United Oil applies to NEPA for permit to survey seabed

United Oil & Gas Plc has applied for a permit from environmental regulator National Environment and Planning Agency to survey Jamaica’s southern seabed for oil.

The survey aims to determine more clearly whether oil lies offshore Jamaica.

“We are pleased to confirm the submission of the permit application for our piston core survey. While the process took longer than anticipated, it reflects the expanded technical scope and our desire to maximise the value of the programme,” said United Oil CEO Brian Larkin in a market filing.

He said that the survey will deliver “valuable data to further derisk the Walton-Morant licence”, and support our efforts to unlock the value of what we believe is a potentially world-class frontier basin.

The planned piston core survey will collect 40 to 60 sediment samples from the Walton and Morant areas, providing critical data on hydrocarbon generation and reservoir quality. The company said it will collect “long, cylindrical piston” samples designed to penetrate the seafloor and retrieve the “undisturbed core samples”.

“These samples will undergo detailed geochemical analysis to improve understanding of the hydrocarbon generation potential and reservoir quality across the licence area,” United Oil said.

The process was delayed due to an expanded technical scope and regulatory alignment but marks a major milestone in derisking exploration in the area. To enhance accuracy, the survey will include a multibeam echosounder or MBES scan over deeper sections of the licence, particularly in the Morant Basin, where 3D seismic data is lacking.

Additionally, heat probe analysis will refine basin modelling, helping pinpoint areas with the highest commercial potential, United Oil said.

The southern coast of Jamaica, with its black sand beaches, has long been explored for oil since the early 1900s.

The Walton-Morant licence spans 22,400 square kilometres and holds over 40 leads and prospects for oil in commercial quantities. Independent estimates suggest 2.4 billion barrels of unrisked oil resources, with United’s internal projections exceeding seven billion barrels. These estimates, however assume that its oil rather than substances resembling oil, including sludge a mixture of oil, water, and mud.

steven.jackson@gleanerjm.com