PARAMARIBO – Suriname's offshore oil industry is preparing for a major expansion as TotalEnergies moves toward the start of a large-scale drilling campaign involving two offshore installations contracted from Noble Corporation. The operation forms part of the multibillion-dollar GranMorgu oil development project in Block 58, approximately 150 kilometers off Suriname's coast.
According to Noble Corporation's fleet status report published on October 26, the contracts for the semi-submersible drilling rig Noble Discoverer and the drillship Noble Valiant are scheduled to begin in December 2026.
Both installations have been contracted for approximately 1,060 days, with their assignments expected to continue until the fourth quarter of 2029.
The agreements cover a combined 32 wells, making the drilling campaign a significant component of Suriname's offshore oil development.
Contracts Worth Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
Noble Corporation originally announced the two contracts in April 2025.
The combined firm contract value amounts to US$753 million.
Depending on operational performance, the agreements could generate up to an additional US$297 million in performance-related compensation.
This means the total potential value could reach approximately US$1.05 billion.
Each drilling installation has been assigned 16 wells, bringing the total to 32.
The contracts also include options for four additional wells across the two installations.
The scale and duration of the agreements reflect the extensive offshore drilling activities required to develop the oil reserves discovered in Suriname's Block 58.
Although the contracts begin in December 2026, TotalEnergies has indicated that actual drilling and offshore installation operations are expected to start in early 2027.
Artur Nunes da Silva, Director of TotalEnergies in Suriname, confirmed in late October that the first stages of the drilling campaign are planned for January.
GranMorgu Project Represents US$10.5 Billion Investment
The drilling campaign is part of the GranMorgu project, one of the largest energy investments in Suriname's history.
TotalEnergies is developing the Sapakara and Krabdagu oil fields in Block 58, located approximately 150 kilometers offshore.
The project represents an investment of approximately US$10.5 billion and is expected to play an important role in transforming Suriname into a significant offshore oil producer.
Oil extracted from the fields will be processed and stored aboard a floating production, storage, and offloading installation, commonly known as an FPSO.
The facility is designed to handle production of up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day.
First oil production is currently expected in 2028.
The development involves extensive offshore infrastructure, including production wells, subsea equipment, and systems connecting the oil fields to the floating production facility.
The Noble Discoverer and Noble Valiant will contribute to the drilling activities necessary to prepare the fields for commercial production.
Two Drilling Installations Supporting Development
The Noble Discoverer is currently anchored in Caracasbaai, Curaçao, where it has been undergoing maintenance and preparations since September 26.
The semi-submersible rig previously carried out work for Petrobras off Colombia before arriving on the island.
Built in 2009, the installation is capable of operating in water depths exceeding 3,000 meters and accommodating up to 180 personnel.
Its assignment in Suriname will take place alongside the Noble Valiant, a drillship also contracted by TotalEnergies.
Together, the two installations will carry out a substantial drilling program extending over several years.
The long-term nature of the contracts reflects the complexity of developing offshore oil fields in deepwater environments.
Suriname Moves Closer to First Oil
The GranMorgu development represents a major step toward commercial oil production from Suriname's offshore reserves.
With the drilling contracts already secured and offshore activities scheduled to begin in early 2027, the project is moving toward its planned first production in 2028.
The investment is expected to generate demand for specialized offshore services, technical expertise, logistics, and maritime support throughout the development period.
The project could also create opportunities for regional service providers, including companies operating in Curaçao, where large offshore installations can receive maintenance and logistical support.
For Suriname, the upcoming drilling campaign is a critical stage in preparing the Sapakara and Krabdagu fields for production.
The deployment of the Noble Discoverer and Noble Valiant will support the development of an offshore production system designed to produce as much as 220,000 barrels per day, placing GranMorgu among the most significant energy projects currently being developed in the Caribbean region.