SOCON Sonar Control

What SOCON Sonar Control does

SOCON Sonar Control Kavernenvermessung GmbH is a German privately held specialist in geophysical surveying of underground caverns, boreholes, and cavities, founded in 1991 as a management buy-out from Prakla-Seismos AG. The company operates echometric sonar probes and related hardware to produce three-dimensional measurement and integrity assessments of underground voids, primarily serving energy storage operators (gas, and increasingly hydrogen) and raw materials (mining) customers. Its software stack — the CavInfo suite (CavViewII, CavMap, CavLog, CavWalkPro) and the CavBase database — turns raw sonar data into longitudinal monitoring and regulatory-compliant reporting, with the patented SoMIT method handling integrity testing and KARISDAT providing a mine-surveying workflow accepted by German mining authorities.

The company earns revenue through a mix of professional services (on-site sonar surveys, integrity testing, GSOS advisory), licensed software (CavInfo suite), subscription-based access to the CavBase database, and recurring seminars/training. Growth is supported by an international footprint consisting of the German headquarters, a US subsidiary established in 1996, and a China joint venture established in 2012. Operations are ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certified, and the firm employs 70+ people with deep institutional expertise in underground measurement.

Name

SOCON Sonar Control

Legal name

SOCON Sonar Control Kavernenvermessung GmbH

Website

https://socon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SOCON Sonar Control Kavernenvermessung GmbH is a German specialist in sonar-based geophysical surveying of underground caverns, boreholes, and cavities, serving energy storage operators and mining companies with proprietary probes, software, and integrity testing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Giesen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Cavern Surveying Services: Echometric sonar surveys of underground caverns and boreholes performed by field service teams deployed to client sites. Surveys are conducted in various media including brine, water, air, hydrocarbons, nitrogen, helium, and hydrogen. Includes sampling, leak tests, and integrity testing services (SoMIT®).
2. Software Licenses and Database Systems: Sale and support of specialized software including CavInfo Suite (CavViewII, CavMap, CavLog, CavWalkPro) and CavBase database systems. Software supports cavern visualization, analysis, and operational management.
3. Gas Storage Optimisation & Service (GSOS): Advisory and consulting services for thermodynamic and rock mechanical challenges related to gas storage operations. Includes CavBase GasStorage software support and operational optimization services.
4. Mine Surveying Services: Legally compliant documentation in accordance with German Federal Mining Act (BBergG) and Mining Ordinance for Mine Surveyors (MarkschBergV), including KARISDAT-based surveying, surface monitoring, and ground movement predictions.
5. Seminars & Trainings: Annual customer seminars and training programs covering cavern surveying, geophysical measurement methods, cavern construction and operation, software developments, mine surveying, and gas storage optimisation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SOCON Sonar Control provides echometric sonar surveying of underground caverns, boreholes, and cavities for the energy and raw materials industry. The company dispatches field service teams with proprietary sonar tools, survey trucks, and pressure control equipment to client sites worldwide to perform cavern geometry measurement, integrity testing, sampling, and mine surveying documentation. In addition to services, SOCON develops and sells a CavInfo software suite and CavBase database systems for cavern data visualization, 3D analysis, and operational management of gas storage fields.

Product overview

SOCON Sonar Control is a leading provider of geophysical surveying solutions for caverns, boreholes, and underground cavities. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio comprising hardware products (sonar probes, sampling tools, laser measurement heads, pressure sensors) and the CavInfo Software Suite for data visualization and analysis. The CavInfo Suite includes CavViewII for cavern survey visualization, CavMap for multi-cavern field display, CavLog for measurement data analysis, and CavWalkPro for 3D visualization with VR support. Supporting this is the CavBase database platform for cavern field management and the KARISDAT mine surveying software system. The company also provides integrity testing via the patented SoMIT method, gas storage optimization services (GSOS), and operates CavLift underground simulators for training and demonstrations. The product portfolio is rounded out by specialized hardware including pressure-resistant sonar probes, sampling tools, and measurement devices for temperature, pressure, and dew point.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CavInfo Software Suite Integrated software suite for visualizing, analysing, and processing cavern and cavern field measurement data. Sold to industrial cavern operators in the energy and storage sector.
• CavBase Database Systems Client-server database applications for managing cavern fields during the leaching phase (CavBase Production) and for thermodynamic and rock mechanical calculations supporting gas storage operations (CavBase GasStorage). Operated via intranet or internet.
• KARISDAT Mine Surveying Software Information system for mine surveying, accepted by mining authorities for computer-aided mapping management. Used for ground movement prediction (subsidence, inclinations, curvatures, horizontal displacements) and GIS applications.
• SoMIT Integrity Testing Patented tightness testing method for cavern wells. Continuously and accurately records interface depth while simultaneously measuring temperature and pressure, with significantly shorter test durations compared to conventional methods.
• Gas Storage Optimisation & Service (GSOS) Advisory and consulting services for thermodynamic and rock mechanical challenges related to gas storage operations, including CavBase GasStorage software support and operational optimization services for storage operators.
• CavLift Underground Simulator Mobile underground simulator providing virtual tours of caverns or cavern fields for eight people simultaneously using 3D SOCON measurement data, with individually adaptable programs and audiovisual presentation. Used for training, customer demonstrations, and events.
• Cavern & Borehole Surveying Services On-site echometric sonar surveys of underground caverns and boreholes performed by field service teams deployed to client sites. Surveys conducted in various media including brine, water, air, hydrocarbons, nitrogen, helium, and hydrogen. Includes sampling and leak tests.
• Mine Surveying Services Legally compliant mine surveying documentation in accordance with the German Federal Mining Act (BBergG) and the Mining Ordinance for Mine Surveyors (MarkschBergV), including KARISDAT-based surveying, surface monitoring, and ground movement predictions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Near 100% manufacturing depth for hardware and software enabling rapid market response
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AtkinsRealisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company for planning and construction of caverns and special measurements. Provides engineering and project management services for cavern development projects.
• BiLFINGER GREYLOGIXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for planning and construction of caverns and special measurements. Provides engineering and consultancy services for cavern projects.
• Bürogemeinschaft für UntergrundspeicherungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking group for underground storage, providing consultancy services for cavern and underground storage projects.
• DEEP.KBB GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for cavern construction and operation. Developed CavBase Production together with SOCON for cavern construction and operation during the leaching phase. A key partner in cavern development projects.
• ESK (Westenergie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for energy sector projects involving cavern and underground storage solutions.
• GEOSTOCK entreposeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for underground storage engineering and consultancy, working on cavern planning and development projects.
• Untergrund- und Geotechnologie Systeme (UGS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for underground and geotechnology systems, supporting cavern planning and geotechnical analysis.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• Halliburton: Major oilfield services company offering wireline, drilling, and formation evaluation services worldwide. Provides general-purpose borehole and integrity evaluation tools that can substitute for parts of SOCON's offering in larger operators' portfolios.
• SLB (formerly Schlumberger): Global oilfield services leader and original SOCON shareholder through Schlumberger Holding GmbH. Provides broader wellbore and reservoir geophysical services, including wireline logging and borehole integrity, overlapping with SOCON's cavern surveying at the wellbore level.
• Baker Hughes: Global oilfield and industrial energy technology company with wireline logging, well integrity, and subsurface evaluation capabilities. Overlaps with SOCON in storage well monitoring and wellbore diagnostics for oil & gas operators.
• Weatherford International: Global oilfield services provider offering well construction, evaluation, and intervention services. Provides wireline and integrity tools that are an alternative to SOCON's bespoke probes for operators with in-house geophysical capabilities.
• Schlumberger Reservoir Geomechanics / Wireline (now SLB): Part of SLB, providing high-end sonic and ultrasonic borehole logging tools (e.g., Sonic Scanner, UBI) that are the closest broad-incumbent analog to SOCON's cavern sonar probes.
• AtkinsRéalis (Nuclear / Energy): Engineering services firm with underground storage and cavern consulting practices. Listed by SOCON as a partner for cavern planning and construction, and competes in the same cavern project engineering market.

Direct peers

• GEOSTOCK (entrepose group): France-based underground storage engineering and consultancy firm focused on hydrocarbon, gas, and liquid storage caverns. Operates in the same niche as SOCON with overlapping service offerings around cavern design, monitoring, and integrity.
• DEEP.KBB GmbH: German engineering consultancy specializing in underground storage caverns, brine production, and leaching-phase operations. SOCON lists DEEP.KBB as a core partner and co-developer of CavBase Production, making it the closest comparable in cavern project services.

Others

• PGS (Petroleum Geo-Services): Marine geophysical acquisition company focused on seismic surveys for oil & gas exploration. Shares the "acoustic subsurface measurement" heritage with SOCON's sonar-based cavern surveying and serves overlapping oil & gas operators.
• TGS (Geophysical Data): Provider of multi-client geophysical and geological data libraries, primarily seismic for oil & gas exploration. Adjacent to SOCON's world of subsurface geophysical data, with shared customers in oil & gas operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/socon.sonarcontrol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/socon-sonar-control-kavernenvermessung-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/socon_sonarcontrol

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SOCON Sonar Control