Seismic Survey Market Report 2026

The seismic survey market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $10.34 billion in 2025 to $10.92 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising global oil and gas exploration activities, increasing need for subsurface geological evaluation, expansion of offshore drilling initiatives, growth in seismic data acquisition projects, strengthening reliance on seismic survey technologies.

The seismic survey market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $13.9 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing offshore exploration investments, rising demand for detailed reservoir insights, growing adoption of 3D and 4D exploration surveys, expansion of digital seismic data analysis, strengthening focus on exploration accuracy. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing use of advanced seismic imaging technologies, rising demand for high resolution subsurface mapping, growing emphasis on offshore and deepwater exploration, expansion of 3D and 4D seismic survey capabilities, strengthening focus on accurate geological understanding.

The growing need for oil and gas is expected to propel the growth of the seismic survey market going forward. Oil and gas refer to natural resources extracted from the earth and used as energy and fuel sources. Seismic surveys play a significant role in oil and gas exploration. It is a technique used to image the earth's subsurface by recording the vibrations caused by seismic waves, monitoring oil and gas fields, and optimizing production. For instance, in July 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a US-based federal statistical system for gathering, processing, and disseminating energy data, there will be an increase in U.S. crude oil production to 12.6 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2023 from the record high of 11.89 million barrels per day in 2022. It is estimated to reach 12.85 million b/d in the year 2024. Therefore, the growing need for oil and gas is driving the growth of the seismic survey market.

Major companies operating in the seismic survey market are focusing on developing 3D seismic technology to provide reliable services to customers. 3D seismic technology is a powerful tool used to create high-resolution, three-dimensional images of the Earth's subsurface. For instance, in December 2023, Ukrnafta a Ukraine-based natural gas company, launched 3D seismic surveys in the west of Ukraine. These are the first 3D seismic surveys in Ukraine to use a wireless data logging system and the first 3D seismic surveys for Ukrnafta in the west of Ukraine. Seismic waves are produced underground by the operation of strong vibrator machines above ground. Several rocks with the appropriate parameters reflect the waves. On the surface, data is gathered through a vast network of specialized seismic sensors called geophones. For the 80 square meter construction project, Ukrnafta's experts will need to use 20,000 receiver sensors, three seismic vibrators, and explosive sources.

In July 2024, TGS ASA, a Norway-based company that delivers advanced data and intelligence solutions to the energy sector, merged with PGS ASA. Through this merger, TGS and PGS seek to integrate TGS’s strengths in energy data and analytics with PGS’s expertise in geophysical and seismic survey services to improve exploration and production insights for energy resources globally. PGS ASA is a Norway-based company focused on providing geophysical and seismic survey services to the worldwide energy industry.

Major companies operating in the seismic survey market report are China National Petroleum Corporation, Schlumberger Limited, Fugro NV, CGG SA, Petroleum Geo-Services ASA, TGS Nopec Geophysical ASA, Shearwater Geoservices Limited, SAExploration Inc, Spectrum ASA, ION Geophysical Corporation, Fairfield Industries Incorporated, Geokinetics Inc, Dawson Geophysical Co, SeaBird Exploration Plc, Dolphin Geophysical AS, Terra Seis Group, Global Geophysical Services Inc, Geospace Technologies Corp, Katalyst Data Management LLC, Terrex Seismic, NodalSeismic LLC, Pulse Seismic Inc, Axxis Geo Solutions ASA, Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey Inc, EON Geosciences Inc, New Resolution Geophysics, Agile Seismic LLC.

North America was the largest region in the seismic survey market in 2025. The regions covered in the seismic survey market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the seismic survey market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The seismic survey market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as borehole seismic surveys, multi-client acquisition surveys, seismic consulting, interpretation, seismic data visualization, and seismic data processing. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The seismic survey market also includes sales of recording systems, data interpretation tools, seismic sensors, and the seismic acquisition system. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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