Uruguay roundup: Offshore seismic permitting, Paysandú hydrogen promotion

Offshore seismic 

Geophysics firm Viridien, formerly called CGG, filed environmental evaluation documentation in Uruguay for a planned multiclient 3D offshore seismic campaign.

Work is due to be carried out in five phases in 2025-27. Two of the phases are in shallow waters (12,895km2 and 12,253km2) and three in deep water (5,119km2, 12,013km2 and 8,624km2).

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According to documentation published by Uruguay’s environment ministry, Viridien is targeting four of the seven areas that state oil company Ancap has awarded: OFF-1, OFF-2, OFF-4 and OFF-7. Water depths range from 45m to 4,300m.

Ancap has signed agreements with services firms Searcher, PGS, Viridien and Spectrum Geo (TGS) for the acquisition of offshore 3D seismic data under the multiclient model.

Hydrogen promotion

Uruguay’s central government and Paysandú department will join forces to help spur development of a hydrogen industry in the latter jurisdiction, the energy ministry said in a statement. 

Officials inked an agreement to create a monitoring and promotion committee, whose remit will encompass areas including skills mapping, research, training and community dialogue.

E-fuels pioneer HIF Global has a US$6.0bn project planned for Paysandú.

Several solar PV plants planned for Paysandú – and which mention “green fuel” producers in their respective documentation – have entered the environmental review system. 

Uruguay’s green hydrogen roadmap states that domestic production could reach 1Mt/y by 2040, requiring installation of 18GW of renewables capacity and 9GW of electrolyzers. A chief opportunity for Uruguay, which has ready access to biogenic carbon dioxide and a highly decarbonized power grid, lies in the sustainable aviation fuel market. 

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