Norwegian Oil Giant TGS Extends Deal With Somalia to Market and License Oil Data

GOOBJOOG NEWS|OSLO: TGS has renewed its data marketing and licensing agreement with the Somali Petroleum Authority, a move that signals continued international interest in Somalia’s offshore oil potential. The extension gives TGS continued rights to market and license its extensive geophysical datasets, which cover large sections of Somalia’s offshore basins.

The company retains exclusive rights to license more than 46,000 line-kilometres of modern 2D seismic data and over 50,000 kilometres of aeromagnetic surveys. For explorers, these datasets are essential for basin screening, identifying leads and prospects, and understanding the geological structure of one of the world’s least explored offshore regions.

TGS said its renewed role supports the government as it advances offshore licensing. “This extension further underscores our long-term commitment to the Federal Republic of Somalia and its offshore licensing program,” said David Hajovsky, the firm’s Executive Vice President for Multi-Client. He noted that the company’s seismic and aeromagnetic library strengthens the institutional capacity of both the Petroleum Authority and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

A Sector Drawing More International Attention

The agreement comes during a period of growing activity in Somalia’s offshore sector. While TGS has been a longstanding player, the landscape is beginning to attract new entrants.

Turkey has become one of the most significant recent additions. In 2025, the Turkish government completed a 3D seismic survey in Somalia’s offshore waters, marking one of the most advanced data acquisition efforts ever undertaken in the country. This was followed by the signing of a contract between the Turkish national oil company and the Somali Petroleum Authority, positioning Turkey as a future operator in Somalia’s deep-water exploration programme.

Other international firms have taken earlier exploratory steps through speculative surveys, basin studies, or participation in regulatory consultations tied to the Petroleum Act and Production Sharing Agreements. Together, these developments point to a slow but steady increase in interest in Somalia’s underexplored offshore blocks.

Industry observers say TGS’ renewed agreement signals confidence in the long-term potential of the basin. As Somalia looks to attract upstream investment, maintaining access to high-quality geophysical data is seen as a critical foundation. With this extension, TGS remains one of the key players shaping how companies evaluate the country’s emerging offshore oil frontier.