Seismic player ION Geophysical Corporation has successfully acquired 2,800 km of data within Uruguay’s offshore Punta del Este Basin.

Known as UruguaySPAN, this latest addition to ION’s global BasinSPAN seismic data library will provide E&P companies with the first deep, geologically-driven image of the province, said ION, enabling it to more effectively assess the South American country’s offshore hydrocarbon potential, identify new opportunities, and mitigate exploration risk.

UruguaySPAN links with ION’s existing ArgentineSPAN and BrasilSPAN surveys, imaging the northern Argentine and southern Brazilian basins.

Doug Allinson, Vice President, Latin America for ION’s GeoVentures division, described the Southern Atlantic margin as “one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most under-explored areas”, adding that the survey would provide operators with a better understanding of the petroleum system development offshore Uruguay, which is currently experiencing considerable exploration activity. Data will be available to ION clients in the second quarter of this year, added the company.