APA Corp.’s recent Awari exploration well offshore Suriname in Block 58 has been deemed non-commercial.

The results of the Awari prospect in the previously untested northwest portion were revealed at the conclusion of drilling operations, the Houston-based independent said Nov. 28 in a press release.

APA holds 50% working interest in Block 58 while France’s TotalEnergies SE, the block’s actual operator, holds the other 50% working interest.

Suriname, which shares the prolific Guyana-Suriname Basin with its neighbor Guyana, has reported numerous exploration discoveries in Block 58 located adjacent to Guyana’s Stabroek Block. 

Now the Dutch-speaking country is looking to replicate the offshore development success just across its maritime border where an Exxon Mobil Corp.-led consortium that includes Hess Corp. and China’s CNOOC has successfully launched two FPSO units that were producing over 360,000 bbl/d in October, Hess said. Another FPSO is slated to start up in 2023, according to the company.

Rystad Energy recently forecasted activities in the deep waters offshore Suriname could require investments of $23 billion through 2031. APA and TotalEnergies have been quiet regarding a final investment decision (FID) on Block 58, which is seemingly overdue considering earlier comments from the companies on prior earnings calls. 

Media officials with APA and TotalEnergies didn’t immediately reply to email requests from Hart Energy for comments.

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Next Steps

APA and TotalEnergies plan to “commence flow-test operations following drilling to the targeted Maastrichtian-Campanian formation” at the Sapakara South-2 (SPS-2) appraisal well.

The companies expect results from SPS-2, located approximately 4.6 km south of Sapakara South-1, to be available in January.

In November 2021, APA completed flow and subsequent pressure build-up tests at Sapakara South-1 (SPS-1), an appraisal well drilled in earlier 2021 on the eastern edge of Sapakara nearly 4 km from the discovery well. SPS-1 encountered approximately 30 m (98 ft) of net black oil pay in a single zone of high-quality Campano-Maastrichtian reservoir, according to APA.

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