Overview

The 800 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 on the oil and natural gas industry, which is cyclical and affected by global market conditions.

Horizontal Well Growth

Horizontal wells, which run parallel to the geologic layers in tight formations and allow producers to access more of the oil- and natural gas-bearing rock than drilling vertically, have emerged as the dominant form of US production.