United Oil & Gas has achieved a pivotal technical milestone in its Jamaican offshore exploration campaign, announcing the successful completion of Stage 1 of its Surface Geochemical Exploration Programme on the Walton-Morant Licence. This initial phase, which involved an extensive multi-beam echosounder seabed survey, has yielded high-quality bathymetric data across 1,189 kilometers of prioritized offshore territory. The comprehensive seabed mapping operation provides critical intelligence for guiding subsequent exploration activities. The dataset will now inform optimal positioning for Stage 2 heat-flow measurements and Stage 3 targeted piston core sampling, which entails extracting seabed sediment samples for detailed laboratory analysis. Chief Executive Brian Larkin characterized the completion as establishing “a robust foundation” for forthcoming offshore operations, emphasizing that the quality of acquired data enables scientifically informed selection for subsequent technical phases. The survey vessel R/V Gyre has already returned to Kingston for equipment reconfiguration before resuming its offshore mission. This geochemical program represents a systematic approach to gathering independent, basin-scale evidence of active hydrocarbon systems within the block. The company has previously referenced an estimated resource potential exceeding seven billion barrels within the licence area. While not altering headline resource estimates, successful program completion could materially enhance the project’s geological probability of success from approximately 20% to 33%, substantially de-risking the exploration asset. The acquired data will directly support ongoing technical evaluations and farm-out discussions. The campaign has garnered public endorsement from Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s Minister of Science, Energy, and Transport, who visited the survey vessel earlier this month. United reported smooth regulatory coordination and stakeholder engagement throughout the complex mobilization process, which required months of permitting and logistical preparation. The company will provide further updates upon concluding offshore operations.
United completes first phase of Jamaica offshore survey; advances de-risking of seven-billion-barrel prospect
