Shearwater Wins ExxonMobil DAS Seismic Survey Contract in Guyana's Stabroek Block

Shearwater Geoservices has been awarded a distributed acoustic sensing seismic survey contract by ExxonMobil Guyana in the Stabroek Block, covering a two-month source-only seismic acquisition programme in support of a baseline DAS reservoir surveillance survey over the Yellowtail development area. The vessel SW Empress has been deployed in a triple-source configuration and will move directly onto the contract following completion of a multiclient project in South America where it has been operating since November 2025.

 

DAS Reservoir Surveillance and Technical Scope

 

The contract covers source-only seismic acquisition designed to support reservoir surveillance activities at Yellowtail, one of the major oil developments within the Stabroek Block. Distributed acoustic sensing reservoir surveillance provides operators with detailed insights into subsurface fluid movement and reservoir behaviour over the producing life of a field, enabling more informed production management and development planning decisions. The baseline nature of the survey indicates that the data will establish a reference point for ongoing reservoir monitoring, with subsequent surveys expected to track changes in the subsurface as production advances.

 

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SW Empress Configuration and Operational Continuity

 

The deployment of SW Empress in a triple-source configuration allows for high-productivity seismic acquisition across the survey area. The vessel's direct transition from its South American multiclient programme to the ExxonMobil contract reflects the operational efficiency that Shearwater chief executive Irene Waage Basili has identified as central to the company's vessel utilisation model, in which vessels switch between different acquisition modes to maintain continuous activity and maximise commercial productivity. The ability to move seamlessly between project types is commercially significant in the seismic services market, where vessel downtime between contracts represents a meaningful cost.

 

Implications for Stabroek Block Development

 

The Yellowtail development area is one of the largest sanctioned projects in Guyana's Stabroek Block, which has emerged as one of the world's most significant deepwater oil provinces over the past decade. Reservoir surveillance seismic programmes support the long-term management of producing assets by monitoring subsurface changes that affect production rates and recovery planning. The award reinforces Shearwater's presence in the South Atlantic market and builds on the broader activity in Guyana driven by ExxonMobil and its partners, which has generated sustained demand for geophysical, subsea, and engineering services across the development and production lifecycle.