Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 940 geophysical surveying and mapping service providers in the US gather, interpret, and map geophysical data, primarily for oil and natural gas companies. Individual clients commission proprietary or exclusive surveys, which generally cover a limited area. Multi-client surveys are funded by geophysical surveying companies, which then own and market or license the data to clients.
Dependence on the Fossil Fuel Industry
Demand for geophysical surveying and mapping services is dependent on the level of spending in the oil and natural gas industry, which is cyclical and affected by global market conditions.
Uneven, Seasonal Demand
Demand for geophysical surveying and mapping services is uneven and influenced by seasonal factors.
Industry size & Structure
The average geophysical mapping and surveying provider operates out of a single location, employs about 7-8 workers and generates $1-2 million annually.
- The geophysical mapping and surveying services industry consists of about 940 firms that employ about 6,900 workers and generate about $1.7 billion annually.
- The industry is highly concentrated; the top 50 companies account for about 80% of industry revenue.
- Large firms, which include Dawson Geophysical, SAExploration Holdings, Echo Seismic, Breckenridge Geophysical, and Paragon Geophysical Services, often have international operations
- Small firms typically operate one or two crews and specialize in specific regions or types of operations.
Industry Forecast
Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Feb 23, 2025 - Prices and Payrolls Rising Amid Growing Demand
- Producer prices for architectural and engineering services rose 1.4% in December after rising 3% in the previous December-versus-December annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Employment by the industry grew 3.4% year over year in January, on the heels of a 4.8% YoY rise in the average wage to a new high of $43.05 per hour in December, BLS data show. Expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration activities, increasing demand for renewable energy projects, and advancements in remote sensing technology are some of the trends driving growth for geophysical surveying and mapping firms.
- President Trump has lifted some of former President Biden’s efforts to restrict oil and gas drilling on public lands and waters, The Hill reported in January. Trump’s move was part of a larger executive order that undoes dozens of Biden-era policies, including rescinding the ex-president's recent order to block 625 million acres offshore from oil and gas drilling — including the entire Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Trump also revoked a Biden-era order blocking 2.8 million acres in the Arctic Ocean from oil and gas drilling. Trump’s action could face legal hurdles. Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Jodey Arrington, both of Texas, have introduced legislation to repeal an executive order issued by Biden at the end of his presidency that banned energy exploration on more than 625 million acres of offshore territory. The legislation is supported by a coalition of energy-focused organizations including the American Petroleum Institute and EnerGeo Alliance.
- The post-election mood in the oil and gas industry – a major customer for geophysical surveying and mapping services – is one of high optimism, according to The American Oil & Gas Reporter. “It borders on exuberant,” described Karr Ingham, president of Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. There’s a sense of relief in the industry that the Biden administration’s anti-fossil-fuels approach will soon be in the past. The national trade association for the oil and gas industry, the American Petroleum Institute, has a roadmap for the incoming Trump administration that includes swiftly authorizing liquified natural gas exports, expanding drilling on federal lands, making pipeline permitting easier, repealing strict vehicle emissions and fuel economy standards, and keeping current corporate tax rates in place. Trump has said he’ll create a National Energy Council to “oversee the path to US energy dominance,” and has tapped Doug Bergum, governor of oil-rich North Dakota as Interior Secretary.
- The Comprehensive Offshore Resource Evaluation Act (HR 9472 – CORE Act) introduced by Rep Wesley Hunt (R-TX) in September is seen as a fundamental step toward streamlining geological and geophysical surveys permitting activities in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer Continental Shelf, according to EnerGeo Alliance. The Alliance, whose members include offshore survey operators, endorsed the bill’s language eliminating the five-year limit on incidental take regulations (ITRs) – relating to the taking of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activities – and instead allowing for the targeted amendment of ITRs, as necessary, to update mitigation measures or other findings, based on the best available scientific information. The Alliance said eliminating the five-year limit will also help to decrease opportunities for environmental groups to challenge ITRs to prevent energy development. EnerGeo Alliance also supports the bill’s provision removing the existing GOM ITR expiration date of April 19, 2026.
Get A Demo
Vertical IQ’s Industry Intelligence Platform
See for yourself why over 60,000 users trust Vertical IQ for their industry research and call preparation needs. Our easy-to-digest industry insights save call preparation time and help differentiate you from the competition.
Build valuable, lasting relationships by having smarter conversations -
check out Vertical IQ today.