Exploration in Uruguay

How can geophysical data acquired at oil and gas exploration projects can be of value for the energy transition, to support enterprises on sectors other than energy, and the sovereignty of a country, and to improve human knowledge in other disciplines?

This talk will present a case study and a short history of oil and gas exploration in Uruguay, and the multiple, sometimes disruptive stories that emerged from exploration data and knowledge.

ANCAP is the national oil company (NOC) of Uruguay, with competence on the exploration and production of oil and gas in the onshore and offshore basins of the country. Since the 1950s, Uruguay experienced several pulses of exploration, comprising a few years of intense work followed by many years (sometimes decades) of little or none exploration. The last 15 years the onset of a promotion regime of exploration led to outstanding investment in the frontier basins, including 2D and 3D seismic and exploration wells, carried out by international oil companies. Despite no exploration success was achieved, so far, currently Uruguay holds a vast amount of geological and geophysical data.

Since the early days of exploration in Uruguay, all of this oil and gas information and knowledge turned out to be useful, not only to manage the risk for future petroleum business, but also for other disciplines and sectors.

Speaker Bio

Gristo Pablo

Gristo Pablo is the Head of Geoscience at ANCAP (national oil company of Uruguay). He spent the last 15 years involved in projects for the exploration and production of mineral resources, onshore and offshore of Uruguay, Argentina, and Venezuela. He has had previous experience in environmental management and monitoring projects. Pablo studied chemical engineering at Universidad de la República, Uruguay. His post graduate studies were in exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Argentina. He has a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University.