TGS secured the Innovation in Operations Award at the Operational Excellence Awards UK 2026, distinguished for developing a bold, transformative solution to a long-standing challenge in seismic data operations through the integration of LEO satellite connectivity, cloud computing, and redesigned workflows.

The organisation demonstrated exceptional capability in translating emerging technology into practical operational improvement at global scale. By combining LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite connectivity with cloud computing infrastructure and fundamentally redesigned workflows, TGS transformed seismic data logistics from remote locations worldwide.

Judges commended TGS’s innovation approach. “TGS wowed the judges with its bold approach to overcoming a long standing challenge in seismic data operations,” the panel stated. “By combining LEO satellite connectivity, cloud computing, and redesigned workflows, the team has enabled data to move from some of the world’s most remote locations in days rather than weeks. With 26 surveys supported and more than one petabyte of seismic data transferred, the programme demonstrates significant operational innovation at global scale.”

The recognition reflects how operational excellence increasingly depends on strategic technology deployment to overcome entrenched constraints. TGS’s achievement demonstrates that bold innovation addressing real operational pain points can deliver transformative results measurable in weeks of time saved and petabytes of data moved.

The shift from weeks to days in data transfer timelines represents significant operational acceleration. In seismic survey operations, faster data delivery enables accelerated analysis cycles, client reporting, and market responsiveness, translating to competitive advantage and revenue impact.

Supporting 26 surveys and managing 1+ petabyte of seismic data transfer demonstrates the solution’s scalability and robustness. Rather than a proof-of-concept limited to single operations, TGS deployed a production-ready system supporting complex, global survey portfolios simultaneously.

The integration of LEO satellite connectivity addresses fundamental logistics constraints in remote seismic operations where terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable. Cloud computing infrastructure enabled by satellite connectivity provides computation and storage capacity previously unavailable in field locations, transforming operational possibilities.

Heading into the 2027 awards cycle, TGS’s achievement reflects the evolving definition of innovation in operations as organisations deploying emerging technologies to fundamentally reshape operational constraints, achieving significant global-scale impact. As organisations across sectors face longstanding operational challenges, innovators demonstrating TGS’s approach position themselves as industry leaders capable of transformative technology-enabled change.

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