What you are seeing is far more than just a painting. It is a remarkable geological prediction captured in art, seven years before it became reality.

In 2008, I developed a compelling vision of the hydrocarbon potential in the offshore Guyana-Suriname Basin, specifically in the area I first denominated as the Guyana Suriname Golden Lane (GSGL). Drawing upon my geological expertise, I collaborated with my wife, translating complex geological concepts into a visual narrative that would prove remarkably prophetic.

At the time, the vast hydrocarbon potential of this basin was purely theoretical—a hypothesis waiting to be validated. My dearest aunt Carla would often remind me of a Dutch saying, “Praatjes vullen geen gaatjes” (Talk doesn’t fill holes), cautioning me about the difference between speculation and concrete discovery.

Together, we meticulously captured the geological structures, stratigraphic traps, and petroleum system that I believed lay waiting beneath the ocean waves. This was no mere artistic exercise, but a scientifically grounded visualization of potential hydrocarbon resources.

Our belief was spectacularly validated seven years later, in may 2015 when ExxonMobil’s Liza-1 well struck oil, marking the beginning of Guyana’s transformation into a significant oil-producing nation. The well confirmed the geological predictions we had carefully mapped out in our artwork years earlier.

Today, we are deeply humbled that this visionary artwork has been chosen as the cover image for the first comprehensive book about oil in Guyana, as recognized by Prof. Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Guyana. This distinguished recognition elevates our work from a mere prediction to an official part of Guyana’s documented history.

The artwork serves as both a scientific visualization and a historical document, bridging the gap between geological prediction and economic reality. It was not just a lucky guess, but the result of careful geological analysis and a profound understanding of the basin’s characteristics, translated into a visual medium that makes complex scientific concepts accessible.

Our journey of recognition included significant milestones:

• The original painting was officially exhibited during my wife’s art exposition, “A Tribute to Suriname,” in April 2010 at the Consulate of Venezuela in Paramaribo.
• It was showcased at the Nola Hatterman Art Academy, where she painted under the guidance of Wilgo Vijfhoven and Rinaldo Klas, both renowned Surinamese painters.
• The artwork hung in my office while serving as an exploration consultant for Staatsolie, initially overlooked but now highly celebrated.

This piece represents the intersection of geology and art, capturing a pivotal moment in Guyana’s and Suriname’s economic history before it even occurred. It now stands as a testament to the power of scientific vision and artistic interpretation.

What began as a speculative visualization has now transformed into a documented prediction—uncovered first in the giant Liza-1 field and now immortalized on the cover of “Guyana’s Oil Odyssey.” It is a magnificent, resilient, and circular journey of geo-art and geo-vision exploration.

Key Participants and Entities in the Golden Lane anno 2025

• Companies: ExxonMobil, Hess, Chevron, CNOOC, in Stabroek Block, Guyana. And in the SW extension into Suriname, TotalEnergies, APA, Staatsolie and Petronas.
• Location: Guyana-Suriname Basin, Golden Lane (GSGL)