CGG and the Benin Ministry of Energy, Mining and Petroleum Research, and Renewable Energy Development announced today the completion of an onshore country-wide airborne geophysical survey of the Republic of Benin. The survey program was commissioned by the Government of Benin to enhance the development of Benin’s natural resource sector, including both petroleum and mineral resources.

Altogether approximately 160 000 line km of magnetic & radiometric data and 16 000 line km of FALCON® Airborne Gravity Gradiometer data were acquired from May to October 2013. The airborne data has been processed and is currently in the final stages of geological interpretation at CGG’s interpretation center in Perth. All products from the program, including a Natural Resource Prospectivity report and updated geological maps, will be placed on the Benin Government’s open-file system. Visitors to the PDAC show in Toronto can view the data on CGG booth 203. Barthelemy Kassa, Benin Ministry of Energy, Mining and Petroleum Research, and Renewable Energy Development, said: « This project is a significant step forward in the development of Benin’s natural resources. We are very satisfied with the manner in which CGG executed the acquisition, processing and interpretation contract we awarded to them in April 2013 and the results look very promising. The Ministry is looking forward to building on the partnership it has begun with CGG on this exciting program.”

Jean-Georges Malcor, CEO, CGG, said: “This project capitalizes on CGG’s extensive experience in large-scale Geomapping programs and adds to our varied portfolio of country-wide surveys, focusing in particular on Africa and the Middle East. With this particular project CGG is pleased to support the Government of Benin’s initiative to bring new insight into the country’s exploration potential. We believe it offers the Government of Benin an excellent springboard in its quest to secure the sustainable development of the country’s natural resources.”