Business news for the week of 20 May 2009

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Seismic crew survey reports

EMGS awarded contract worth US$12 million in Canada
14 May 2009—Electromagnetic Geoservices has been awarded a contract by a major exploration and production operator to provide 3D electromagnetic data acquisition services offshore Newfoundland, Canada. The contract is expected to generate revenues of minimum US$12 million in the second and third quarters of 2009. The 3D EM data will be acquired by the MV Siem Mollie.

Software and support firms merge to offer one-stop seismic interpretation solution
19 May 2009—Zokero and Blue Castle announced that they have merged to form SeisWare International.

Ed VanWieren, former president of Zokero, will serve as chief executive officer, and Murray Brack, former president of Blue Castle, will serve as chief operating officer for SeisWare International.

The merger will streamline the ownership and operations of SeisWare International. The new company will be more innovative and efficient, providing benefits to customers by combining the support and development of SeisWare seismic interpretation software via one company instead of two.

Geodynamic Solutions introduces WebMaps Enterprise GIS Suite 2.0 for ArcGIS Server
19 May 2009—Geodynamic Solutions introduced WebMaps Enterprise GIS Suite 2.0, a set of four plug-in tools for ESRI’s ArcGIS Server 9.3. Offered individually or bundled, these plug-ins expand the functionally of ESRI’s Web Mapping application to enable Web-based GIS functionality.

GSI plans to expand the WebMaps product suite beyond the release of the initial four tools and has several new tools in development. The four tools included in WebMaps Enterprise GIS Suite 2.0 are:

  • QuikMap Printer—a task that enables users with no GIS experience to create and print maps of any size or orientation at any scale. Multiple layout template sets and full legend control are supported. Output may be in PDF, JPG, TIF, or PNG file format.
  • QuikFind—a search utility that allows users to define and save queries against features in any GIS layer. Queries can be saved for personal use in the future or published to all users. Selected features are highlighted on the map, and the related attributes can be exported to Excel.
  • QuikSelect—a combination identify/select tool that enables users to extract feature attributes from map layers based on a variety of selection methods. Selected features are highlighted on the map, and the related attributes can be exported to Excel.
  • MapMarks—a task that allows users to select a favorite area and zoom extent on a Web-based map and return to it automatically with no navigation. Favorite areas may be saved for personal use in the future or published to all users.

GSI sees continued applications of the 2.0 release within state, county, and local governments; oil and gas companies; electric utilities; water and flood control districts; pipeline operators; and other enterprise users of ArcGIS 9.3.

Schlumberger acquires Techsia
20May 2009—Schlumberger announced that it has acquired the shares of Techsia, a supplier of petrophysical software based in Montpellier, France. Techsia will become the Schlumberger Petrophysics Software Center of Excellence for the development of solutions for the oil and gas exploration and production industry.

Techsia, currently employing 53 people, will continue to operate under its own name.