France-based geophysical services company Viridien has commenced a multi-client 3D seismic survey offshore Uruguay.

Data acquisition for the Charrua 3D multi-client survey will be conducted by the BGP Prospector. Viridien also noted that it would use its advanced seismic imaging technologies, such as time-lag full-waveform inversion (TLFWI), to deliver high-resolution subsurface images.

This project demonstrates the company’s confidence in the long-term potential of the southern Atlantic Margin in Latin America, as basins offshore Uruguay share strong parallels with Namibia’s Orange Basin, where recent major light oil discoveries have confirmed a working Aptian petroleum system, Viridien said.

The project is supported by industry funding.

Dechun Lin, Head of Earth Data, Viridien, said: “We are proud to support Uruguay in unlocking what we believe is one of the next great energy frontiers. The Charrua survey marks a major milestone for Viridien as we deploy our most advanced seismic imaging technologies to deliver high-resolution data needed to de-risk exploration.” 

About a month and a half ago it was reported that Viridien and SLB entered into an agreement with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to launch a multi-client ocean bottom node (OBN) program in Egypt’s Eastern Mediterranean offshore, a project said to be the largest of its kind in the region.

The project is expected to give explorers and investors a clearer understanding of the region’s subsurface and help them identify new opportunities for exploration and enhanced production.