The well was spudded second half April 2020. Should be closer to TD, logging, testing by this time.
Well coordinates(drillship Noble Sam Croft):
7.46573 N / 56.12068 W.
Objectives: Upper Cretaceous fans.
Similar to the 2 previous substantial discoveries Maka Central #1 and Sapakara West-1.
Chasing hydrocarbons in multiple stacked targets in the Upper Cretaceous, Campanian and Santonian intervals.
My best guess ?
Discovery nr. 3, with high-value light oil and condensate; most probably, hopefully.
Why ?
Is located just in between previous 2 discoveries. With the same discovery-prone hydrocarbon habitat characteristics. Mature/late mature kitchen still active, light oil and condensate. Multiple good reservoir sands and top seals.
On trend and represents the eastern part of the Liza-Sapakara discovery trend ( “ Guiana-Suriname Golden Lane “).
Sapakara West-1 results ?
Total 79 meters (259 feet) of net oil and gas condensate pay in two intervals.
Equals ??? million bbls reserves ?
The shallower Campanian interval contains 13 meters (43 feet) of net gas condensate and 30 meters (98 feet) of net oil pay, with API oil gravities between 35 and 40 degrees.
The deeper Santonian interval contains 36 meters (118 feet) of net oil-bearing reservoir with API oil gravities between 40 and 45 degrees.
Tertiary reservoirs, in general ?
May contain heavy, biodegradated, low commercial oil.
Similar to the Tullow discoveries in 2019 in Guyana.
Paleocene-Oligocene deep marine sandstone reservoirs.
Jethro-1 well, Orinduik block, 55m net heavy oil pay in good Lower Tertiary reservoir sands.
Joe-1 well,TD at 2175 m, 14 m net pay in Upper Tertiary, heavier oil than Jethro-1 and with high sulphur content.
This as the reservoirs received the oil while at rather shallow depth (wrong timing). At some 800 – 2500 m depth, thus within biodegradation range.
Before being buried deeper, to their present depth. Related with the thick Late Miocene (especially Tortonian) interval deposited on top of them.
The Tortonian – Recent sediments sediment wedge if very thick. It coincides and is due to an important uplift and erosion cycle of the Roraima Province.
Shelf-edge wells may all present this problem in the Tertiary interval.
Hydrocarbon generation from Canje SR in this basin started between 10 – 5 Ma and continues at present.
References:
My remarks (pre- and postdrill) on Maka Central and Sapakara discoveries, in posts 21 and 22.
Many posts on Guiana-Suriname Basin.
” Why is there Heavy Oil in Cenozoic Reservoirs Offshore Guyana ” 2020, by Halliburton, R. James, J. Schotschman and R. Head
Will most certainly be the 2nd significant petroleum (light oil & condensate) discoveryoffshore Suriname.
Rien ne va plus. Faîtes vos jeux. Somewhere beginning April 2020 we will know hopefully.
April 02, 2020:
Significant discovery, announcement by Apache / Total (http://investor.apachecorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/apache-corporation-announces-significant-oil-discovery-offshore/):
Sapakara West-1 was drilled to a depth of approximately 6,300 meters (20,700 feet), and successfully tested for the presence of hydrocarbons in multiple stacked targets in the upper Cretaceous-aged Campanian and Santonian intervals.
Preliminary fluid samples and test results indicate at least 79 meters(259 feet) of net oil and gas condensate pay (35-45 API oil gravities range) in two intervals.
The shallower Campanian interval contains 13 meters (43 feet) of net gas condensate and 30 meters (98 feet) of net oil pay, with API oil gravities between 35 and 40 degrees.
The deeper Santonian interval contains 36 meters (118 feet) of net oil-bearing reservoir with API oil gravities between 40 and 45 degrees.
Development of Maka and Sapakara discoveries ?
My prognosis is that 2 discoveries could probably be developed, such as with a high capacity FPSO and a production of some 150,000 b/d.
If also Kwaskwasi results to be a similar, significant discovery (what I expect) ? These 3 could be connected to just one FPSO with a production of some 225,000 b/d. Somewhere in 2027.
Why?
Simple.
Block 58 is part of the east side of, what I call and name the “ Golden Lane of Guiana-Suriname Basin “.
Sapakara West 1 Location map:
Sapakara West 1
Block 58 and bordering area presents a very similar
hydrocarbon habitat, with strong discovery-prone fundamentals, just as the previous major/giant Guyana discoveries.
ExxonMobil reserves 3/2020
Critical geological exploration & discovery success factors, in my humble opinion, till now are:
1) Fan systems in the “ deeper, third “ terrace or Cretaceous (deep) offshore area.
North of Cretaceous continental / basin margin.
Lisa giant discovery ?
Well-developed basin floor fan deposystem. Maastrichtian in age, Late Cretaceous.
2) Located above and/or close to the prolific mature/late mature Canje source rock kitchen.
With short and minimal migration problems.
Liza and habitat of other giant fields in GSB -Basinfloor fans in “ Upper Cretaceous offshore area “; Reference eco.com, sept. 2018
Canje source rock is similar and time-equivalent (” family “) to famous Venezuelan, La Luna & Querecual source rocks.
Note on the seismic section that the thickness of the Cenomanian source rock is not constant. But varies considerably, consequently also with strong variability in the amount of source rock available for petroleum generation.
The latters have generated some 300 billion barrels of proven reserves.
Some 100 billion bbls in Maracaibo Basin, some 200 billion in Orinoco Heavy Oil Belt (Ref. e.g. my own publications on these, also on this website).
3) Application of ExxonMobil proprietary full wave seismic inversion technology. Permitted discovery of 5 largest fields (Tilapia, Haimara, Yellowtail, Tripletail, Mako). Raised success rate to 90% in offshore Guyana.
My own geo-mindbreakers, have never seen any published data (yet) on this ?
a) How many billion barrels of petroleum were generated in Guiana-Suriname Basin, (just) from Canje source rock ?
…Major oil and gas generation from kerogen occurs between 120 and 150°C in the subsurface…
…gas generation continues to temperatures ⪢ 160°C…
b) How many km2 area does Canje cover?
c) How thick is Canje source rock (on average) ?
d) How much TOC content, on average ?
d) What is the volume in km3 of Canje source rocks ?
e) What is the total generation potential of 1 m3 Canje source rock, based on geochemical lab results ?
…> 5 kgt−1 of rock and average organic carbon contents > 1.5% expel 60–90% of the total oil generated.
f) What is the generation potential during the successive maturation stages (early, middle, late stages).
FYI:
The richness calculated to be between 9 – 41 MMboe/km 2, for similar La Luna / Villeta S.R..
For example, in Norean-1 well, La Luna is 546 m thick with an average TOC value of 3.14 wt%; the Hydrogen Index (HI) is close to 302 mgHC/gTOC, and the S2 ranges from 5 to 27 mg/gRock
HC Generated La Luna SR
Ref. A Regional Overview of the La Luna Formation and the Villeta Group as Shale Gas/Shale Oil in the Catatumbo, Magdalena Valley and Eastern Cordillera Regions, Colombia* Ricardo Veiga1 and Francisco Dzelalija1
Search and Discovery Article #10565 (2014) Posted January 20, 2014
*Adapted from extended abstract prepared for oral presentation at AAPG International Conference & Exhibition, Cartagena, Colombia, September 8-11, 2013).
g) Where are the different area maps of the successive maturity phases ?
h) Reason?
We (dr. Suhas Talukdar, former colleague and myself) did this same important and indispensable excercise for Maracaibo Basin, in 1984. As part of ” Generation and migration of hydrocarbons in the Maracaibo basin, Venezuela: An integrated basin study “. Under stewardship of prof. dr. John M. Hunt and prof. dr. Parke Dickey.
i) Etc. etc.etc., enough for a whole congress on source rocks…to get an idea on how much to expect…
3) deep basin floor fans are rather flat lying/low dip, with efficiënt top and side seals. Have a very wide areal extent with the largest reservoir / giant field potential.
Some references:
1) Previous posts on GS basin on my website
2) GeoArt post: painting, my own prognosis in 2008 on Discovery Play types (already long before Guiana-Suriname Golden Lane discovery):
Liza giant discovery, basinfloor and related fan systems.
Presented at successful Art exposition april 2010 at Consulate of Venezuela, Paramaribo, Suriname.
This painting has been solicited and elected for the frontpage of the book titled “ Guyana’s Oil Odyssey, 1750-2019 “ published by the University of Guyana.
3) M.Sc. thesis (2009) on “ Deep Water Turbidites and Fan Systems in Guiana-Suriname Basin – Future Hydrocarbon Potential “.
Based on offshore seismic, wells, field analogs, experimental lab results & insights obtained at University Utrecht, company reports etc.
Thesis including Block 58 and surrounding area.
By one of my Dutch students, I designed the project and was his thesis steward and supervisor.
4) Offshore Suriname, A New Outlook.
Based on my own re-evaluation.
Play fairways, play types, prospective zones, leads, prospects, source rocks and kitchens, areas available for IOC licensing.
Presented dec. 2009, Trinidad, Port of Spain, Caribbean Energy Conference.
3 Multiple Prospects and Play Types Offshore Guyana – Exploration; Hess.com, 2019
4 Corentyne Offshore PPL – Composite Dip Line and Depositional Model – Fig. 4-6; cgxenergy.com
5 Guyana-Suriname Basin discoveries vs. CO2; 2019
6 Suriname Offshore Play and Licenses Maps; Ref. opportunities.staatsolie.com, 2019
7 Guyana-Suriname Basin – Continental Margin and Deep Basins – 3D Cartoon of possible processes; Taken and adapted from Fig. 13 of M. Rebecca et al, 2014
Giant fields are located on the lowermost “ Terrace “. So far 10/19.
Area of Upper Cretaceous rather flat-lying seafloor fans & associated sediments.
Located straight above the mature Canje source rocks kitchen. Where apparently the petroleum system works optimal.
Updip slope fans and fans/reservoirs in Tertiary involve a higher risk as far as migration, side and top seals is concerned.
Extending this cartoon, eastwards towards Sranankondre onshore 1 billion OOIP Tambaredjo field (1964).
A most simple Tambaredjo Exploration Quiz:
Oil from same Liza kitchen ?
Thus some 20 billion bbls needed to make a 1 billion bbls field at 150 km away:
Olympic Gold Medal Subsurface Longdistance Walking & Hurdling.
But?
Why not take it easy, why walk so far, zig-zagging, hurdling, sneaking around, escaping etc. If you have plenty of complacent reservoirs nearby?
By the way, where are the other 18 billion bbls that initially accompanied me when expelled out of the kitchen, while traveling and venturing off the beaten paths towards Tambaredjo high ??
Sure, in-between, no doubt, totally agree.
Prize: A billion bbls field ?
Faîtes vous jeux. Rien ne va plus.
Source, picture, Tullow Oil, Internet.
Orinduik-Kanuku Prospect Map-Tullow-2019
Carapa-1 to be drilled: Reference, LI, Javed Razack, 20/10/19:
Rowan/Valaris EXL II jackup rig. Will drill 1 well, Carapa-1, for Repsol, Kanuku Block.
Carapa prospect is a 200-million-barrel Cretaceous target located in 70m of water.
The Kanuku block is almost 2000 sq km and operated by Repsol with a 37.5% stake. The partners are Tullow (37.5%) and Total (25%). With Tullow having back to back discoveries in 2019, it is certain that as a partner, Tullow will share their learnings, increasing the well’s chance of success.
Repsol has already hinted at 2 more exploration wells in 2020.
Jethro 1-Lobe discovery, 2019.
Clean Lower Tertiary amalgamated sandstone, 55 m. net, excellent reservoir. Clear seismic definition. Potential to be a standalone commercial discovery. Evaluating requirements for an appraisal well.
Well cost some $ 45 m.
Ref. Eco Atlantic, Colin Kinley, COO, 24-10-19.
Jethro, recent analysis (13/11/19) has shown that heavy oil was encountered.
Joe-1 discovery, 2019.
Well cost $21 m.
Proven reservoir, 16 m. net, and oil charge in Upper Tertiary sands.
Joe, recent analysis (13/11/19) has shown that heavy oil was encountered.
Jethro-1 and Joe-1 are mobile heavy crudes. Similar to the commercial heavy crudes (North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Campos Basin, Venezuela and Angola) with high sulphur content.
Jethro-1 discovery has the advantage of 8,500 PSI reservoir (2,600 PSI Overpressure), which increases drive efficiency; high reservoir temperature of 94 degrees Celsius; and an estimated flowing well head temperature of 90 degrees.
Both increases oil mobility and provides an advantage at the floating production facility. Ref. Energypedia, 13/11/19
Tullow shares tumble after warning on Guyana projects.
Encouragement for other Upper Tertiary prospects in Orinduik.
Such as Jimmy (2020?). Situated in same charged sands. 3D processing and interpretation ongoing to correlate with the 2 discoveries.
Eco Atlantic, 3/11/19, Exploration, discoveries, influence on share price;Twitter: Increasesto discovered resource at Hammerhead and Jethro
Hammerhead is a major discovery made by Exxon/Hess on the Stabroek Block, which extends onto the Orinduik Block. Eco believes ~10% of Hammerhead could lie on its block and Hammerhead could be 400-800mmboe gross. Eco’s last CPR (prior to the appraisal wells) only gave credit for 2mmboe net to Eco and we have increased this to 9mmboe based on 600mmboe gross, with 10% on the Orinduik block following the positive appraisal results reported by Hess/Exxon. This gives a risked value of 12p/sh or 19p/sh unrisked. On Jethro, we are upping the estimated recoverable resource estimate to 250mmboe from 215mmboe to reflect the results exceeding the partners’ pre-drill expectations. This gives a risked value of 46p/sh or 81p/sh unrisked. The pre-drill estimate for Jethro was 215mmboe in the CPR on a P50 basis or 340mmbbl on a P10 basis. In the P10 case, using an NPV of US$5/bbl, the discovery is worth >US$250mm net to Eco on an unrisked basis.
New Tertiary exploration prospects, derisked by Jethro and Joe
Some 80-20 km east of Turbot, Pluma, Haimara discoveries.
Maka prospect, spudded 24-9-2019 with Noble Sam Croft drillship.
Possibly up to 3 wells.
Most fortunate?
Sitting right on top of a red, late mature, now condensate cooking and expelling Canje source rock late Neogene kitchen…
Just put a valid basin floor fan, slope fan, shelf carbonate, whatever on op top of it?
Full to spil? Spilling over ??
Maka Central 1; Sapakara West 1 ?
Haute Sranankondre Condensate Cuisine ?
” Michelin Subsurface 4-Stars “ ?
Alias “ The Kitchen of Mrs. Liza – Maka “?
Top of the world…?
About january 2020 we will know. Success or failure ?
Status at 21-12-2019?
A significant discovery.
Most probably not a giant discovery.
Not the full extension of the “ Liza Golden Lane “?
My best guess at this stage. Not found wat was hoped and expected ? Two intervals “ tested “ and cased of. Commercial amounts ? Some 200-300 million bbls? Decided to drill deeper for a Lower Cretaceous ? interval. Why? To find more reserves to make it commercial and make it fly ?
Kankantrie was de grootste prospect met een mogelijkheid van 800 miljoen barrels, wel met een laag slagingspercentage van 10 procent.
Wij zaten op 2000 meter van de 2900 meter (TD), dan is iedereen enthousiast en dat enthousiasme is overgebracht.
Nu blijkt echter dat de boorput Kankantrie helemaal niets heeft opgeleverd. Ref. http://dwtonline.com/laatste-nieuws/2019/09/17/informatie-over-kankantrie-oliebron-geen-fake-nieuws/.
Is Suriname Block 58 upper half, the extension of the proven petroleum system, habitat and setting of the “ Guiana Golden Lane“ ??
The sediments were to a lesser extent sourced through the Berbice canyon, probably. But by paleo-canyons along the Suriname continental shelf and margin (e.g. Corantijn Incised Valley, Saramacca -, Suriname river valley etc.).
A wildcat exploration by Apache is currently 10/19 underway in Suriname. Prior to this only 14 wells have been drilled in the Guyana-Suriname basin beyond water depths greater than 20 meters.
Ref.
Hess Investor Information_16/10/2019_@$ 65.23 share_price and Etc. etc. etc. on Internet.
Guyana_Prospects_Playtypes_Hess_2018
4) Corentyne Offshore PPL – Composite Dip Line and Depositional Model – Fig. 4-6 – cgxenergy.com
Just southwest of #Haimara 1 discovery & just west of #Block 58_#Apache_#Suriname: Eagle 1 well, 2012, oil & gas shows. P&A.
Probably no efficient top & side seals. The Turonian, primary prospect, is divided into two units, separated by a flooding surface that acts as an internal seal.
These sand rich amalgamated sea floor fans are sourced from the Corentyne incised valley, and lie directly on top of Cenomanian source beds. The target reservoir package pinches out both laterally and up dip via a stratigraphic or facies pinch out.
Turonian sands were penetrated by the North Coronie #1 well in offshore Suriname. Directly above the regional anoxic source rock, the Lower Cenomanian Canje formation.
Equivalent/contemporaneous of Villeta-La Luna-Querecual-Naparima Hill anoxic source rocks (10-15 m.y., Cenomanian-Coniacian). Deposited along the whole northern South American passive continent margin during Upper Cretaceous.
Sure, most interesting “ Sea-Level Rise Symposium, 4/10/2019).
Who cares anyway ? Shareholders? Stakeholders?
Any Guiana-Suriname Basin Greenpeace activist around or signaled on the horizon ? Not yet Mrs. Greta Thunberg to defend Mother Earth ?
CO2, Newsweek, By Ewan Palmer,
“ SHELL CEO says it’s entirely legitimate to invest in oil and gas after being named among 20 firms behind third of all carbon Emissions.
The company was ranked seventh out of the state and investor-owned firms who helped contribute to 480billion tonnes (= 480 000 billion kilogram) of carbon dioxide equivalent in the modern era.
Van Beurden said. A bigger risk is prematurely turning your back on oil and gas.
Speaking to Reuters he was dismissing what he described as the “demonization” and “unjustified” concerns about the energy company’s future business model “.
Thus, entirely legitimate…
Turn your head with your iconic Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses on and the Noise Cancelling Headphones, Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic.
Full throttle?
Autostrada del Sole near Alassio, in a lovely sunroof V6 C350.
ExxonMobil Discoveries @ 10/19; = 1585 billion kg CO2 @ 2019; Co2 generated through time by Shell’s produced and burned petroleum up to 2019: 480 000 billion kilogram. Thus 303 x amount that Guiana petroleum reserves 2019 will generate in CO2.
6) Suriname Offshore Play Map – Ref. opportunities.staatsolie.com, 2019
7) Guyana-Suriname Basin – Continental Margin and Deep Basins – Cartoon of possible processes; Taken and adapted from Fig. 13 of M. Rebecca et al, 2014
Is this more or less how it really was in Guiana-Suriname Basin ?
Since Upper Cretaceous to Recent.
As unveiled in present day offshore basins on different continents.
Sure, for the sake of simplicity.
Not even taken into account the large amount of fine-grained sediments in G-S basin, first since 10 Ma, provenant from Amazon river.
Increasing drastically since 4.5 Ma. Amazon River and the continental-scale Amazon drainage basin were assembled during the late Miocene and Pliocene.
The Surinam coast is part of the extensive tropical mud coast between the Amazon River and the Orinoco River. Classified as a low to medium energy coast.
A substantially longshore supply of mud originates from the Amazon River. The fine grained sediment (pelite) is transported in suspension and also deposited in the deeper parts of Guiana-Suriname Basin.
A little bit different though?
From the nostalgic or fairy tale-like character multi-colored geo-cartoons.
Locally carbonates and shallow marine carbonate platforms are found in offshore Guiana-Suriname . Such as Albian and Tertiary shelf and reefal carbonates.
At least one offshore well drilled into and encountered carbonates.
Ref.
Hess (HES) Investor Presentation – Slideshow – Dec. 12, 2018 and Internet publications.
Walker prospect_Hess_Suriname
11) Kitchen map Canje Formation source rock in Guyana-Suriname Basin – Fig. 4; Ref. Halliburton, 2019
Geology students 1969 and staff of Leiden. My study buddies. Southern England stratigraphy excursion.
Geologists 1969 Leiden
This post in view of our 50-Years-Anniversary on September 07, 2019 in Schokland, Holland. Many of us have not seen each other for decades. Especially for this gathering various are traveling from distant places as Australia, Bulgaria and France.
Previous to this event we all unveil our own half century story, time for an update.
Leidse Universiteit, Faculteit Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen – Subfaculteit der Geologie en Geofysica.
Geologisch en Mineralogisch Instituut (nu ” ‘t Kruitschip ” appartementen genaamd), Garenmarkt 1B, Leiden, studiejaar 1969 (alias Sixty Nine’ers).
Geologisch Instituut Leiden, Garenmarkt 1B. Hoofdingang met daarboven op de 1ste etage de werkkamer van Marcel, Ray, Wilbert, Arie en Andre. Daarboven de suite van prof.dr. E. den Tex.
Geologisch Instituut Leiden, Garenmarkt 1B. Deze bronsen plaquette is geplaatst door de Leidsche Geologische Vereniging, LGV. Betaald met de donatie & legaat van jaargenoot en tevens mijn trouwe makker en karteer buddy in Cremenés, Cantabrië, Spanje. En Bernkastel-Kues, Eiffel, Duitsland: Willem Vreeburg, R.I.P. 2017.
La Bella Italia, La Dolce Vita
Zes maanden doctoraal veldwerk in Italië, Piemonte, Cottische Alpen, met mijn Citroen 2CV besteleend, trouwe buddy sinds mijn 1ste studiejaar.
Bivakkerend op 2020 m. naast het iconisch berghotel Rifugio Bergeria Selleries. Situato nella conca dell’Alpe nel cuore del Parco Naturale Orsiera Rocciavrè. Met Wilbert en zijn vrouw Josely, gr8 nostalgic times.
Idyllische kampeerplek en geologisch bijzonder interessant studiegebied. Eerst onderdeel van de Ligurische oceaan in het Jura, long ago. Vervolgens high-pressure gedoken onder de Apulische plaat. Daarna gelukkig weer de kop opgestoken. Obducted-educted als dekblad naar zijn huidige de plek. Hunkerend om bestudeerd te worden voor de Leidse Dora Maïra boys.
Vloeiend Italiaans geleerd, certamente, la piu bella lingua nel mondo. Lasting vriendschap gesmeed met Marisa en Silvana van Selleries. Silvana’s zoon is nu asistent professor in Groningen. Gli amici italiane da sempre, adesso anche in Olanda.
In het nabije gebied karteerden ook trouwe makkers André, Arie en Ray.
Boudinage in Triassic marbles. Cottian Alps, Piemonte, Italy. Excursion June 1973, with prof. dr. Giorgio dal Piaz, Università Torino and prof. dr. Emile den Tex, Leiden. Vlnr. Arie Schaap, André van der Meulen, Marcel Chin-A-Lien, Wilbert Hocks.
Enerverende dolce vita nella bella Italia. Certamente, caríssimi amici, ciao a tutti. Pasta, pizza, vino.
Remembering also the leisure escapes to the Italian Riviera and Monaco.
Wilbert & Josely, you will certainly recall. Barolo, Barbera, Lacrima Cristi wines, you were on honeymoon.
Closing with a round trip, a cultural discovery voyage of northern Italy after fieldwork.
Rifugio Bergeria Selleries, Fenestrelle, Piemonte, Italia – http://www.rifugioselleries.it
Moving to Venezuela, 1977-1989
Na afstuderen meteen gerold in een interesante baan bij de Geologische Dienst van Venezuela. Goud exploratie in het Precambrisch Schild. Most interesting, wow, hier had ik immers voor gestudeerd.
This decade coincided with the golden oil boom of Venezuela, with Caracas as La Sucursal del Cielo. Similar to the prevailing ambience in A moveable feast in Paris, from Ernest Hemingway, pura fiesta y parrandas.
In 1980 gestapt in de olie, petroleum exploratie en productie in Petróleos de Venezuela met veelbelovende lange termijn carrière perspectieven.
Een klassiek traject doorlopen, bottoms-up, hands-on across the ranks. Beginnend in iconic Maracaibo basin met E&P field operations, veldwerk, putten boren, olievelden zoeken en ontdekken. Doorstromend naar Research & Development instituut Intevep en hoofdkantoor.
Venezuela, La Sucursal del Cielo
A gifted place, most studied in tedious geology textbooks in Leiden now in my hands and at my footsteps, amazing.
Amazing and gifted indubitably? 6 Miss world, 7 miss universe titles. Precious, fashionable and elegant women, everyday, everywhere, really, unique, wow.
Geluk en succes gehad by contributing to the discovery van 2 giant oil fields.
6 Miljard vaten olie, a whole lot of oil.
More than all found in hotspot Guyana-Suriname basin, more than ever to be found in Holland. Tevens enige landmark petroleum publicaties.
Geluk en succes bovenal gehad met de giant discovery van mijn lieve, lovely en loyale echtgenote. Ontdekt en getrouwd in Caracas.
Ze is van alles voor mij. Esposa, amante, amiga, confidente, moeder en ook kunstschilderes, all-in-1.
Zoonlief heeft gelukkige spaanssprekende kinderjaartjes doorgebracht in Caracas. Vervolgens in NL, altijd blijmoedig en de fortuinlijke winnaar van de Faas Wilkes award als talentvolle voetbal jeugdspeler. Heeft op Universiteit Leiden gestudeerd.
Zoon, Venetië 2018
De Caracazo, een golf rellen, schietpartijen en bloedbaden in Caracas in februari 1989, was mijn duidelijke alarmbel dat het laatste rondtje was begonnen.
Carajo, time to move on diligently, se termino la fiesta.
Zie 30 jaar later.
De suïcidale afgrond waarin Venezuela zich eigenhandig gestort heeft door corrupte en ontspoorde machtspotentaten. From riches to rags. An emaciated dystopia.
Result ?
Precies als in Cronica de una muerte anunciada, thriller van Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Mijn lievelingschrijver sinds bewoner van Huize Maupertuus, gelegen schuin tegenover het vroegere huis van dichter Piet Paaltjens in Leiden.
Nieuwjaar 1990 Den Haag binnengerold met een pracht baan als chief geologist bij een Amerikaanse oliemaatschappij. Hunt Dynasty familiebedrijf uit Dallas, van biljonairs Herbert, Bunker en zusters.
Petroleum zoeken, produceren, dus make money met technische en business-commercial development expertise, de hele cocktail.
Outperforming major competitors in Dutch North Sea, with hugh gas discoveries in this super mature basin as with iconic G17, the only major stratigraphic trap.
Straightforward, korte, snelle beslissingslijnen.
De afleveringen van Dallas tv soapserie met hoofdrolspeler J.R., gebaseerd op hun olie saga weleens gezien ?
Gelukkig had ik een breed scala aan verantwoordelijkheden met veel autonomie.
Geology & Geophysics offshore taken. Met business-commercial development, merger, acquisitions, new ventures. Zoals in Hongarije, California, Moskou en Siberië tijdens Gorbachov time. Never a quiet or dull moment.
” Upgrade to an allround expert, Herbert informed me “, gevolgd door drie jaar studie, executive business administration, petroleum management en Russisch, bovenop mijn normale werkweek. Dus weer 2 M.Sc. bullen gehaald, nu op mijn 51ste, continual development of knowledge, competencies and skills.
Exciting time with many tales along the road. With the Hunt’s to Moscou and Siberië. Hunting for business in times of communism.
Anecdotes, beginning in Dallas in their impressive oak boardroom with mahogany oval table and leather chairs in their Thanksgiving Tower skyscraper. And during lunches in elite Dallas Petroleum Club.
Then when Herbert whispered, with a malicious eyewink, “ Indeed, you made sure we get the big bang for our invested bucks “. While toasting Russian style with bottles of wodka at breakfast. Sealing the deal with the board of Tomsk Neft, in Strezhevoy, in the middle of Dostoyevsky’s Siberia.
Hunt Dynasty: Herbert, Bunker, Lamar and sisters, owners of Placid Oil.
Consultant sinds 2005
Simultaan pensioen en consultancy binnengestapt na 3 decennia iedere dag hard bikkelen. Niet voorgoed de ballen ermee, geen geraniums of zwarte gaten bestuderen, nog niet.
Most happy and free like a bird on a wire.
Great time, alleen uitdagende, succesvol uitvoerbare projecten met een degelijk consultancy contract.
Zoals voor Repsol vanuit head office Madrid, als upstream business development manager, olievelden evalueren en kopen.
Stewardship voor het 2 miljard US$ bod op een West Afrikaans olieveld. En deelname aan een licensing round en NLG project in Nigeria.
Madrid and Spain ?
Excelente sitio, cultuur, gastronomie, mode en uitgaansleven everyday, a big city with a most exiting vibe and appealing life-style.
Tasca’s, restaurants, flamenco, corrida’s de toros, art exhibitions, Real Madrid in Bernabeu met Robben, van Nistelrooy and regularly getting kicked out at closing time in Cafe Bohemio at 04:00 a.m..
Great time.
Certainly with the company’s grand penthouse in the financial district and accompanying executive business credit card, wow, good to have one.
De Madrid para el Cielo.
Suriname, Staatsolie
Heel offshore onderzocht, gepromoot, petroleum contracten opgesteld en onderhandeld met international oil companies. Dit jaar de 1ste grote offshore discovery met de Maka Central 1 put in blok 58. Wow, de oil boom is begonnen in Suriname.
Bijdrage mogen leveren aan het bepalen van de Extended Continental Shelf grens. Maximum extension possible obtained, from the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, in N.Y..
Staatsrechtelijk uiterst belangrijk historisch moment. Nu zijn al de landsgrenzen immers definitief vastgesteld. Privileged that I could serve Sranankondre, geboorteland van mijn ouders.
Vruchtbare tijd op het werk en als mentor, afstudeercommissie lid van mijn thesis studenten op de universiteit, zelf ook veel geleerd.
Daarnaast chillen, all the time.
Met de talloze vrienden en familieleden van mijn ouders’ kant. Etentje hier, uitstapje daar, feestje hier, toevallig daar.
Super great to have loving, supportive family around. Also Maria painting at Nola Hatterman Art Academy, preparing her exposition Tribute to Suriname and all chilling in Torarica country club.
Ook iedere maand een weekend naar geboorte-eiland Curacao.
Salseros por fin ?
Oiga mi gente, ahora somos salseros. Porque sin salsa no hay paraíso, si señor.
Twee jaar intensieve wekelijkse lessen gevolgd, de salsa & bachata cursussen bij 4 dance academies. Workshops, oefenen, up to 8 hours weekly.
Fun?
Damned hard and tedious work for old-timers, in Friolandia, Curaçao en Colombia, meestal met jongeren.
Now graduated salseros. With lots of shines, smiles and moves at dance parties everywhere. To keep on moving with the thrill of fun.
A bailar se dijo, a mover los pies y las caderas, wow, a gozar mi preciosa mamita.
Salsa and bachata dancing. Photoshoot for GGD, for 1000 Posters for huisartsenposten and ziekenhuizen. Our own contribution to their program called ” Ouderen in Beweging “.
Van de allereerste petroleum geoloog, in history, van dushi Curacao.
You were great study buddies, enjoyed your company, very grateful for that.
Especially Wilbert, André, Jan Willem, trouwe brothers-in crime.
Last but not least, Ray en Willem, both in Heaven.
Mont Genèvre, France. On the photo, left to right, Arie Schaap, Andre van der Meulen, Marcel Chin-A-Lien, Ray Bergval (R.I.P.). Wilbert Hocks not on the pic as he took it. Taking selfies was not yet invented. drs. Henk Koning not on this pic, still climbing to reach the top.
Further
In winter when things get rough in Fríolandia ?
Liggend onder een wuivende palmboom, in mijn favoriete Pirate Bay Curacao Beach Club, met een Cuba libre longdrink in mijn hand, swingende salsa en sensuele bachata muziek met graciously moving ladies all around.
Zwemmend in de azuurblauwe heldere zee en denkend aan Holland ?
“ …zie ik breede rivieren, traag door oneindig, laagland gaan, rijen ondenkbaar ijle populieren, als hooge pluimen, aan den einder staan, en in de geweldige ruimte verzonken, de boerderijen, verspreid door het land…”
Curaçao
” Flashback 50 Years Search of Wisdom & Happiness ”
Life’s been good to me and to us.
Love lots of people. Lots of people love us.
Love is all you need.
We luv you All,
dearest family, mom at 102 years super luminous as ever, cooking daily for us and kicking around, dad & Armand R.I.P., many friends, family all around the world.
Guyana – Orinduik, prospectsGuyana Offshore – Discovery nr. 13 – Total reserves now 5.5 billion recoverableGuyana – Discoveries – Net Sand
How much money could (would) Guyana get from its Orinduik Profit Share ? Based on 2.9 billion BOE (Gross P50) reserves.
From “Rags to Riches”, “a nation that did not expect to win the lotto”, “soon to be the richest corner of South America”.
Petroleum Agreement signed 14th Jan. 2016
One year after Liza giant discovery, May 2015
And 5 months before 27th June, 2016:
When ExxonMobil’s original contract (June 14, 1999) was re-negotiated (though, just few items, such as 2% Royalty instead of 0 %)
Royalty is only 1 %, and, in addition…is included in the profit share of the Government (Article 15.6):
wowww…how beautifully negotiated and also obtained…by the IOC…Two-in-one, for one price. What a bargain.
Monthly Profit Oil Share, with increasing production from 50% – up to 60 % (Article 11.4)
2.9 billion BOE (Gross P50) reserves
This Contract is ” similar ” in many aspects to the ExxonMobil contract.
The royalty is even lower (1% vs. 2%).
Company Total exercises option to acquire 25% Working Interest in the Orinduik Block, offshore Guyana, from Eco Atlantic (Guyana) Inc. (13 September 2018).
WI’s in the Orinduik License will now be as follows:
Tullow 60% (Operator); Total 25%; Eco Guyana 15%
Question ?
Did Guyana seize this opportunity to negotiate a better, upgraded, ” proven basin ” profit share formula ?
(inserted: Guyana accepted Total’s farm-in end october 2018. Did they upgrade their profit share to proven basin level ???).
Covering at least the intended Total 25% WI farm-in portion.
That still has to be officially accepted and approved by Guyana ?
FYI, my opinion:
Orinduik PA presents similar crucial pitfalls, loopholes and omissions as the ExxonMobil PA.
Analyzed and indicated in various of my blogs and on Linkedin
How much money could (would) Guyana get from its Orinduik Profit Share ?
Based on published Gross P50 reserve numbers
Make your own fiscal – economic runs
If adapted, upgraded to ” Proven Basin PA Clauses “.
Thus, increased profit share formula and royalty (e.g. 6 %)?
How many billions US$ extra in entitlement and profit share ?
With 2.9 billion BOE:
1% Royalty = X bbls/US$
6% Royalty = 6X bbls/US$
How many billion US$ does this represent ?
XX or YYY billion US$
Just calculate yourself.
How many (2 digits? 3 digits??) billions US$ you have won / lost….with this deal…
Faîtes vos jeux
Disclaimer
These are solely my own personal musings
To Whom may be interested
To Whom it might be of fair and constructive use
As an independent petroleum advisor.
Also see 9 Guyana contracts on https://www.resourcecontracts.org/search?q=&country%5B%5D=GYr
Orinduik License Possible ReservesOrinduik Petroleum AgreementProfit ShareRoyalty
Official start of the “ Oil Curse in Guyana “:
March 04, 2015 ??
Why ??
Guyana: Oil Blocks awarded to four companies with no financial wherewithal (6/19):
Day before the 2015 General and Regional Elections, former President, Donald Ramotar acted in a manner that was contrary to this international best practice.
Ramotar signed away the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks, which total over 4.8 million acres, to four companies which have no track record of exploring for oil prior to 2015.
CANJE BLOCK OPERATORS
The two companies, which President Ramotar signed away the Canje Block to are Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas and JHI Associates Inc. The block was awarded to the companies on March 4, 2015. This was roughly two months before the May 11, 2015 elections were held.
“The point remains that the companies, JHI and Mid-Atlantic, do not have a track record for exploration anywhere in the world since its incorporation,” the officials added.
THE KAIETEUR BLOCK
President Ramotar awarded the Kaieteur Block to Ratio Energy Limited and Ratio Guyana on April 28, 2015. Both companies are registered at the same offices in Prashad Nagar and Gibraltar, Israel.
Ratio Guyana does not have a website but on the Kaieteur Block’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), a Ryan Pereira is signed on as the Company Secretary, Director and General Partner of the company. This company’s only asset remains the Kaieteur Block. Not a single trace of evidence can be found to prove that it has years of experience in the exploration of oil and gas. (SEE LINK FOR PSA : https://resourcecontracts.org/contract/ocds-591adf-2701587320/view#/pdf)
Venezuela, El Litoral, Galipán – J. Aponte, 1994 – Caracas
15. Geology in Art (1)
My Linkedin post 7th August 2018
Explorer?
Discover?
Geology in Art: Venezuela, El Litoral:
Picacho Galipán y Macizo del Ávila desde Caraballeda.
Oil Painting, 1994. Impressionism style.
Artist: José Aponte (born 12 Sept. 1942),
Painter La Plaza de Los Pintores, Avenida Casanova, Caracas. Premio Nacional holder.
José Aponte before becoming a very successful autodidact painter and artist was a tough boxer.
Till the moment that he was knocked out of the ring by Mócho Hernández.
That propelled him to explore for a new and different exciting passion.
He lived for some time, accompanied by his mother, in Europe, Rome. When back in Venezuela he was assigned his own artist’s corner, along one of the main avenues in Caracas.
By Mr. Diego Arria, former governor of Caracas.
He made this painting on my request ?
It shows the really stunning and impressive mountain view of the wild Caribbean Mountain Chain.
As seen from the rugged coast and Caribbean seaside.
For explorationists additionally it exhibits and permeates the even so, most interesting dynamic geological and tectonic dimension, as described in:
Simon Raven, Copywriter Travel & Tech | Co-Author Driving the Trans-Siberian
Beautiful landscape. Art and boxing. Hands that are delicate as they are fierce!
Simon,
Thanks for your sharp comment.
Yes, indeed.
That was one of the things that amazed me.
While we used to watch him painting, in the evening, in his own painter’s corner along the boulevard. That we often visited.
How is this possible?
With those same boxer’s hands, knuckles and fingers ?
To produce such beautiful pieces of art.
But.
Reason why I ventured to ask him to make this specific painting.
That certainly requires some inner boxing fury.
To express the dynamism and geotectonic fury that formed this coastal mountain range and landscape ?
Faults and transtensional, transpressional, compressional structures, mountains, the result of stresses produced during the large eastward translation of the Caribbean plate since the Paleocene…etc. etc. etc.
” Pangaea Restless ” – Painting in acryl by artist M.A. Chin-A-Lien – 2006, The Netherlands
37. Geo-Art: Pangaea Sunsets et al.
These paintings in acryl were created by my dear wife. She is a painter and artist as well, within others.
She studied at art academies in Venezuela, the Netherlands, Spain, Madrid.
Also Suriname, Paramaribo at Nola Hatterman Art Academy. With guidance of Wilgo Vijfhoven and Rinaldo Klas. Two well known, colourful local and international well-known artists, both with their own unique art style.
” Pangaea Sunset as Indulged by a Mesosaurus” – Painting in acryl by artist Mrs. M.A. Chin-A-Lien – 2006, The Netherlands
She is really fascinated by painting geological features in an expressionistic style in her creations. This inspired by the fact that we talk a lot about geology, petroleum exploration etc. etc.
” Geo-Climate Change ” – Painting in acryl by artist Mrs. M.A. Chin-A-Lien – 2008, Suriname
Guiana-Suriname Basin – Play Concept & Petroleum Habitat
36. Geo-Art: Liza in 2008. Deep Sea Fans and Canyon Heads
Deep sea fans and canyon head deposits on the Continental Shelf, Guiana-Suriname Basin, 2008.
This is geo-art based on petroleum exploration geosciences.
Acryl paintings made in 2008.
Eight years before giant Liza 2015 offshore discovery. She was still on the waiting list. ” In-statu-nascendi “. Patiently waiting to be magnificently drilled and discovered by ExxonMobil.
An artistic expression of already a common situation offshore Guiana-Suriname Basin.
In my geo-mind ?
I had already imagined, constructed, admired, cherished and unveiled them.
Representing the giant Berbice canyon and its head, funnelling and guiding prospective turbidites. Slope, channel complexes and deeps fans. That were supplied by their provenance area on the Guyana Shield hinterland. Debouching and deposited via mainly 3 canyons, on the continental slope and splaying further onto the abyssal plain deep offshore.
From Lower Cretaceous times onwards.
Much later to become very popular leads, prospects and eventually giant petroleum fields, in 2015. In the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments. Sparking the ongoing Black Gold Rush.
These paintings were hanging on the walls of my office in Staatsolie.
Simple.
The play concept and petroleum habitat. Beautifully painted in acrylic. Impressionism, Vincent Van Gogh style ?
Already in 2008.
Pre-discovery time ?
” Petroleum is first found in the mind of the explorer “.
Of
Liza…and 12 others, at April 2019, already 5.5+ billion bbls recoverable reserves,
some 15 remaining propects just in Stabroek License,
Orinduik, much more to come.
Also in nearby licenses and in Suriname (Block 58).
Soon.
Liza Deepsea Fans & Canyon Head – Guiana-Suriname Basin – 2008 – Artistic interpretation and Acryl painting by Mrs. M.A. Chin-A-Lien, Paramaribo, 2008.
Why ?
I had the privilige to work on the whole Guiana-Suriname Basin for an extended time. Serving also Staatsolie, Suriname as an exploration advisor.
Part of this technical work I presented in december 2009. On offshore Guiana-Suriname Basin. A summary of the whole gamut of play types, leads and their prospectivity. In tandem herewith the newly re-defined licence blocks on offer in Suriname, then mainly open. This in line of the strategy to actively promote offshore Suriname to IOC’s. Now most fortunately most licensed. Even Demerara High area.
With.
Excellent PSC’s.
Mind you. No fuzzing and fighting. No public discussions. No uncertainties. All transparent. Black on white. Professionally. Signed.
Beforehand, of course, a most clear view and strategy. A pre-defined level playing field set. What exactly do we want. What exactly we do not want. Who do we want. Who do we not want. Like it or not. No complaints. Negotiated, give and take, no-yes-no-yes-no-Yezzz. Agreed, mutually, sure-about-it? Yes, signed, silent and go for it.
Simple.
Staatsolie, is a unique role model. For developing countries. Founded and grown up from scratch. Within others by geologist Dr. Eddie Jharap himself, the first and longstanding managing director. Please read his interesting book and biography on how he did it. Awesome.
Staatsolie now?
A grown-up and fully respected oil firm. With both technical and managerial grounded expertise in the whole value chain of oil and gas. Amazing, they did it on their own, they did it their way. Silently.
Dr. Jharap was about to finish his studies with structural geologist professor L.U. de Sitter. When I arrived as a green rookie at our mutual Alma Mater, Leiden.
My presentation was in Trinidad, Port of Spain during the Caribbean Energy Conference.
These 2 paintings were created by my dear wife. She is a painter and artist as well, within others. She studied at art academies in Venezuela, the Netherlands, Spain, Madrid. Sranankondre, Paramaribo at Nola Hatterman Art Academy, with guidance of two well known, splendid and colorful local artists, Wilgo Vijfhoven and Rinaldo Klas.
She accompanied me during the presentation. Is really fascinated by the dynamics of the canyons, turbidites and deep fans.
These paintings were made by her on my request.
First presented, during her art exhibition titled ” A Tribute to Suriname ” in April 2010. Together with other 25 paintings. In Paramaribo, Suriname. Sponsored by the Embassy and Consulate of Venezuela, that has a special cultural area and building, such as for art expositions.
I wish to share it with you, enjoy.
Liza Deepsea Fans & Canyon Head – Guiana- Suriname Basin – 2008 – Artistic interpretation and Acryl painting by Mrs. M.A. Chin-A-Lien, Paramaribo, 2008.
As an art lover, contantly stepping in and out of museums, art galleries etc. etc., wherever I go and can go. Since being a kid at high school, till now I have never seen any other oil or acryl paintings of this subject. Not even in my favourite museum in Amsterdam. Van Gogh museum. Neither in the Palazzo degli Uffizi della bella Firenze. Of course.
Though?
A few neat hand drawings (no, not computer generated) of him, Poet, paleontologist and also mining engineer. His interesting sketches and notes on geology in general are conserved today at the archive in Weimar. Mr. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Sure, sure, sure. Almost forgot him. Sorry, before quitting. The greatest genius all times. Even though he never painted or published on relativity theory, quantum mechanics and black holes.
He was not just a great painter.
He was also a brilliant geologist,
as the latest instalment of an interactive series on his drawings revealed. Rocks pile and gather and disintegrate in mountains, caves, strata and screes in his paintings. The two versions of his picture of The Virgin of the Rocks in the National Gallery’s exhibition of his art glory in two different imaginary caverns. Each with its own rich earthscape of stone perforated and sculpted by wind and water. But he did not only look at stonefrom a painter’s point of view. It was not a background feature in his eyes. It was a scientific problem.
As a geologist he anticipated the scientists of the 18th and 19th centuries who were to prove that the Earth is far older than it says in the book of Genesis. When scientific pioneers around 1800 recognised fossils for what they are, traces of ancient animal, and analysed the processes that create and erode rocks, they quickly reached a set of conclusions that led to Darwin’s theory of evolution and a crisis of Christianity. But amazingly, this self-taught researcher thought through a lot of their key discoveries. Hundreds of years earlier ?
Leonardo da Vinci
Further.
If you have seen other Liza subsurface discoveries in oil or acryl paintings ? Please let me know, a reference of the artist and/or a picture. Who knows yourself are a geo-artist as well ? Would like to see them. Many thanks in advance.
Geo-Art.
Enjoying the subsurface discoveries, also in art paintings on the wall.
Comments on Linkedin:
Simon Raven, Copywriter Travel & Tech | Co-Author Driving the Trans-Siberian