(WO) — Geophysical survey company Metatek has extended its exclusive partnership with Lockheed Martin for seven years and purchased an additional enhanced Full Tensor Gradiometer (eFTG) system to expand its airborne subsurface exploration capabilities.
Under the agreement, Metatek will retain exclusive rights to purchase and operate new eFTG systems from Lockheed Martin for the next seven years. The agreement also provides preferential pricing for another eFTG system, which, if purchased, would extend the company’s global exclusivity by an additional two years.
Metatek currently operates two eFTG instruments, with the newly purchased third system expected to enter service shortly.
The eFTG technology measures variations in the Earth’s gravity field to generate data used in subsurface imaging and exploration targeting. Originally developed by Lockheed Martin for submarine applications during the Cold War, the technology has been adapted by Metatek for airborne geophysical surveys.
Metatek has developed proprietary processing algorithms designed to allow the instruments to collect high-resolution subsurface data despite the noise and turbulence associated with airborne operations. The company said the resulting data can help improve exploration targeting and reduce uncertainty in resource development decisions.
“Our new agreement with our long-standing technology supplier Lockheed Martin secures the next two eFTG instruments for Metatek on attractive commercial terms and, importantly, provides global exclusivity for the best part of a decade,” said Dr. Mark Davies, CEO of Metatek.
Davies said the first eFTG system has been deployed across a range of projects and operating environments since entering service more than five years ago, combining rapid data acquisition with high-resolution subsurface imaging.
“With two instruments currently in operation and a third expected to enter service shortly, we already have significant capacity to support our growth over the short to medium term,” Davies said.
Metatek plans to expand its eFTG fleet further as it responds to increased demand for airborne geophysical exploration and subsurface imaging services.
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