North Sea
TGS has more than 40 years of experience in seismic data acquisition and processing in the North Sea. Since 1981, TGS has built the industry's largest portfolio of modern regional 2D and 3D seismic data, including recent GeoStreamer X and multi-client ocean bottom node surveys. Multi-client data has played a key role in the exploration success of this prolific basin, and advancements in acquisition and processing technologies continue to support enhanced imaging, interpretation and discovery rates across the region.
Advanced Seismic Solutions for Exploration and Development
TGS leads seismic innovation in the North Sea, supporting oil and gas exploration, carbon capture and storage and offshore wind projects with advanced technologies. As a mature hydrocarbon basin, the North Sea still offers significant opportunities, but better data is required to identify and extract additional resources near existing infrastructure. TGS addresses this with GeoStreamer, GeoStreamer X and ocean bottom node surveys, providing critical subsurface insights. With a legacy of high-quality seismic data, TGS helps energy companies make informed decisions and optimize development strategies.
A Technology Playground
The North Sea is maturing in hydrocarbon exploration, field development, production and decommissioning, while CCS and offshore wind projects are in the early stages. TGS continues to drive seismic innovation in the North Sea with pioneering acquisition and imaging technologies, including Ramform vessels, GeoStreamer, GeoStreamer X, ocean bottom nodes (OBN) and P-Cable/XHR. For shallow targets and seabed mapping, TGS provides ultra-high-resolution P-Cable and XHR technologies, while GeoStreamer and OBN offer superior imaging for deeper targets, including carbon capture and storage, well planning, field development and 4D monitoring.
GeoStreamer revolutionized seismic imaging with multi-sensor broadband data, improving deghosting and resolution, and has enhanced lead and prospect identification since its launch in 2011. GeoStreamer X followed in 2019 with a multi-azimuth solution integrating new and legacy data, with its initial Viking Graben project significantly improving complex target imaging across the Norwegian and U.K. continental shelves.
Between 2018 and 2019, TGS and joint venture partner AGS conducted the world's largest multi-client OBN survey, the Utsira OBN, since expanded with the NOAKA OBN, Heimdal Terrace OBN and Sleipner OBN. Together, these surveys provide high-fold, full-azimuth and ultra-long offset data that give operators the subsurface clarity needed to make confident decisions in one of the world's most mature exploration basins.
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North Sea Data Highlights
TGS offers a wide range of multi-client seismic data products for the North Sea including:
Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) Surveys:
- Utsira OBN: 2,076 km²
- NOAKA OBN: 434 km²
- Sleipner OBN: 1,204 km²
- Heimdal Terrace OBN: 433 km²
GeoStreamer X (Multi-azimuth, multi-sensor 3D): 2,322 km²designed to resolve imaging challenges on the Heimdal Terrace, with triple azimuth data targeted for infrastructure-led exploration and appraisal.
GeoStreamer PURE: More than 65,000 km² of high-end broadband seismic data across the Viking and Central grabens.
Additional products: GeoStreamer 3D , conventional 3D seismic, rockAVO (well and rock physics models), Aero/Marine gravity and magnetics, well data, Facies Map Browser (FMB).
Imaging
The geology of the North Sea presents numerous challenges for seismic imaging, including shallow features such as tunnel valleys, glacial channels and gas pockets, as well as injectites, ooze bodies, chalk and carbonate buildups and complex structural geometries that generate significant multiples, noise and scattering. These make velocity model building and accurate subsurface imaging particularly challenging.
To address this, TGS combines advanced acquisition solutions with proprietary imaging techniques including broadband processing, deblending and demultiple techniques, elastic dynamic matching and multi-parameter Full Waveform Inversion workflows for high-resolution velocity model building and high-end imaging.
Additional Insights
Maximizing Resolution from HD3D Seismic over the Greater Endurance CO2 Store Area, Southern North Sea, UK
Jun 2025 - High-density 3D seismic data over the Greater Endurance CO2 area have been processed by deploying a processing sequence to maximize resolution, including migration algorithms using primary reflections or multiples...
Deep Upper Jurassic Play Evaluation in the Southern Viking Graben Using Cost-Effective Multi-Azimuth Streamer Technology
Nov 2025 - Multi-azimuth (MAZ) multi-sensor towed streamer seismic data are an efficient and competitive means to providing significantly improved imaging of South Viking Graben (SVG) margin flanks and graben centres...
Derisking Injectites and Revealing Near Field Potential
GeoStreamer data is resolving potential super producers in the North Sea. Derisking these thin injectite bodies is possible with reliable lithology and fluid properties...
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