Durrant Pate/ Contributor

Preparations are now underway for the mobilisation of a survey vessel ahead of the UK-based United Oil & Gas 2026 planned offshore exploration programme in Jamaica, as it moved forward with basin de-risking activities on the Walton Morant Licence, located offshore Jamaica.

The AIM-traded oil and gas company said contractor TDI-Brooks International had completed its current work programme with its survey vessel, R/V Gyre, which is now undertaking pre-mobilisation preparations in Trinidad before coming to Jamaica. TDI-Brooks advised United Oil& Gas that the vessel is expected to start mobilisation in the coming week for its offshore piston coring and surface geochemical survey offshore Jamaica.

This offshore programme comprises multibeam echo sounder mapping, heat-flow measurements and the collection of seabed piston cores. The work is designed to confirm the presence of thermogenic hydrocarbons and further de-risk the Walton Morant basin, which is an offshore oil and gas exploration block located in the waters south of Jamaica, covering the Walton-Morant Basin area. 

Significant potential for hydrocarbon resources 

It is a frontier exploration zone with significant potential for hydrocarbon resources, identified through extensive seismic data. United Oil & Gas reported yesterday that it continues to work closely with TDI-Brooks and the relevant Jamaican authorities in advance of mobilisation, noting that a further update would be provided once the vessel departs Trinidad and is enroute to Jamaica.

United Oil & Gas Chief Executive Brian Larkin remarked in a press release, “We are pleased that the R/V Gyre has completed its prior survey programme and is now preparing to mobilise for United.” The Walton Morant block is a massive 22,400km2 exploration area, which is a globally significant prospective resource believed to contain 7 billion barrels.

The company is reporting huge upside potential and running room with Walton Morant having highly favourable fiscal terms designed to attract investment into Jamaica, with the government being highly supportive in its policy and actions. The oil mining company has rolled out a cost-effective technical work programme, which includes the acquisition of piston cores and seismic reprocessing designed to further de-risk the identified prospectivity ahead of a drill-or-drop decision.

Numerous oil and gas seeps have been identified by United Oil & Gas and sampled both onshore and offshore. The seismic evidence indicates hydrocarbon migration, with all wells drilled to date showing evidence for hydrocarbons. Some US$40 million has been invested in the Walton Morant Licence area since 2014, including the acquisition of 2D and 3D seismic data.