Energy Independence: The Secret Weapon of Seismic Data

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At this point in InvestorPlace’s series on Energy Independence, it’s no secret that global energy demand is rising at exponential rates. Overall, the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest global forecast predicts that the world’s energy use will jump nearly 53% by 2035 as strong demand from emerging markets such as India and China continues to rise.

The EIA also believes that fossil fuels will still be the dominant means of powering our planet in 2035, with oil and natural gas representing the bulk of the world’s projected energy supply.

And with traditional reserves quickly dwindling, energy & production (E&P) companies have literally gone to the ends of the earth to find new ways to meet that demand. These unconventional sources are becoming the norm when it comes to production and reserves. Tools such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal deep-sea drilling rigs are now standard equipment, and regions such as Africa’s fertile oceans and America’s shale formations are dotted with activity.

These sorts of unconventional assets require big bucks to fund and are one of major reasons behind the exorbitant CAPEX budgets we have been seeing from the oil majors of late. All this drilling and demand ultimately will benefit the broad oil-services sector.

Oil Services: A Vital Link In The Chain

With energy prices and demand continuing to rise, finding new sources of supply continues to be a paramount goal. While much attention is focused on E&P companies, the real grunt work falls to the oil-services sector to get that oil out of the ground. From drilling rigs to pump trucks, it takes a lot of moving parts to support a drilling operation. That’s why the oil-services sector continues to be one of my favorite ways to play rising energy demand.

How does an energy company know precisely what ‘end of the earth’ to drill in? These days, that task falls to various seismic-data companies with specialized technological know-how — affectionately known as “doodlebuggers.”

Drilling companies have been using seismic data since the 1920s to identify various geological conditions that are favorable for oil and natural gas and to evaluate their various drilling potentials. However, like much of the energy sector, advances in technology have allowed the sector to expand its offerings. The use of advanced 3D seismic-data equipment has been crucial to the discovery and development of many deepwater fields, including those off the coast of Brazil, as well as in the discovery of pockets of  natural gas in shale formations.

Likewise, new developments in 4D, or time-lapse seismic monitoring, has enabled E&P companies to better observe fluid movement and differentiate between the drained and undrained portions of a reservoir. Both 3D and 4D gear have become critical to finding new energy deposits.

At its core, seismic equipment works by sending an acoustic wave beneath the earth’s surface. That wave bounces off underlying rock layers and then is enhanced by sophisticated computer software to produce a 3D image of subsurface layers that can be used to map exploration projects. These images help exploration companies accurately and cost-effectively evaluate a promising field for its oil-and-gas-yielding potential.

Doodlebuggers essentially fall into two camps: They either provide a multi-client library or individual project contract work. The contract firms will conduct a seismic survey at the request of a single operator, charging a fee for each square mile. Multi-client providers will market their databases of seismic information to several clients. So if Apache (NYSE:APA) is interested in a deepwater block in the Gulf of Mexico, it would purchase seismic data on that block to determine if it’s worth the company’s time. E&P companies also use the data to pinpoint prospective areas for test drilling.

Given the perilously dwindling reserves facing many E&P companies, seismic data remains the key to long-term growth and success. Spending on seismic data currently represents only a small proportion of the sector’s capital budgets, but that’s changing in the face of the new energy reality.

BP‘s (NYSE:BP) technology budget increased by an average of 15% a year from 2003 to 2006. Overall, global spending on seismic data and survey collection reached nearly $7 billion in 2011. Analysts expect that to increase 30% in 2012 and over the next three-year period to clock in at a compound annual growth rate of around 9%.

Bet on the Doodlebuggers

Despite the imperative of finding new oil reserves, seismic-data stocks are often ignored by portfolio managers aside from service giant Schlumberger’s (NYSE:SLB) WesternGeco division. That provides lots of opportunity for investors. One lies within a beaten-down French seismic superstar.

Recently receiving an upgrade to “buy” from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Compagnie Générale de Géophysique-Veritas (NYSE:CGV), or CGG-VERITAS for short, could be great way to play this sector. The company is one of the biggest pure players in the industry and continues to rack up long-term contracts for its 4D seismic equipment, both off- and onshore. The latest is a five-year deal with fellow French oil major Total (NYSE:TOT) to search for oil off Angola.

Deals like this have helped the French company report stronger revenues and free cash flow for 2011. The two metrics were up 10% and 36%, respectively. Overall, the continued high-priced oil environment, need to find more energy and higher CAPEX spending will benefit the company’s high-end products and expertise.

CEO Jean-Georges Malcor said of CGG-VERITAS’s outlook for 2012: “The ongoing strengthening of our high-end positioning and technological differentiation positions us to fully benefit from the expected robust seismic market conditions. In this context, I believe that CGG-VERITAS in 2012 can start a new journey of growth and strengthen its financial and operational performance.”

Those improving results have also boosted the stock price — it’s nearly double the 52-week low. However, an “It’s European” discount is firmly keeping the shares from realizing their full potential. Accordingly, as European stocks slumped over the summer, so did shares of CGG. For investors, that makes the shares a value in the oil-services and seismic sector.

Competition in the space is fierce, with smaller competitors such as Bolt Technology (NASDAQ:BOLT) and Global Geophysical Services (NYSE:GGS) chomping at the bit to get a piece of the action. But CGG’s size and scope makes it the proven technology leader for major energy producers looking to expand their operations. So investors may want to give the stock a go.

Aaron Levitt is an investment journalist living in Ohio. With nearly two decades of experience, his work appears in several high-profile publications in both print and on the web. Also likes a good Reuben sandwich. Follow his picks and pans on Twitter at @AaronLevitt.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2012/04/the-oil-majors-secret-seismic-data-firms/.

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