Searcher Seismic has made its entry into Argentina with four new multi-client projects. Beginning in phases, the first phase comprises of an offshore basin analysis report providing a regional framework to understand the offshore basins of Argentina, assisting industry’s exploration efforts.
Norway's Spectrum has started a 35,000 km multi-client 2D seismic survey covering 435,000 km2 in the deep waters of Argentina in cooperation with YPF. The survey will provide industry with the first ever detailed seismic grid over this under-explored frontier area of Argentina, allowing for basin-wide studies of the area as well as prospect/lead level interpretation studies for upcoming license rounds.
Argentina's oil company YPF and Norway's Statoil have signed a cooperation agreement to further gather information on Argentina's offshore potential. The accord was signed in Oslo between YPF CEO Ricardo Darré and Statoil Exploration vice president Tim Dodson.
YPF Argentina reported Tuesday that its first offshore well drilled in the so called Malvinas basin proved dry. The operation was equally shared with Brazil’s Petrobras and Pan American Energy, a Chinese-Argentine group.
Repsol-YPF plans to start deepwater exploration off the coast of Tierra del Fuego in the Malvinas basin are expected to begin before the end of the first half of 2011, according to company’s sources.
Repsol-YPF planned exploration for hydrocarbons in the Malvinas basin, off Tierra del Fuego has suffered a major public relations setback following on the Buenos Aires press revelation that the two vessels contracted for the job not only are UK flagged but also have links with the current oil exploration round in Falkland Islands’ waters.
Argentine daily newspaper El Cronista on Monday reported that YPF will begin oil exploration in the Malvinas basin in February. The newspaper reports that exploration will begin 289 kilometres off the coast of Tierra del Fuego and cost U$ 150 million.
Towards the end of the year Argentina’s YPF in association with Pan American Energy and Petrobras will begin exploring for oil in the Malvinas basin, following the contract for an oil rig which has been signed, according to oil industry sources in Buenos Aires.