CGG and Baker Atlas expect their venture to offer an improvement to currently available processing and analysis of borehole seismic data by providing specialty processing.

CCG's borehole seismic acquisition capability would be positioned within Baker Atlas' existing product portfolio, which would complement Baker Atlas' acquisition capability with CGG's portfolio of downhole borehole seismic acquisition instrumentation.

This portfolio includes project specific instrumentation, such as high data rate and high frequency multi level tools, and slim-hole multi level receivers, which would be offered in conjunction with Baker Atlas' current general use Multi Level Receiver technology.

Borehole seismic data acquisition services are a natural fit within a traditional wireline company as the associated wellsite logisitics and wireline instrument conveyance, and because of the fact that borehole seismic services are often tendered as part of general formation evaluation requirements.

The venture's two primary processing centres will be located in London and Houston within CGG's existing processing facilities.

The transaction is expected to close before the end of the year.