ExxonMobil and project partners Hess and Statoil have signed a production sharing contract for a block off Suriname.
Deepwater Block 59 is located about 190miles offshore Suriname’s capital city, Paramaribo.
The block shares a maritime border with Guyana, where ExxonMobil is the operator of three offshore blocks, including the world-class Liza field discovered in 2015.
The partners are now preparing to begin exploration activities, including acquisition and analysis of seismic data.
ExxonMobil, Hess and Statoil each hold a third of the interest in the block. ExxonMobil is the operator.
Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, said: “We look forward to working with Statoil and our co-venturers to evaluate the potential of this new acreage.
“Adding this block enhances our leading global deepwater portfolio.”