TGS is investing heavily in the Pelotas Basin to provide comprehensive coverage of this high-potential area. With advanced 2D data reprocessing and new acquisitions, TGS offers extensive regional insight, enabling a deep understanding of the basin's opportunities.
Southern Brazil Basins
Exploring Frontier Potential in Southern Brazil’s Pelotas Basin
Brazil’s Pelotas Basin, in the country’s southernmost offshore region, has seen limited exploration to date. However, the prospectivity outlook for this region has recently benefitted from successful exploration campaigns in its conjugate margin of West Africa.
Namibia’s “Venus” field opened a deepwater play in 2022, spurring renewed interest in similar plays across the western Atlantic. The recent Capricornus 1-X discovery, which tested a Lower Cretaceous target, adds to this momentum. An analogous petroleum system is also believed to extend into deepwater Uruguay, northern Argentina and on the southernmost margin of Brazil.
%20.png?width=1440&height=495&name=TGS%20seismic%20data-%20Latam%20-%20Brazil%20(SantosSul)%20.png "TGS seismic data- Latam - Brazil (SantosSul)")
Modern 3D seismic data acquisition in TGS’ Santos Sul program has illuminated prospective characteristics in Southern Santos and Pelotas Basins from Cenozoic and Mesozoic turbidites to localized carbonate systems in search of conjugate margin similarities to recent West African discoveries.
Data Availability
TGS offers 62,582 kilometers of 2D seismic data across the Pelotas Basin, supported by well and potential fields data. In addition, TGS holds several environmental permits for future 2D and 3D seismic acquisition, enabling expansion in the most prospective areas. This foundational data supports early basin understanding and targeted exploration planning.
Southern Basins
- 2D Seismic: 229,254 km
- Pelotas 2D-Cubed: 224,201 km² of integrated 2D-Cubed lines (in planning)
- 3D Seismic:
- Santos Sul Phase 1: 12,290 km² of new 3D seismic data
- Santos Sul Phase 2: 2,570 km² of new 3D seismic data (in planning)
- Pelotas Norte Phase 1: 14,922 km² of new 3D seismic data (in acquisition)
- Pelotas Sul Phase 1: 13,494 km² of new 3D seismic data (in acquisition)
- Pelotas Sul Phase 2: 9,130 km² of new 3D seismic data (in planning)
- Pelotas Sul Phase 3: 16,867 km² of new 3D seismic data (in planning)
Brazil 2026 Sixth Cycle Open Acreage Licensing Round
Brazil’s sixth OPC cycle, set to launch in 2026, will focus on the Campos and Santos basins, as well as the Ceará Basin. Once the round begins, companies are expected to submit bids for high-profile blocks in the pre-salt frontier.
TGS continues to invest in this region, aligning seismic programs with industry demand and regulatory momentum. Visit the license round page to learn more about key dates, available blocks and how TGS seismic data supports exploration.
Imaging
Seismic attributes within TGS’ datasets reveal AVO responses in clastic reservoirs sourced from the Albian-Cenomanian-Turonian interval. These attributes offer valuable indicators of reservoir quality and hydrocarbon potential, guiding the next phase of targeted 3D acquisition. New 3D surveys are planned in the most prospective areas, informed by extensive 2D seismic analysis.
Geology
TGS’ comprehensive data library in the Pelotas Basin provides foundational insights into basin architecture and the distribution of paleo-depositional systems. These insights are highlighted by seismic attributes that display AVO responses in clastic reservoirs, sourced by the Albian-Cenomanian-Turonian source interval.
Additional Insights
Brazil’s Seismic Solution to Modern Frontier Exploration
Apr 2026 - For over 40 years, multi-client seismic data has been a quiet and steadfast engine propelling global exploration. Central to play-opening discoveries from the North Sea to the Southern Atlantic...
Unlocking the Uruguay and Southern Brazil’s Exploration Potential
May 2025 - Recent exploration successes in the Orange Basin off Namibia and South Africa have ignited renewed interest in the offshore potential of Uruguay, Northern Argentina, and Southern Brazil...
Northern Pelotas Basin: Stratigraphy and Basin Development
Nov 2025 - The underexplored region of the northern Pelotas Basin, Southeast Brazil is gaining attention due to a series of discoveries on the African margin...
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