Latin American momentum grows: Chevron’s Uruguay extension buys time for seismic work as Sintana pursues permit offshore Argentina

July 21, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Canada-headquartered oil and natural gas exploration player Sintana Energy has shed light on the latest activities in Latin America, confirming the advancement of its offshore plans in Argentina and an extension for the Chevron-operated block off the coast of Uruguay.

Map of blocks offshore Uruguay — Blocks offshore Uruguay; Source: Challenger Energy

According to Sintana, the National Administration of Fuels, Alcohol and Portland Cement (ANCAP), the Uruguayan state-owned energy company and regulator, has agreed to a suspension of the initial exploration subperiod of the AREA OFF-1 block, offshore Uruguay, for a year, such that the first exploration subperiod will now expire on August 23, 2027.

The suspension was requested by Chevron, as the operator of the block, in accordance with the provisions of the licence contract, given the length of time taken for environmental authorization of the AREA OFF-1 3D seismic acquisition campaign.

Following environmental authorization being obtained in early 2026, an initial season of seismic acquisition was completed before the end of April 2026, with a second season scheduled to begin in Q4 2026.

The acquisition, processing, and interpretation of all planned 3D seismic data over the block is considered essential data necessary to make an optimal exploration well drilling decision.

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The Canadian player also reported that Decree 590/2026 was published in the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic on July 15, 2026, instructing the National Secretariat of Energy to call for an international public tender based on Challenger Energy’s expression of interest, as a necessary precursor to the potential award of a permit.

This comes after Challenger Energy Group, a member of the Sintana group of companies, submitted an expression of interest for the award of an offshore hydrocarbon exploration permit on February 14, 2025, under national jurisdiction in the North Argentine Basin (CAN – 200).

“Challenger will proceed to participate in this process, in compliance with the provisions and timelines established by the Argentine law and authorities, and further updates will be provided as appropriate,” emphasized Sintana.

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The firm is focused on Uruguay’s hydrocarbon potential with interests in two blocks: AREA OFF-1, where it has a 40% working interest and Chevron the remaining 60% stake as the operator, and the 100% operated AREA OFF-3.