Visiongain has published a new report entitled Marine Seismic Equipment & Acquisition Market Report 2026-2036 (Including Impact of U.S. Trade Tariffs): Forecasts by Service Type (Data Acquisition & Processing, Equipment Leasing & Maintenance), by Technology Type (3D Seismic Survey, 4D (Time-Lapse) Seismic Survey, 2D Seismic Survey), by Acquisition Platform (Streamer-Based Survey Vessels, Ocean Bottom Seismic (OBS) Platforms, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs)), by Application (Oil & Gas Exploration, Offshore Wind & Renewable Energy Mapping, Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) Site Assessment, Geological & Geophysical Research, Marine Infrastructure & Dredging Projects), by Equipment Type (Seismic Streamers, Ocean Bottom Nodes (OBN), Air Guns & Source Arrays, Ocean Bottom Cables (OBC), Sensors & Hydrophones, Other) AND Regional and Leading National Market Analysis PLUS Analysis of Leading Companies.

The global marine seismic equipment & acquisition market is estimated at US$3,992.5 million in 2026 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period 2026-2036.

Impact of US Trade Tariffs on the Global Marine Seismic Equipment & Acquisition Market  

The introduction of new U.S. tariffs on imported seismic equipment, electronic components, offshore vessels, and related geophysical technologies is reshaping the global Marine Seismic Equipment & Acquisition Market. These tariffs increase supply chain costs, particularly for American contractors and exploration companies relying on imported streamers, hydrophones, OBN systems, and navigation electronics. Global players with manufacturing bases in Asia and Europe may face price pressures as procurement cycles become longer and more expensive. In response, leading seismic companies are diversifying suppliers, expanding local manufacturing, and negotiating long-term supply agreements to reduce risk. The overall market trajectory will depend on the severity, duration, and geopolitical context of the tariffs—leading to three possible recovery paths: V-shaped, U-shaped, and L-shaped.

Shift from Simple 3D to Complex 4D, OBN and Deepwater Imaging Is Driving a Technology-Intensive Upgrade Cycle in Seismic Fleets and Equipment

A second powerful driver is the industry’s migration from “conventional” 2D/3D to much more complex acquisition geometries—4D time-lapse surveys over producing fields, ultra-long offset and wide-azimuth surveys in deepwater, and high-density ocean bottom node (OBN) campaigns—each of which demands more advanced equipment and larger spreads. Ocean-bottom seismic in particular has become a hot segment as operators seek clearer images beneath complex overburdens and better monitoring of reservoir changes; TGS reported record-high OBN contract activity in Q3 2024 following its merger with PGS, highlighting strong client demand for node-based imaging. Shearwater GeoServices, one of the largest marine seismic contractors, has announced multiple high-end projects: a 4D towed-streamer survey over Equinor’s Tyrihans field in the Norwegian Sea to monitor reservoir performance, and a newly awarded OBN survey for Shell in India, involving two vessels and combined 3D/2D operations. These projects require sophisticated multi-component sensors, robust node handling systems, powerful onboard processing and careful survey design, pushing vessel owners and equipment manufacturers into a continuous upgrade cycle. As more brownfield assets rely on 4D/OBN to optimize recovery factors, the demand for high-end seismic spreads and equipment will remain structurally strong.

How will this Report Benefit you?

Visiongain’s 421-page report provides 125 tables and 200 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the marine seismic equipment & acquisition market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for marine seismic equipment & acquisition. Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including service type, technology type, acquisition platform, application, and equipment type, and capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing marine seismic equipment & acquisition market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company.

What are the Current Market Drivers?

Energy Transition, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and New Subsurface Uses Are Creating a Second Life for Marine Seismic Data and Acquisition

Beyond oil and gas, the global energy transition is opening a new “mission set” for marine seismic: characterizing subsurface storage sites for CO₂, monitoring injected plumes, and supporting low-carbon energy infrastructure. TGS has been very explicit about this pivot, publishing detailed work on “seismic-led exploration and characterization of carbon storage sites,” showing how legacy and new seismic data are being used to screen CCS candidates in Northwest Europe and other basins. Offshore Malaysia, new seismic surveys and multi-client projects are being marketed not only for hydrocarbon exploration but also to evaluate CCS potential ahead of bid rounds. PGS, through its PGS New Energy business, notes that increased tendering for offshore wind and CCS site characterization is becoming a significant growth area, with dedicated capex earmarked for wind-related imaging. For the equipment & acquisition market this means that even in a world of constrained hydrocarbon exploration, seismic vessels, nodes and processing technologies can find new utilization in CCS screening, monitoring and assurance, effectively de-risking the business cycle and widening the customer base beyond traditional oil & gas companies.

Autonomous Nodes, Next-Generation Streamers and Digital Workflows Are Enhancing Productivity and Lowering the Cost per Data Point

Another major trend driving the market is the rapid evolution of seismic hardware and software toward higher productivity, lower environmental footprint and better integration with digital geoscience workflows. On the hardware side, companies like Blue Ocean Seismic Services (BOSS) are rolling out fleets of autonomous, low-impact subsea nodes (OBSrV) backed by bp Ventures and Woodside, designed for multi-client use across offshore wind, oil and gas and CCS projects. These battery-powered robots promise lower deployment costs and reduced vessel time compared to traditional OBN operations, while advances in solid streamers, source control, and positioning systems have improved data quality and efficiency for towed-streamer surveys. On the digital side, marine seismic contractors now deliver data into sophisticated imaging and interpretation platforms where AI-assisted workflows, full-waveform inversion (FWI) and cloud-based processing significantly shorten cycle times from acquisition to prospect maturation. Parallel to this, the dedicated Marine Seismic Equipment market—covering streamers, sources, sensors, navigation and onboard systems—is projected to grow from roughly USD 430–450 million in 2024 to over USD 800 million by 2033 at CAGRs above 7%, reflecting a structural replacement and upgrade cycle rather than just newbuild demand. As equipment becomes smarter and more autonomous, it directly improves project economics and supports broader adoption of advanced acquisition designs.

Where are the Market Opportunities?

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Screening and Monitoring Is Emerging as a Dedicated High-Value Market Segment for Marine Seismic

On the opportunity side, CCS offers one of the clearest new growth frontiers: every offshore CO₂ storage site requires a robust seismic baseline to characterize caprock integrity and storage capacity, followed by periodic monitoring to track plume migration and verify containment. TGS has already published multiple case studies on seismic-led CCS site screening in the North Sea, explaining how re-processed legacy seismic and new targeted acquisitions support operator and regulator decisions, while its Malaysia portfolio is explicitly marketed for CCS screening as well as exploration. PGS New Energy expects increasing tendering activity for offshore wind and CCS site characterization and has earmarked capex for this space, while other contractors are adapting their OBN and high-resolution shallow seismic tools for storage monitoring. For the equipment market, CCS means demand for higher-frequency sources, node systems tailored to shallow overburden, and processing/imaging tools optimized for time-lapse detection of subtle changes. Over time, CCS monitoring contracts could resemble long-term 4D programs in traditional reservoirs, providing recurring revenue and smoothing cyclical exploration swings.

Offshore Wind, Site Characterization and Ground Risk Mapping Are Creating a Parallel Revenue Stream for Seismic Contractors and Equipment OEMs

Offshore wind is another major opportunity, not only for geotechnical and geohazard work but increasingly for high-resolution seismic used to map shallow stratigraphy, faults, gas pockets and boulder fields that affect foundation design and cable routing. PGS has highlighted growing tender activity for offshore wind site characterization in its 2024 guidance, linking part of its capex program to expanding this business line. Novel technologies like BOSS’s autonomous nodes are explicitly positioned for multi-sector use including offshore wind and CCS, illustrating how seismic equipment that once served only oil and gas is being repurposed for renewable infrastructure development. For contractors, offshore wind work often involves a different set of clients (utilities, developers, funds) and risk profiles than oil & gas, broadening the customer base. As global offshore wind capacity targets rise—especially in Europe, China, the U.S. East Coast and parts of Asia–Pacific—site-characterization seismic could become a stable, policy-driven pillar of demand for both vessels and equipment.

Competitive Landscape

The major players operating in the marine seismic equipment & acquisition market are China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Dolphin Geophysical AS, Fugro N.V., Geosoftware Limited, Geospace Technologies Corporation, Halliburton Corporation, Hexagon AB, MIND Technology, Ocean Infinity, PXGEO Seismic Services Limited, SAExploration Holdings, Inc., Schlumberger Limited, SeaBird Exploration PLC, Seismic Equipment Solutions, TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company, These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, collaborations, investment in R&D, regional business expansion, partnerships, and new product launch.

Recent Developments

• 20-Nov-25, Extension of rights with the Somali Petroleum Authority to market & license offshore geophysical data. Provides exclusive access to 46,000 km of modern 2D seismic and 50,000 km of aeromagnetic data, supporting offshore licensing and exploration of Somalia’s underexplored basins.
• 18-Nov-25, Contract extension for PRM (Permanent Reservoir Monitoring) and 4D OBN services on the Norwegian continental shelf. Five-year term (to 2030) with option for another five years, supporting long-term reservoir surveillance for a major IOC.
• 17-Nov-25, Launch of a 14,800 sq km multi-client 3D survey in Pelotas Basin. Will employ a Ramform Titan-class vessel using GeoStreamer® tech. Survey supports 21 exploration blocks and runs into Q3 2026. Basin attracts interest due to similarities with West Africa.
• 10-Nov-25, Hexagon acquires Inertial Sense to strengthen its GNSS+INS tactical-grade positioning portfolio. Enhances PNT solutions for aerospace, defense, robotics, and UAVs. Over 30,000 inertial systems deployed globally by Inertial Sense.
• 05-Nov-25, Three-year agreement for 18 months of OBN + streamer acquisition capacity. Includes St. Malo 4D OBN monitoring project. Enhances collaboration on survey design, acquisition technology, and geophysical R&D.
• 30-Oct-25, Halliburton introduced StreamStar™, a wired drill pipe interface system enabling real-time high-speed data transmission and continuous downhole power, improving drilling automation, geosteering, and well placement accuracy.
• 27-Oct-25, Partnership to deliver floating LiDAR (FLS200) wind & metocean campaigns for offshore wind development. TGS manages design, deployment, permitting, and local content; EOLOS provides LiDAR tech. Supports Brazil’s fast-growing offshore wind sector.

Notes for Editors

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