TGS fires the starting gun on seismic reprocessing project in Africa

August 11, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Norwegian energy data and intelligence company TGS has kicked off a 2D seismic data reprocessing program to shed more light on the hydrocarbon exploration potential off the coast of São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa.

Ramform Tethys vessel; Source: TGS — Ramform Tethys vessel (illustration); Source: TGS

TGS, in partnership with the Agência Nacional do Petróleo de São Tomé e Príncipe (ANP-STP), has started the São Tomé and Príncipe 2D PSDM reprocessing project, which covers a full reprocessing of 14,651 kilometers of 2D seismic data, encompassing four input surveys originally acquired by the company between 1999 and 2005.

While the firm previously reprocessed the data in 2014, the new project applies a modern, comprehensive workflow, combining advanced pre-processing with velocity model building via dynamic matching elastic full waveform inversion (E-DMFWI) and Kirchhoff prestack depth migration (KPSDM), to deliver a significant step-up in imaging quality and interpretation confidence.

David Hajovsky, Executive Vice President of Multi-Client at TGS, commented: “This reprocessing project reflects our continued commitment to invest in the exploration potential of São Tomé and Príncipe’s offshore basin.

“By applying our most advanced imaging technology to this dataset, we are giving operators the subsurface clarity needed to confidently assess subsurface prospectivity, identify prospects and assign budget ready for future exploration success.”

The company underlines that São Tomé and Príncipe’s offshore area presents a demanding subsurface environment, with volcanic activity, shallow channelization, and pervasive mass transport complexes, historically limiting the clarity of legacy seismic imaging and depth positioning of targets.

Hajovsky underscored: “This project is one of many that underscores TGS’ broader commitment to supporting exploration success across the wider West African margin, where our sustained investment is helping operators de-risk plays and discover new opportunities ahead of acreage capture and support existing work commitments.”

The 2D PSDM reprocessing project is designed to solve these specific challenges, giving operators a clearer, more geologically consistent view of the subsurface in areas where earlier vintages of data have struggled to image, according to TGS.

By sharpening image quality in these complex settings, the project is said to give interested parties a stronger technical basis for prospect identification and maturation, supporting more confident investment decisions ahead of future licensing activity in the basin.

TGS emphasizes that a priority subset of lines will be delivered within seven months, with final products for the full dataset expected in Q3 2027. This project is supported by industry funding.

The start-up of the reprocessing project comes shortly after the firm secured a 4D streamer acquisition contract in Australian waters.