Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Uruguay's government has approved seismic studies in deep waters of the South Atlantic to determine whether the country has offshore oil reserves -- a decision moving forward with support from major oil companies, but facing objections from scientists and environmental groups. Operations are to occur hundreds of miles from Uruguay's mainland. The work was awarded to Apache, Petroleum Geo-Services, Compagnie Générale de Géophysique Veritas, Searcher and major partners, such as