UK geophysical firm Metatek wins new Azerbaijan contracts

UK-based geophysical company Metatek-Group has secured two new airborne surveying contracts in Azerbaijan to support hydrocarbon exploration, including a major follow-up project for the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

The SOCAR contract follows the successful completion of a smaller test survey in 2025, which marked the first use of modern gravity gradiometry technology for an exploration survey in Azerbaijan. The resulting data is already being used by SOCAR to support its exploration activities, Caliber.Az reports, citing a press release by Metatek. 

Both the initial and follow-up surveys focus on the Quba and Lower Kura regions, west of Baku. The area is considered to have significant potential for additional hydrocarbon discoveries but has historically presented challenges for conventional seismic imaging because of its complex geology, active fold-and-thrust belt and numerous mud volcanoes.

The initial survey covered approximately 3,600 square kilometres, while the new SOCAR program will expand coverage to around 20,000 square kilometres.

Airborne data collection has now begun. Metatek said processing, interpretation and integration of the new information with the 2025 survey and existing seismic datasets are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Metatek has also secured a separate airborne data acquisition contract with Gran Tierra Energy, a Canadian energy company operating in Azerbaijan. The survey is expected to take place during the third quarter of 2026.

Both projects are multidisciplinary and will use several geophysical technologies, including digital Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometry (dFTG), a technology developed by Metatek, as well as scalar gravity, magnetic and LiDAR data.

According to the company, combining these datasets will provide detailed geological information from the surface to depths of several kilometres, potentially helping identify structures and formations that could be relevant to future oil and gas exploration.

By Sabina Mammadli