Spectrum has commenced a 12,000 km (7,456 miles) multiclient 2-D seismic survey offshore the Pelotas Basin of Brazil, the company said in a news release.

The new acquisition program will infill both Spectrums’ new 7,500 km (4,660 miles) survey acquired in 2013 and 12,000 km (7,456 miles) of data reprocessed in 2014, covering open acreage in the Pelotas Basin and providing industry with more than 31,000 km (19,263 miles) of new data across the area. It is highly anticipated the area will be included in the next licensing round, expected in late 2015, the release said.

The data is being collected by the vessel BGP Challenger and will be processed in Spectrum's processing center in Houston. PreSTM and PreSDM data will be available in early third-quarter 2015.

Detailed analysis of the existing open seismic grid in the Pelotas Basin has revealed details on the depositional systems. Numerous extensive clastic units have been identified with good trapping and reservoir potential. Combined with evidence of direct hydrocarbon indicators and seeps, this makes the Pelotas Basin one of the most attractive, underexplored petroleum provinces along the Atlantic Margins, Spectrum said in the release.