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March 10, 2026
The Government of Guyana said on Monday it has advanced plans for a large-scale 3D multi-client seismic survey offshore, a project aimed at strengthening the country’s petroleum exploration framework and improving investor confidence in the Guyana Basin.
The Ministry of Natural Resources said the survey will be conducted with support from global geoscience and technology firm Viridien, following an international procurement process that began on Sept. 6, 2024.
Viridien, formerly CGG Services (US) Inc., has worked with the government since 2010 to acquire, process and manage Guyana’s seismic data. The new agreement extends that long-standing collaboration.
The survey will cover about 25,000 square kilometres offshore Guyana, including all 11 blocks from the country’s 2022 oil and gas licensing round, located south of the Stabroek Block and extending to the Guyana–Suriname border.
Three-dimensional seismic surveys use sound waves to generate high-resolution images of the earth’s subsurface, helping geologists map geological structures and identify potential oil and gas deposits.
The government said the project will be financed through a pre-funding model, allowing seismic acquisition to take place without direct public spending. Under the arrangement, energy companies provide early capital for the geophysical surveys in exchange for exclusive early access to the data.
All seismic data collected will remain the sole property of the Government of Guyana, though it may be licensed to third parties for a fee, the ministry said.
Authorities said the survey will also allow for the reprocessing and integration of existing seismic datasets across three survey lots.
Officials expect the improved data to significantly reduce exploration risk in the Guyana Basin, support better decision-making by energy companies and enhance the basin’s attractiveness in future bidding rounds.
The agreement also includes provisions to maximise the use of local content in line with Guyana’s legislation and to provide technical training and capacity-building for petroleum sector regulatory agencies.
Survey operations are expected to begin once the required pre-funding commitments are secured. The acquisition phase is projected to take about one year, followed by processing and interpretation of the data.
