TGS
To underpin this shift, TGS has acquired numerous competitors over the last four decades, creating what Wadii describes as“ pieces of Lego” – technology, people, knowledge and experience – that must be brought together.
TGS operates through four main business units. Its seismic data acquisition division owns expensive vessels worth up to US $ 250m each that collect subsurface data using either streamer technology or ocean bottom nodes.
The processing and imaging division transforms raw seismic signals into three-dimensional subsurface maps, while a multi-client business model involves investing company funds to acquire data, then selling access to multiple energy companies.
The fourth and final division focuses on renewable energy, including wind farm site characterisation and solar asset management software – diversification that reflects the industry’ s broader energy transition while maintaining focus on traditional hydrocarbon exploration.
Bridging gaps with technology One of Wadii’ s primary challenges involves bridging the generational divide within the oil and gas industry – a space that has been slow to adopt digital innovations.
His goal is to create a new generation of“ oil and gas explorers and producers that are thinking digitally from the beginning”.
The challenge extends beyond individual attitudes to systemic issues within the energy sector. Wadii explains that economic cycles have become
“ Because of advances in AI and digital technologies like the cloud, we are able to push the physics of imaging to a level never seen before”
Wadii El Karkouri, Executive Vice President, Imaging and Technology, TGS
more frequent and volatile, forcing companies to deliver faster returns on technology investments.
“ The return on investment of R & D and technology is not the five to seven years that it was when I joined the industry,” he says.“ It’ s now more like 12 to 18 months.”
The impact of revolutionary data processing capabilities TGS’ technological advantage begins with its massive subsurface data library, accumulated over the course of 44 years of global operations – Wadii Thinks of it as Google Maps meets a digital twin – where you don’ t just view the subsurface, you simulate it, interpret it with AI and make improved drilling decisions.
The extensive dataset enables TGS to develop what Wadii calls a“ seismic foundation model” – essentially a Gen AI chatbot for subsurface exploration. The system can identify patterns and connections across different geological basins worldwide.
76 November 2025