United Oil & Gas Advances Jamaica Offshore Hydrocarbon Exploration

United Oil & Gas Plc has started a key offshore exploration programme in Jamaica, marking an important step forward on its Walton Morant Licence. The survey vessel, R/V Gyre, departed Trinidad on January 19th for Jamaica. After routine inspections, offshore work is planned to begin this week.
Jamaica has long attracted petroleum interest due to seismic data indicating significant hydrocarbon potential offshore. Previous surveys have detected oil-like substances, but confirmation requires seabed sample analysis to determine whether the material is crude oil or other hydrocarbons. The current survey focuses on the Walton Morant Licence zone, which spans Jamaica’s entire southern coast.
After the offshore work is completed, recovered samples will be sent to a specialist laboratory in the United States for geochemical analysis. Preliminary results are expected one to two months after the survey ends, with full results anticipated by mid-2026. The goal is to confirm the presence of thermogenic hydrocarbons^[1], helping to reduce exploration risk and guide future drilling decisions.
In a company press release, Brian Larkin, CEO of United Oil & Gas, said the survey marks a key milestone in the Jamaica exploration programme. “With the R/V Gyre now en route, we are entering an important phase of data acquisition that will significantly improve our understanding of the basin. The results will be critical in de-risking the licence and guiding future strategic decisions as we continue to unlock the potential of over 7.1 billion barrels of unrisked prospective resources in this highly prospective offshore area.”
Energy Minister Vaz, during a media tour of the vessel at the Port Royal Cruise Terminal on Monday, January 26, 2026, said the initiative is part of the Government’s broader strategy to strengthen energy security while maintaining strong environmental safeguards. “This activity represents an early-stage, non-intrusive exploration effort aimed at improving our technical understanding of Jamaica’s offshore petroleum potential,” Vaz said. “It does not authorise drilling or production. It is a data-gathering exercise that supports informed, responsible, evidence-based decision-making.”. For Vaz, the exercise marks a cautious step forward rather than a dramatic breakthrough.

(Sources: United Oil and Gas Press Release and Caribbean News Weekly)

^[1] Thermogenic hydrocarbons are oil and natural gas compounds (methane, ethane, propane, butane) formed by the thermal cracking of organic matter (kerogen) in sedimentary rocks at high temperatures and pressures deep underground.