Viridien, a company specialised in digital technologies and geoscientific data, has announced the launch of Phase I of the Megabar Extension project in the Barreirinhas Basin, off the northern coast of Brazil, in partnership with TGS. The project includes the acquisition of 5,300 km² of 3D seismic data in a geologically promising area currently lacking three-dimensional coverage.
Untapped geological potential
The Barreirinhas Basin lies close to the Guyana and Suriname basins, where several major discoveries have been made in recent years. International oil companies have shown increasing interest in this region, encouraged by the results of Brazil’s 5th Permanent Concession Offer. The Megabar Extension project is being launched amid rising activity along Brazil’s equatorial margin.
TGS will be responsible for data acquisition using the purpose-built vessel Ramform Tethys, equipped with its proprietary GeoStreamer® technology. Offshore operations began in early September and are expected to be completed by the end of November.
Advanced imaging technology and delivery timeline
Viridien will conduct imaging using its proprietary time-lag full-waveform inversion (TL-FWI) and reverse time migration (RTM) technologies. These techniques aim to enhance geological understanding, refine prospect evaluation, and reduce exploration risks.
Initial imaging results are expected by Q3 2026, with final data delivery scheduled for Q1 2027. According to both companies, the project will provide operators with an early advantage in a largely underexplored zone, in anticipation of future bidding rounds.
Industry-funded project
The Megabar Extension is funded directly by the industry, with no public subsidies announced. It forms part of both companies’ strategies to expand seismic coverage along the equatorial margin, responding to increasing demand for high-resolution data to guide exploration investments.
