TGS Deploys Advanced Seismic as Pelotas Basin Heralds New Exploration Era

OSLO, Norway – November 17, 2025

TGS, a global leader in energy data and intelligence, is making a significant strategic move with the launch of its Pelotas Norte Phase I multi-client 3D seismic survey in the Pelotas Basin, offshore southern Brazil. This ambitious project, encompassing approximately 14,800 square kilometers, is set to provide high-resolution data crucial for unlocking the hydrocarbon potential of what is increasingly being viewed as Brazil's next major oil province. The initiative underscores a broader industry pivot towards this underexplored region, driven by compelling geological similarities to the highly successful Orange Basin offshore Namibia, and a renewed appetite for frontier exploration.

Pelotas Basin: Brazil's Underexplored Oil Frontier Awakens

The Pelotas Basin, located off Brazil's southern coast, has historically seen limited exploration compared to its more established northern counterparts like the Santos and Campos Basins. However, recent geological insights and significant discoveries in the conjugate margin of West Africa have dramatically shifted industry perception. The basin is a passive margin formed during the break-up of Gondwana, characterized by up to 7,000 meters of Cretaceous and Tertiary post-rift clastic sediments.

Crucially, the Pelotas Basin is believed to host active petroleum systems, with potential source rocks including Paleocene and Albian marine shales. Seismic data points to characteristics akin to those found in the hydrocarbon-rich Niger Delta in West Africa. While only a handful of wells have been drilled to date, five out of nine in the Brazilian Pelotas Basin have encountered porous siliciclastic sands, indicating viable reservoir potential. Modern seismic imaging has further revealed multiple potential reservoir intervals, including structural traps along listric normal faults and toe-thrust structures, with petroleum system modeling predicting predominantly liquid hydrocarbon accumulation in various Miocene and Oligocene sandstones.

Industry interest has surged following the successes in the Orange Basin, particularly the Venus and Graff discoveries, which have significantly de-risked the Pelotas Basin's potential. The Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) has responded with several licensing rounds attracting major players. In December 2023, the 4th Permanent Concession Offer Cycle saw Petrobras, in partnership with Shell and CNOOC, acquire 29 blocks, while Chevron secured 15. Petrobras, the national oil giant, has indicated it is considering drilling up to 10 exploratory wells in the basin if seismic data proves promising, with exploratory activities in these blocks expected by 2031. Further cementing this interest, Petrobras, alongside Petrogal Brasil SA, acquired an additional three blocks in June 2025. This flurry of activity positions the Pelotas Basin as a "new exploration frontier" with the potential to add up to 15 billion barrels to Brazil's current oil reserves of around 15.9 billion barrels, a near doubling of national reserves.

TGS's Strategic Investment in a High-Stakes Region

TGS's decision to launch the Pelotas Norte Phase I survey is a testament to its strategic vision and its dominant position in the energy data sector. The company has established a "distinct niche" in geoscience data and intelligence, consistently ranking among the top seismic services providers globally. Its multi-client business model, where surveys are supported by industry funding from multiple clients, allows for greater adaptability to market fluctuations and de-risks individual company investments in costly data acquisition.

Kristian Johansen, CEO of TGS, commented on the accelerating exploration activity: “The Pelotas Norte Phase I multi-client survey significantly expands our seismic coverage. By leveraging our advanced acquisition capabilities and imaging expertise, this survey will help our clients to better understand the basin’s geological structures and derisk future exploration activities.” This strategic expansion follows the announcement of two large multi-client surveys in the Equatorial Margin earlier in Q3, bringing the number of Ramform Titan-class vessels working offshore Brazil for TGS to three for the remainder of this year and well into next.

The recent acquisition of PGS earlier in 2024 has further solidified TGS's market standing, integrating PGS's advanced fleet, including the Ramform Titan-class vessels, into TGS's operational capabilities. This synergy is expected to yield significant integration and cost efficiencies, reinforcing TGS's ability to undertake large-scale, high-value projects like Pelotas Norte Phase I.

Advanced Technology De-risks Exploration and Unlocks Resources

The Pelotas Norte Phase I survey will deploy a Ramform Titan-class vessel, renowned for its broad towing capacity and advanced operational capabilities, making it ideal for efficient, large-scale 3D seismic acquisition. Central to the project is the utilization of TGS's proprietary GeoStreamer® technology. This cutting-edge system delivers high-resolution, full-broadband seismic data, which is critical for providing clearer, more accurate imaging of complex subsurface geological structures.

GeoStreamer technology is designed to significantly improve subsurface imaging, enabling exploration companies to better identify potential hydrocarbon reservoirs, delineate their extent, and characterize their properties with greater precision. This enhanced data quality directly translates into reduced exploration risk and more efficient drilling decisions for TGS's clients. Beyond traditional oil and gas applications, the versatility of GeoStreamer also extends to de-risking CO2 storage sites, aiding in offshore wind farm placements, and even supporting deep-sea mineral exploration, showcasing its broad applicability across the evolving energy landscape.

The Competitive Landscape and Future Implications

The demand for high-quality seismic data in the Pelotas Basin is intense, with major E&P companies having invested heavily in securing exploration blocks. While TGS is a dominant player, other seismic data providers, such as Shearwater GeoServices (in collaboration with Searcher Seismic), are also actively engaged in multi-client surveys in the region, highlighting the basin's competitive and promising nature. The presence of these multiple data providers ensures that E&P companies have access to comprehensive geological insights necessary to make informed investment decisions.

The long-term implications of this renewed interest and extensive data acquisition in the Pelotas Basin are substantial. Success here could not only significantly boost Brazil's hydrocarbon reserves but also solidify its position as a global energy producer. For TGS, these projects reinforce its role as an indispensable partner in the global energy sector, providing the foundational data that underpins strategic exploration and production activities, ultimately shaping the future of energy supply.