Riding the Seismic Wave: Twenty Years of Searcher
20.11.2025
Twenty years. In geology, it’s a rounding error. For an exploration company, it’s an epoch. It’s long enough to see booms become busts and back again, to watch revolutionary technologies become relics. For us at Searcher, turning twenty in 2025 is more than a milestone; it’s a testament to a vision we forged two decades ago in a constantly shifting industry.
Our story began in 2005 with a clear, almost dangerously simple idea: to build a new kind of geoscience data company. The goal wasn’t just to sell seismic lines, but to curate an intelligence library of the subsurface that would help explorers de-risk their ventures. With a focus on agility and foresight in a world of giants, we set out on a journey that would see us grow and evolve across more than 25 countries, shaping our identity through the projects we delivered and the relationships we built along the way.
Our founders Jan Ostby and Odd Larsen along with Don Pyke back in the early days
The Genesis of an Explorer's Explorer
Cast your mind back to November 2005, My Humps by the Black Eyed Peas was number 1 and the multi-client data landscape was a well-trodden field. We entered with a different philosophy, instead of acquiring data where it was easiest, we focused on where it was smartest. Our mission was to anticipate the industry’s next move, identify overlooked basins, and build the foundational datasets to unlock their potential.
This required a certain nerve. It meant building relationships with governments, forging partnerships, and diving into regions others deemed too challenging. Those early years were a whirlwind, but they helped us build a reputation not for size, but for surgical precision. What kept us moving was an almost uncanny ability to be in the right place before it became the obvious place.
Our logos through the years
Charting a Course Across the Global Seascape
Our work has taken us across the world’s continental shelves, creating a sprawling atlas of geological opportunity. From the southern tip of Africa to the shores of South America and the strategic waters of the Middle East, each project tells a story of discovery.
Lighting the Fuse in the Orange Basin
Few stories capture our impact better than our work in the Orange Basin with NAMCOR and project partner Shearwater. Long before this slice of the South Atlantic became the darling of the exploration world, we were there.
Our team recognised the potential buried in vintage datasets and embarked on extensive 2D and 3D reprocessing and acquisition campaigns. This was geological detective work on a grand scale.
By providing a clear, modern view of the subsurface architecture, we supplied critical insights that helped elevate the basin’s perception to a world-class play.
A New Dawn for Old Frontiers in South America
The South American continent, with its complex geology, has been a major theatre of operations for us. In Ecuador, we took on the Herculean task of revitalising vast tracts of vintage data, breathing new life into old surveys.
Further south, in Brazil’s highly prospective Pelotas Basin, we applied state-of-the-art technology in a multi-phase 3D acquisition. This dual strategy—unlocking value from the old while capturing the new—showcases what we do best.
Partnership for Progress in the Middle East
The ability to work hand-in-glove with national authorities is a hallmark we’ve worked hard to earn. Our multi-phase reprocessing project in the Sea of Oman, executed in close partnership with Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM), is a prime example.
These collaborations are built on trust and a shared goal: to responsibly unlock a nation’s resource potential. It represents our role not just as a vendor, but as a strategic partner.
Our global data presence in 2025
The MC3D Leap: A New Dimension of Clarity
For years, we honed our expertise in 2D seismic and data reprocessing. But the industry’s appetite for high-resolution 3D data was undeniable. In 2022, we made our boldest move yet, launching into the Multi-Client 3D (MC3D) space.. This wasn’t just an expansion; it was a fundamental evolution. Whilst industry was running away from deep water, high risk, high reward exploration we saw an opening and seized the opportunity.
This pivot positioned us as a comprehensive, end-to-end provider of modern seismic solutions. Our inaugural project was an ambitious multi-phase survey in Namibia’s Orange Basin, which commenced that same year. Offering new business models, with a win-win mentality we began capturing the subsurface with a clarity previously reserved for proprietary surveys.
The Future is Digital
As we celebrate twenty years, our gaze is firmly fixed on the horizon. The future of exploration is digital, and we are once again positioning ourselves at the forefront. Through our intelligence products—GeoClerk, Seisintel, and sAIsmic—we are pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence into the geoscientist’s workflow.
The introduction of GeoClerk’s GeoBot, an AI assistant, offers a glimpse into this future. It’s designed to revolutionise how professionals interact with vast geological databases, turning cumbersome data mining into a simple conversation. This commitment shows that the innovative spirit that founded our company is not only alive but accelerating. The journey has been remarkable, driven by strategic foresight and a passion for discovery. After two decades of charting the unknown, we feel more prepared than ever to illuminate the path ahead.
20 Years of Searcher
As part of our 20 years of Searcher celebration, we sat down with our founders, Jan Ostby and Odd Larsen, along with our Managing Director, Alan Hopping to reflect on Searcher’s early days, celebrate our journey over the past two decades, and look ahead to the future.
Check out the video here…