Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 17, Suriname’s state-owned Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname NV announced that the Sloanea-1 well in offshore Block 52 has been declared a commercial natural gas discovery. The company said operator Petronas will next prepare a development plan that includes a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. Staatsolie stated: "With FID planned in the second half of 2026, Suriname may expect first gas to flow in 2030".

Suriname's state-owned Staatsolie declared the Sloanea-1 well in the offshore Block 52 a commercial gas discovery and said operator Petronas would now submit a development plan that includes an LNG facility.

Sloanea-1 is Petronas’ first hydrocarbon discovery in Suriname. The company announced the find on December 11, 2020, after drilling to a depth of 4,780 meters using the Maersk Developer rig. The partners originally considered the discovery “commercially unattractive”, but they agreed to drill an appraisal well and negotiate a “gas addendum” to outline terms for evaluating development options, according to Staatsolie’s March 4, 2024 announcement.

Staatsolie said: "In accordance with the PSC, Staatsolie and Petronas Suriname evaluated monetization options for this gas discovery, resulting in a gas addendum to the PSC". It added that in 2024, Petronas drilled the Sloanea-2 appraisal well to evaluate the reservoir’s lateral extent and conduct well testing, confirming gas in place and recoverable volumes. On November 11, 2025, Staatsolie approved delineation of the commercial field, marking the “declaration of commerciality”. The chosen development plan includes gas development wells, subsea infrastructure, and a floating LNG facility, described by Staatsolie as a first for the region.

Petronas said separately that the declaration represents "Suriname’s first gas development milestone in its expanding deepwater energy landscape". Petronas has made two additional discoveries in Block 52: Roystonea-1 in 2023 and Fusaea-1 and Sloanea-2 in 2024. Block 52 covers over 4,700 square kilometers north of Paramaribo. Exxon Mobil exited the block last year by selling its 50 percent stake to Petronas. Petronas now operates the block with an 80 percent share, while Staatsolie’s subsidiary Paradise Oil Co NV holds 20 percent.

Petronas recently signed two new PSCs in Suriname. It obtained operatorship of Block 9 with a 30 percent interest through Petronas Suriname E&P BV. Chevron holds 20 percent, QatarEnergy owns 20 percent, and POC holds 30 percent. Chevron operates Block 10 with a 30 percent share, while Petronas and QatarEnergy each hold 30 percent and POC 10 percent. The blocks lie in shallow waters about 50 kilometers from the Saramacca coast, with water depths up to 50 meters.

Staatsolie said the initial exploration phase will last three years and will focus on acquiring and processing 3D seismic data. Petronas noted that it now holds stakes in eight offshore Suriname blocks, describing Blocks 9 and 10 as significant additions within the Suriname-Guyana Basin. Petronas also signed a PSC for Block 66 earlier this year, which covers about 3,390 square kilometers near Block 52. The company said the PSC includes a commitment to drill two exploration wells and aims to advance resource potential linked to its existing operations.