Founded on a commitment to delivering energy more sustainably, TotalEnergies is a globally integrated energy company where the planet and its people are at the heart of every strategy, project, and operation it conducts. The company has a long history across the globe and is now present in more than 120 countries worldwide. Across its international network, TotalEnergies works to make energy delivery more reliable, affordable, and sustainable. However, its current offshore exploration and development projects in Suriname, mark a vital step in TotalEnergies’ leading energy operations within South America.
TotalEnergies is a multi-energy company responsible for the production of market fuels, natural gas, and electricity operations across the globe. South America has long been a vital market for energy production developments by TotalEnergies, with operations present in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rice, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Uruguay. One of its largest operations in South America is in Brazil, where the company has been operating for close to 50 years. Across Brazil, TotalEnergies is present in almost every aspect of energy development from exploration, production, and renewable and green gas development, as well as in marketing and services. With such a span across the energy sector from upstream to downstream, TotalEnergies has vital expertise in delivering successful energy projects across South America.
With such a vast array of experience across South America’s energy sector, TotalEnergies has in recent years looked to further expand its reach across the region and began working on investment decisions and exploration operations in Suriname. TotalEnergies has been present in Suriname for around 5 years, with 5 significant discoveries in the Block 58 offshore area. Block 58 is part of a partnership with APA Corporation, with both companies owning a 50% interest in the development. In 2023, TotalEnergies announced an oil project of 200,000 barrels per day (b/d), as well as a development study. The area includes the Sapakara South and Krabdagu oil fields, which saw expansion over 2024 with the drilling and testing of new wells, which confirmed a combined estimated recoverable resource of close to 750 million barrels for the 2 fields.
The continued development of Block 58 aims to deliver new wells at depths of between 100 and 1000 metres, and oil will be produced through a system of subsea wells which will ultimately be connected to an FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading Unit) located off the Suriname coast. Once completed, TotalEnergies expects that the project will have an oil production capacity of 200,000 b/d and will represent an investment of USD 9 billion into Suriname’s energy sector.
In October 2024, TotalEnergies and Saatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V. (Staatsolie) met in Paramaribo to announce the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the ‘GranMorgu’ development located within Block 58. The GranMorgu project will develop the Sapakara and Krabdagu oil discoveries building upon the successful exploration and appraisal as announced in 2023. The investment into Block 58 is estimated to be around USD 10.5 billion and will involve local companies and suppliers to facilitate the logistics and installation of the project’s subsea systems and the FPSO creating more than 600 jobs.
The project is currently held in an equal 50% partnership between TotalEnergies and APA Corporation. However, following the GranMorgu project announcement, Staatsolie (Suriname’s state-owned oil company) outlined its interest in exercising its option to enter the development project at 20% interest, making contributions towards the project following the FID. Staatsolie will finalise its interest by June 2025.
One of the key sustainable aspects of the GranMorgu development in Block 58 is that it will leverage technology to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. The project aims to specifically cut Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from each oil barrel produced. A key step in achieving this will be the GranMorgu FPSO which is an all-electric vessel with zero routine flaring and full reinjection of associated gas into the reservoirs. The FPSO is designed to accommodate future tie-back opportunities that would extend its production plateau. Additionally, the FPSO will have a Waste Heat Recovery unit and water-cooling system which will optimise the power usage across the vessel and improve its overall efficiency. To help further cut down on emissions, the project aims to install a permanent methane detection and monitoring system that will rely on a network of sensors to enhance the unit’s overall sustainability.
The entire project at Block 58 will deliver significant oil developments for Suriname and add to TotalEnergies network across South America. In the FID announcement press release, Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, outlined that “Building on TotalEnergies’ pioneering spirit, this landmark project marks the first offshore development in the country and capitalizes on our extensive expertise in deep offshore innovation. Launched only a year after the end of appraisal, GranMorgu fits with our strategy to accelerate time-to-market and develop low-cost and low-emission oil projects.” Pouyanné’s comments here highlight the vast role the project will play within Suriname and the company’s role in delivering a project that meets its central mission to make affordable yet sustainable energy more widely available across the world.
In addition to the Block 58 developments, TotalEnergies has previously signed a sharing contract for 2 shallow offshore blocks. These blocks, 6 and 8, have been awarded to TotalEnergies following the Suriname Shallow Offshore Bid Round 2021/2021, where TotalEnergies took on the operation of the two blocks with 40% interest. The operation will be in partnership with Qatar Energy which has a 20% interest, and Paradise Oil Company (POC), a subsidiary of Staatsolie, which also has a 40% interest in the development.
Blocks 6 and 8 are located towards the south of Suriname not far from the border to Guyana, and directly adjacent to Block 58 where Total Energies already operates. The Senior Vice President of Exploration for TotalEnergies, Kevin McLachlan states in the press release for the Block 6 and 8 development that “TotalEnergies is pleased to expand its operatorship position in Suriname, a world-class emerging basin, exploring for low technical costs and low GHG emission oil resources”. He continues, “This new milestone further strengthens our strategic international partnership with Qatar Energy marking its first entry to Suriname”.
As we can see from McLachlan’s comments TotalEnergies span across Suriname has established it as a key player in the country’s energy industry. With significant developments in Block 58, and Blocks 6 and 8, TotalEnergies continues working with crucial partners and players across the global industry to bring sustained economic growth and a wider sphere of energy potential for the region.
TotalEnergies’ projects in Suriname highlight the company’s mission to make energy more accessible, sustainable, and affordable across the globe. In Suriname, the development will enhance the country’s existing energy infrastructure and ensure a more seamless delivery of energy across the region. Suriname will now add to TotalEnergies’ vast portfolio in South America, which works cohesively to leverage its expertise across the region’s energy sector to enhance its role in the global energy market.
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