SAExploration
SAExploration is a Houston-based geophysical services company founded in 2006 that provides seismic data acquisition across land, transition-zone, and marine environments for major oil and gas operators globally, with proprietary OBN, vibroseis, and marine source technologies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersAnchorage, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SAExploration does
SAExploration Holdings, Inc. is a privately-held geophysical services company headquartered in Houston, Texas, founded in 2006 and formerly listed on NASDAQ (SAEX). The company provides vertically-integrated seismic data acquisition and logistical support services across land, transition-zone, and marine environments, serving major integrated oil companies, national oil companies, and large independent exploration and production operators in over 50 countries. Its service portfolio spans deep-water OBN (water depths up to 3,450 meters), shallow-water OBN with NOAR (Node-On-A-Rope) deployment, transition-zone marine operations, high-production vibroseismic land acquisition (averaging more than 10,000 VPs/day with trace densities exceeding five million per km²), dynamite and heliportable surveys, and integrated logistics including program design, permitting, camp services, and community relations. Proprietary technologies include OBN systems with 1C/2C/4C sensing capabilities, a Marine Vibrator source compliant with NOAA TTS/PTS thresholds, the OnSEIS Synchronized Impulsive Source Vehicle (a compact, low-ground-pressure source operating within 15 feet of structures), the TZ40 Series cable-node handling vessel, and the GeoTiger IV source vessel.
SAExploration generates revenue through project-based contracts priced by scope, terrain, water depth, technology requirements, and duration, typically spanning multi-year engagements with blue-chip energy operators. The company pursues an enterprise field sales motion supplemented by active participation in industry events (IMAGE, EAGE, SEG, URTeC, AAPG, SEAPEX, GEO) and maintains a SharePoint-based client portal for existing customers. Following a $26 million recapitalization in February 2022 that took the company private after a 2019 SEC investigation into accounting irregularities, SAExploration has executed two material acquisitions: inApril AS in January 2025 (Norwegian OBN hardware and automated handling systems) and Terrex Seismic in September 2025 (Australia's leading onshore seismic contractor, founded 1981). The company is pursuing emerging opportunities in carbon capture and storage, geothermal, and other energy-transition verticals alongside its core oil and gas exploration customer base, with regional headquarters in Anchorage, Bogota, Calgary, and Singapore. SAExploration is governed by a rebuilt leadership team headed by CEO Forrest Burkholder (industry veteran since the mid-1980s) and CFO Richard O'Brien (appointed September 2024, formerly of TETRA Technologies and BHP Petroleum), with the CEO additionally serving as Chairman of the EnerGeo Alliance from February 2026.
SAExploration firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SAExploration
- Legal name
- SAExploration Holdings, Inc.
- Website
- https://saexploration.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- SAExploration is a Houston-based geophysical services company founded in 2006 that provides seismic data acquisition across land, transition-zone, and marine environments for major oil and gas operators globally, with proprietary OBN, vibroseis, and marine source technologies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SAExploration industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geophysical / Seismic Data Acquisition Services
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Support Activities for Mining (2131), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seismic & Geoscience Services (Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation) (EUALABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Subsea Services & Equipment (Subsea Trees, Umbilicals, Installation, IMR) (EUALABAI), Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)
Keywords
Where SAExploration is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Anchorage
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
SAExploration business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Seismic Data Acquisition Services: Project-based seismic data acquisition services on land, in transition zones, and offshore. Revenue generated through large-scale seismic survey projects for energy exploration clients.
- Logistical Support Services: Includes program design, planning and permitting, camp services and infrastructure, surveying, drilling, environmental assessment and reclamation, and community relations services bundled with seismic acquisition projects.
- Technology/Equipment Sales (via inApril): Through acquired inApril AS, SAExploration provides ocean bottom nodes (OBN) and fully automated OBN back deck handling systems to seismic operators globally.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing for seismic acquisition services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
SAExploration product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SAExploration is a global geophysical services company that acquires seismic data on behalf of oil and gas exploration clients across land, transition zone, and marine (shallow to 3,450 m deep) environments, using proprietary technologies including Ocean Bottom Node systems, the towed Marine Vibrator, the OnSEIS impulsive source vehicle, high-density vibroseis fleets, and dedicated vessels (GeoTiger IV, TZ40 Series). It bundles acquisition with program design, permitting, drilling, camp mobilization, environmental assessment, reclamation, and community relations as vertically integrated project-based services sold primarily to IOCs, NOCs, and large independents.
Product overview
SAExploration is a global provider of vertically-integrated seismic data acquisition and logistical support services operating across land, transition zone, and marine environments. The core portfolio spans two primary service lines: Marine Geophysical Acquisition Services (including Deep Water OBN, Shallow Water OBN, and Transition Zone marine operations, powered by proprietary technologies such as the Marine Vibrator, GeoTiger IV vessels, and TZ40 cable-node handling vessels) and Land Services (including Vibroseis, Dynamite and Heliportable, and Logistics services, featuring the proprietary onSEIS™ Synchronized Impulsive Source Vehicle). Acquired capabilities include inApril's ocean bottom node technology and automated OBN handling systems, and Terrex Seismic's Australian land-based seismic operations. The company serves major IOCs, NOCs, and independent exploration companies across North America, South America, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, with global headquarters in Houston, Texas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- OnSEIS™: Synchronized Impulsive Source Vehicle that delivers energy generation capabilities of larger trucks in a highly maneuverable form factor with rubber treads exerting ground pressure equivalent to human footsteps
- Marine Vibrator
- GeoTiger
- SAE-IMS
- TZ40 Series
- UNIVIB
Products and services
- Marine Geophysical Acquisition Services Full-wavefield geophysical surveying services for aquatic environments including transition-zone, shallow-water, and deep-water operations using Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) technology for reservoir identification, delineation, characterization, and monitoring.
- Deep Water OBN Services Deep-water ocean bottom node survey services using DP-2 classed Construction Support Vessels equipped with twin work-class ROVs for OBN deployment and recovery, plus seismic source vessels configured for single, dual, or triple source firing, supporting water depths up to 3,450 meters.
- Shallow Water OBN Services Shallow-water OBN survey services using tuned airgun arrays and multi-component 4C (hydrophone plus three orthogonal geophones) nodes, often deployed via NOAR (Node-On-A-Rope) tethering for efficient handling.
- Transition Zone Marine Services Seismic data acquisition in areas where land and water join, combining onshore and offshore techniques using shallow-draft vessels and specialized source vessels, with support for explosives as acoustic source and land sensor deployment.
- Vibroseis Services High-production vibroseismic acquisition using vibrators ranging from 15,000 to 80,000 pounds with Source Driven Shooting techniques, averaging over 10,000 VPs per day and supporting trace densities exceeding five million traces/km².
- Dynamite and Heliportable Services Remote heliportable seismic operations utilizing innovative drilling techniques, with a safety record of over 30,000 incident-free flight hours, and specialized teams for challenging terrain environments.
- Logistics Services Integrated logistical support including program design, planning and permitting, social relationship management, resource planning, and survey and line-cutting services for geophysical programs in challenging environments worldwide.
- Terrex Seismic Onshore Acquisition Services Australian onshore seismic acquisition contractor specializing in environmentally sensitive areas and challenging terrain; operates under the Terrex name as part of SAExploration's global portfolio following the September 2025 acquisition.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30,000+ helicopter hours flown incident free over four years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SAExploration
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SAExploration technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
SAExploration partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- EnerGeo AlliancecoreSAExploration CEO Forrest Burkholder elected as Chairman of EnerGeo Alliance at its 55th Annual Membership Meeting. EnerGeo Alliance is a global trade association for the energy geoscience industry, uniting energy and geoscience industries to advance energy access worldwide.
- Terrex SeismiccoreSAExploration completed acquisition of Terrex Seismic, Australia's leading seismic contractor founded in 1981. The acquisition expands SAE's presence in Australia and Asia-Pacific, combining SAE's marine, land, and transition zone capabilities with Terrex's specialized onshore expertise.
- inApril AScoreSAExploration announced agreement to acquire inApril AS, a Norwegian seabed seismic equipment supplier delivering ocean bottom nodes (OBN) and fully automated OBN back deck handling systems. inApril provides technology for automated, reliable, and safe seabed seismic surveys. Acquisition closed January 2025.
- Prospectiuni SAcoreStrategic alliance between PSA (with over 70 years of experience as Romania's leading land-based geophysical acquisition provider) and SAExploration to deliver enhanced geophysical services to clients in Europe and parts of Asia. Collaboration combines expertise and resources for comprehensive solutions.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SAExploration competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SLB (Schlumberger): SLB is the world's largest oilfield services company with broad capabilities across drilling, evaluation, completion, and seismic/geophysical services. Comparable to SAExploration as a broad incumbent offering overlapping geophysical services within a much larger portfolio.
- Halliburton: Halliburton is a global oilfield services major operating across the upstream lifecycle. Comparable to SAExploration as a broad incumbent with overlapping seismic/geophysical offerings within a diversified services portfolio.
Direct peers
- Viridien (formerly CGG): Viridien (formerly CGG) is a global technology and geophysics leader offering seismic acquisition, multi-client data, and subsurface imaging. Directly comparable to SAExploration across land, marine, and TZ seismic services for IOC/NOC clients.
- ION Geophysical: ION Geophysical provides seismic acquisition services, marine positioning, and subsurface imaging technology. Directly comparable to SAExploration in nodal and marine seismic acquisition capabilities.
- TGS: TGS is a leading global energy data and intelligence company providing multi-client seismic libraries and data acquisition services to the oil and gas industry. Directly comparable to SAExploration as a peer in seismic data services for upstream E&P, though TGS's business is skewed toward multi-client data licensing rather than proprietary acquisition crews.
- Dawson Geophysical: Dawson Geophysical is a US-based provider of land seismic acquisition services to the oil and gas industry. Directly comparable to SAExploration's onshore vibroseis and dynamite crew services.
- Fairfield Geotechnologies: Fairfield Geotechnologies is a US-based geophysical services company providing land and marine seismic acquisition, nodal technology, and multi-client data. Directly comparable to SAExploration's land and nodal acquisition operations.
- PGS (Petroleum Geo-Services): PGS is a globally integrated marine geophysical company providing seismic acquisition and imaging services, particularly strong in offshore towed-streamer and ocean bottom node operations. Directly comparable to SAExploration's marine OBN service line.
- Synterra Technologies: Synterra Technologies (formerly Tesla Exploration) is a North American provider of land seismic acquisition services using nodal and crew-based operations. Directly comparable to SAExploration's land and vibroseis service lines for IOC and independent E&P clients.
Others
- Geokinetics (legacy): Geokinetics was a US-based geophysical services company specializing in land and TZ seismic acquisition before its 2019 bankruptcy and asset sale; historically directly comparable to SAExploration's land seismic operations and a useful benchmark for industry consolidation dynamics.
Market position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SAExploration social profiles
Digital presenceSAExploration compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
SAExploration financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SAExploration leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
SAExploration subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
SAExploration funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SAExploration M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SAExploration
What does SAExploration do?
SAExploration is a global geophysical services company that acquires seismic data on behalf of oil and gas exploration clients across land, transition zone, and marine (shallow to 3,450 m deep) environments, using proprietary technologies including Ocean Bottom Node systems, the towed Marine Vibrator, the OnSEIS impulsive source vehicle, high-density vibroseis fleets, and dedicated vessels (GeoTiger IV, TZ40 Series). It bundles acquisition with program design, permitting, drilling, camp mobilization, environmental assessment, reclamation, and community relations as vertically integrated project-based services sold primarily to IOCs, NOCs, and large independents.
Is SAExploration a public or private company?
SAExploration is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was SAExploration founded?
SAExploration was founded in 2006. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is SAExploration based?
SAExploration is headquartered in Anchorage, United States, in the North America region.
How does SAExploration make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Seismic Data Acquisition Services are the primary driver. The others are logistical Support Services and technology/Equipment Sales (via inApril).
Who are SAExploration's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SLB (Schlumberger) and Halliburton. Direct peers are Viridien (formerly CGG), ION Geophysical, TGS, Dawson Geophysical, Fairfield Geotechnologies, PGS (Petroleum Geo-Services) and Synterra Technologies. Geokinetics (legacy) is listed as an others.
Does SAExploration have an API?
No public API is recorded for SAExploration.
What industry is SAExploration in?
SAExploration's product category is Geophysical / Seismic Data Acquisition Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUALABAK, Seismic & Geoscience Services (Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation), with a secondary code of EUALABAI, Subsea Services & Equipment (Subsea Trees, Umbilicals, Installation, IMR). Its NAICS code is 541360 and its SIC code is 1382.