WILLEMSTAD – The possibility of developing oil and natural gas exploration in the waters surrounding Curaçao remains constrained by limited geological information and an incomplete offshore licensing framework, according to a research report published on October 29, 2026.
Petroleum geologist Marcel P.T. Chin-A-Lien identifies these issues as important obstacles to evaluating the Bonaire Basin, a geological region extending between the ABC islands and Venezuela.
Although the study presents models suggesting possible petroleum accumulations in parts of the basin, it emphasizes that the available information is insufficient to establish commercially recoverable deposits.
The researcher notes that existing seismic information includes surveys conducted decades ago, while modern geological measurements from the central Bonaire Basin remain scarce.
Among the missing information are direct measurements of underground heat flow, petroleum source-rock samples, detailed reservoir measurements and modern seismic images capable of identifying potential drilling targets.
The report argues that these gaps must be addressed before exploration companies can make informed decisions about drilling.
It also identifies uncertainty surrounding the legal framework for offshore petroleum exploration licensing in the Dutch Caribbean.
According to the study, the relevant licensing arrangements remain in preparation, while no new ABC offshore exploration licensing initiative is identified.
The report distinguishes Curaçao's ambitions to become an offshore logistics hub serving the oil industries of Guyana and Suriname from actual petroleum exploration in Curaçao's own waters.
Providing logistical support to international oil companies does not establish that Curaçao possesses commercially viable offshore petroleum deposits.
The researcher also refers to exploration developments in neighboring Aruba, where an Armstrong-led program reportedly remained in the seismic and geological evaluation phase in October 2026, without drilling having started.
For Curaçao, the report recommends beginning with a comprehensive assessment of existing geological data, followed by new seismic surveys and heat-flow measurements.
The author argues that these steps would help determine whether the offshore basin contains geological structures suitable for further investigation.
The report does not establish whether the proposed research would be economically viable or who would finance it.
It also does not identify an approved exploration project or a timetable for commercial development.
The study concludes that additional geological evidence and regulatory clarity are necessary before the region's petroleum potential can be assessed with greater confidence.