campanian sandstone reservoir packages.

It said further evaluation is being undertaken to determine the full extent of this discovery, and its potential for an integrated development with the recent Roystonea-1 and Sloanea-1 discoveries.

Petronas executive vice-president and chief executive officer of upstream Datuk Adif Zulfikfli said the favourable results obtained from the Fusaea-1 exploration well had solidified Petronas' standing in Suriname for material hydrocarbon resources, following the Sloanea-1 and Roystonea-1 discoveries.

Meanwhile, Petronas vice-president of exploration Mohd Redhani Abdul Rahman said the success of Fusaea-1 is a testament to advancement in the company’s geological comprehension of that region, bolstered by recent breakthroughs in Roystonea-1 and Sloanea-1.

“These discoveries have significantly expanded the prospectivity and integrated oil and gas development potential within Block 52. 

“In pursuit of sustainable and high-value material resources, Petronas remains committed to its exploration activities in selected focus regions as part of its portfolio rationalisation efforts,” said Mohd Redhani.

Petronas said Block 52, which covers an area of 4,749 sq km, is located north of the coast of Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital city, within the prospective Suriname-Guyana basin.

Petronas Suriname E&P is the operator of Block 52 with 50% participating interest, together with ExxonMobil.

In addition to Block 52, Petronas Suriname E&P operates Block 48 and Block 63 with 100% participating interest, and Block 64 with 30% non-operating interest.