VZCZCXRO8770
PP RUEHDE RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0094 0462108
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 152108Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8069
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0960
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DOE WASHDC
RUEHHH/OPEC COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000094 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR: LLUFTIG, EB/ESC/IEC/EPC, DOE FOR 
PUMPHREY, WARD, AND ALOCKWOOD, USGS FOR JEAN NOE WEAVER, 
CHRISTOPHER SCHENK, AND PHIL HAYS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EPET ENRG ETRD ECON EINV KTDB PREL PBTS NS
SUBJECT: NEW BIDDING ROUND OPENED FOR OIL EXPLORATION OFF 
SURINAME'S COAST 
 
REF: 05 PARAMARIBO 704 
 
¶1.  Suriname's Minister of Natural Resources, Gregory 
Rusland, announced to the press last week that Suriname's 
state-owned oil company, Staatsolie has opened a new round 
of bidding to international oil companies interested in off 
shore oil exploration. This follows an earlier successful 
signing in October 2005 of an agreement with Occidental 
Petroleum Corp. (OXY) of Los Angeles (see reftel). This 
will be the fourth round of bidding since the estimate in 
2000 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) that the 
Guyana Basin off the coast of Suriname may contains oil and 
gas reserves of approximately 15 billion barrels. Earlier 
deals have been concluded with Spanish firm Repsol YPF and 
Danish firm Maersk. Fields currently under active 
exploration have advanced to the next phase of the process, 
which involves the acquisition and processing of 3D seismic 
data for a more reliable interpretation of the oil strata 
and to further define the exploration potential of the 
area. 
 
¶2.  In this current round, blocks known as 15, 36 and 37 
are up for tender and their dimensions are 2,552 square 
kilometers (sq. km.); 3,407 sq. km.; and 8,758 sq. km, 
respectively.  A data package containing acquired and 
processed 2D seismic data from 2005 is available from 
Staatsolie for purchase at a cost of 25,000 USD.  Potential 
bidders are under no obligation to purchase the package. 
Any agreement will be subject to a production-sharing 
contract with Staatsolie.  The deadline to bid on any of 
the blocks is July 2, 2006.  All interested companies must 
submit, along with their bid, a company profile, technical 
and financial reports for the past two years, and latest 
audit report, which should be no more than two years old. 
 
¶3.  Interested bidders can contact Staatsolie for details 
at: 
 
Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V. 
Attention: Marny Daal  Vogelland, Manager E&P Contracts 
Adhinstraat 21 
Paramaribo  Suriname 
Phone: (597) 439781 
Fax: (597) 530093 
Email: madaal@staatsolie.com or bidding@staatsolie.com 
Website: www.staatsolie.com 
 
BARNES