SEMS Exploration
SEMS Exploration Services is a Ghana-based geophysical survey firm that provides deep-penetrating controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys and 3D inversion modelling for mining and mineral exploration companies, primarily in West Africa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersAccra, Ghana
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SEMS Exploration does
SEMS Exploration Services is a private Ghana-based geophysical survey firm headquartered in Accra and founded in 2002. The company provides deep-penetrating controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey services for the mineral exploration industry, targeting mineral deposits at depths exceeding one kilometer — beyond the reach of conventional exploration methods. Its service offering spans on-site field survey operations (station-based data collection), through 3D inversion modelling, to final reporting for exploration clients.
The company's core technology is deep CSEM surveying, a proprietary geophysical technique enabling it to conduct surveys in proximity to active mine operations (e.g., running parallel to AngloGold Ashanti's Obuasi mine). Documented engagements include a 9.2 km² Obuasi survey with 295 stations at 170-meter spacing and a 2.8 km² Manfo survey with 100 stations. Headcount sits at 51–100 employees and operations are concentrated in Ghana and West Africa.
SEMS Exploration generates revenue through professional services contracts with mining and mineral exploration companies, delivered via direct enterprise B2B engagement. Its customer base is concentrated in the mining/exploration vertical — Pelangio Exploration Inc. is a disclosed enterprise client for Obuasi and Manfo. No public pricing, funding history, leadership team, patents, or certifications are disclosed in the available data.
SEMS Exploration firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SEMS Exploration
- Legal name
- SEMS Exploration Services
- Website
- https://sems-exploration.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- SEMS Exploration Services is a Ghana-based geophysical survey firm that provides deep-penetrating controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys and 3D inversion modelling for mining and mineral exploration companies, primarily in West Africa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SEMS Exploration industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mineral Exploration Services
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mineral Exploration & Geoscience Services (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Resource Modeling) (IMAKAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mine Surveying & Geospatial Services (Survey, Drone/LiDAR, GIS, Grade Control) (IMAKAKAK)
Keywords
Where SEMS Exploration is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Accra
- HQ country
- Ghana
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
SEMS Exploration business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Exploration Survey Services: SEMS Exploration provides specialized CSEM survey services to mining and exploration companies. Revenue is generated through professional service contracts for conducting electromagnetic surveys, including field work, data collection, and 3D inversion modelling and reporting.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
SEMS Exploration product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SEMS Exploration provides deep-penetrating controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey services for mineral exploration projects. Deliverables cover end-to-end execution including field deployment of station-based data collection networks (e.g., 295 stations covering 9.2 km² at Obuasi and 100 stations covering 2.8 km² at Manfo) and post-survey 3D inversion modelling and reporting to identify conductive and resistive mineral targets at depths exceeding 1 kilometer.
Product overview
SEMS Exploration Services provides geophysical survey services for the mineral exploration industry. Based on available sources, the company specializes in deep-penetrating controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys for mining exploration projects, particularly targeting mineral deposits at significant depths (1+ kilometre). Services include field survey operations with station-based data collection and 3D inversion modelling and reporting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Deep CSEM Survey Services End-to-end controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey service covering field deployment of station-based data collection networks (e.g., 295 stations at 170-meter spacing across 9.2 km² at Obuasi; 100 stations across 2.8 km² at Manfo), acquisition of electromagnetic field data, and 3D inversion modelling with final reporting. Delivered to mining and exploration companies targeting mineral deposits at depths greater than 1 kilometer, including support for resource extensional drilling programs alongside existing producing mines.
Companies that use SEMS Exploration
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SEMS Exploration technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
SEMS Exploration partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Pelangio Exploration Inc.coreSEMS Exploration Services was commissioned by Pelangio Exploration to conduct deep-penetrating CSEM surveys on the Obuasi and Manfo gold projects in Ghana. The Obuasi survey covers 9.2 km² with 295 stations, running parallel to AngloGold Ashanti's own CSEM survey on adjacent property. A smaller Manfo survey covering 2.8 km² with 100 stations explores down-dip and down-plunge extensions of Pokukrom deposits. Field work commenced in mid-April with approximately two months of data collection plus one month for 3D inversion modelling and reporting.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights1 record
SEMS Exploration competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Gap GeoPhysics Australia: Provider of borehole, surface, and downhole geophysical surveys for mining and exploration. Comparable as a specialized EM/IP survey contractor with similar field-deployment, station-based delivery model targeting mineral deposits.
- Expert Geophysics Limited: Boutique geophysical services firm offering ground EM (including CSAMT/CSEM), magnetic, and IP surveys for mineral exploration. Comparable as a focused deep-penetrating EM survey provider serving mining clients with similar end-to-end project delivery.
- Sander Geophysics Limited: Provider of high-resolution airborne and ground geophysical surveys (magnetic, EM, radiometric, gravity) for mineral exploration globally. Comparable as a specialized geophysical survey services firm serving the mining industry with similar project-based delivery model.
- SkyTEM Surveys: Specialist in airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys for mineral exploration, groundwater, and geotechnical applications. Comparable as a deep-targeting EM geophysics services provider competing for the same mining exploration budget allocations.
- Southern Geoscience Consultants (SGC): Consulting geophysicists providing survey design, data processing, and interpretation services for mineral exploration clients globally. Comparable as a project-based geophysical services partner offering 3D modelling and interpretation deliverables similar to SEMS's offering.
- Terra Resources Pty Ltd: Australian geophysical consultancy offering ground EM, IP, and downhole surveys for mineral exploration, with focus on nickel, gold, and base metals. Comparable as a specialist deep-targeting EM/IP services firm with similar project structure and customer profile.
Broad incumbents
- Viridien (formerly CGG): Global geoscience and multi-physics services company offering CSEM, seismic, and subsurface imaging to mining and exploration clients. Comparable as a direct provider of deep CSEM technology at a much larger scale, setting the competitive ceiling on price and capability.
- TGS (now part of PGS-TGS consortium): Global energy and minerals data company providing multi-physics surveys including CSEM and airborne EM for mining exploration. Comparable as a large-scale geophysical data acquisition and services provider with overlapping technology and customer base in mining.
Emerging players
- New-Sense Geophysics: Boutique airborne and ground geophysical survey provider with focus on high-resolution EM and magnetic surveys for mineral exploration. Comparable as a smaller, specialist EM services firm competing in adjacent exploration segments.
Others
- ARKeX (now part of CGG/Viridien): Historical provider of multi-physics (gravity, magnetic, EM) airborne surveys for mining exploration, now integrated within larger geophysical services groups. Comparable as a historical specialist in deep EM and gravity survey services targeting mineral deposits.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
SEMS Exploration social profiles
Digital presenceSEMS Exploration financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SEMS Exploration leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SEMS Exploration funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SEMS Exploration M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SEMS Exploration
What does SEMS Exploration do?
SEMS Exploration provides deep-penetrating controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey services for mineral exploration projects. Deliverables cover end-to-end execution including field deployment of station-based data collection networks (e.g., 295 stations covering 9.2 km² at Obuasi and 100 stations covering 2.8 km² at Manfo) and post-survey 3D inversion modelling and reporting to identify conductive and resistive mineral targets at depths exceeding 1 kilometer.
When was SEMS Exploration founded?
SEMS Exploration was founded in 2002. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is SEMS Exploration based?
SEMS Exploration is headquartered in Accra, Ghana, in the Africa region.
How does SEMS Exploration make money?
One revenue line is on record: exploration Survey Services.
Who are SEMS Exploration's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Gap GeoPhysics Australia, Expert Geophysics Limited, Sander Geophysics Limited, SkyTEM Surveys, Southern Geoscience Consultants (SGC) and Terra Resources Pty Ltd. Broad incumbents are Viridien (formerly CGG) and TGS (now part of PGS-TGS consortium). New-Sense Geophysics is listed as an emerging player. ARKeX (now part of CGG/Viridien) is listed as an others.
Does SEMS Exploration have an API?
No public API is recorded for SEMS Exploration.
What industry is SEMS Exploration in?
SEMS Exploration's product category is Mineral Exploration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAKAA, Mineral Exploration & Geoscience Services (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Resource Modeling), with a secondary code of IMAKAKAK, Mine Surveying & Geospatial Services (Survey, Drone/LiDAR, GIS, Grade Control). Its NAICS code is 54136 and its SIC code is 8731.