Durrant Pate/Contributor

Texas-based oil and gas geotechnical researcher TDI-Brooks has entered into a memorandum of understanding with United Oil and Gas to provide its survey vessel, Gyre, for a geotechnical and surface geochemical programme off the coast of Jamaica.

Gyre will conduct a piston coring and surface geochemical exploration (SGE) survey within the Walton Morant license, gathering 40-60 seabed cores from the Walton and Morant Basins for which United Oil and Gas has a licence to prospect for oil and gas. The vessel will also be providing bathymetric, multibeam echosounder, and heat-flow surveys.

TDI-Brooks, which is a 29-year-old company specialising in, among other things, geotechnical and offshore survey projects, multi-disciplinary oceanographic and environmental projects, plans to deploy Gyre later this quarter for the undertaking in Jamaica. Field operations are expected to continue for a duration of two to three weeks, with completion projected within a brief operational timeframe and initial analytical results anticipated between late in the fourth quarter of 2025 and early in the first quarter of 2026.

The data to be collected during the SGE survey will be analysed for geochemical and thermal signatures to confirm the presence of thermogenic hydrocarbons, assess source rock maturity, and refine basin modelling. Following formal contract execution, which is expected to take place shortly, TDI-Brooks will mobilise the vessel later this quarter.

The vessel is currently heading to Trinidad for a project in which TDI-Brooks was awarded to carry out geotechnical surveys. United Oil & Gas holds a 100% equity in the Jamaican oil and gas prospect license and has been working with the Jamaican government to secure permits for exploration activities. Recently, they have obtained key permits to begin collecting seabed samples to test for the presence of oil and gas. 

Key details about the exploration

The exploration is focused on the Walton Morant license area, which covers a significant portion of the seabed south of Jamaica. United Oil and Gas has a production sharing agreement with the Jamaican government for exclusive exploration rights.