Saudi geophysics project update
The Saudi Geological Survey geophysics program covering the Arabian Shield is divided into 3 blocks, with Sander Geophysics flying Block 1 and Xcalibur Multiphysics flying Blocks 2 and 3.
After initial delays due to COVID, there are now four aircraft in country. Block 1 is 17% complete while production in Block 3 has commenced.
IGS is lead partner of the Technical Partner (TP) consortium. The TP team is responsible for providing quality control of contractor data and provides training and advisory services to SGS.
For the geophysics, IGS employees have carried out field inspection visits, generated QC reports and delivered training to SGS geophysicists.
Launch of geophysics aircraft in Saudi Arabia survey project
As part of the acquisition of detailed geological data of the Arabian Shield, for which IGS is the Technical Partner of the Saudi Geological Survey for the duration of this six year project, the geophysics acquisition project has begun. The aerial geophysical survey work will include a magnetic and radiometric geophysical survey of the entire Arabian Shield in Saudi Arabia.
See Saudi Arabia launches first geological survey aircraft (arabnews.com)
The Regional Geological Survey Program – a foundation for a new Saudi mining sector
Peter Zawada, Managing Director of IGS, and Philipp Schmidt-Thomé of GTK, recently took part in a Mines and Money 5@5 Special Edition webinar sponsored by the Saudi Geological Survey. The webinar took place on Thursday 29th October and featured a discussion involving H.E. Khalid Saleh Al-Mudaifer – Vice Minister for Mining Affairs of the Ministry of Industry & Mineral Resources and those organizations that will be leading on parts of the Regional Geological Survey Program for Saudi Arabia.
Peter and Philipp’s presentation of the Technical Partner role in the RGP program starts from 32.50.
IGS is an International Partner of the recently launched Regional Geological Survey Program for Saudi Arabia
On Sunday 18th October 2020, the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) launched its new Regional Geological Survey Program (RGP) in collaboration with several international partners including IGS (International Geoscience Services) Ltd.
In a virtual signing ceremony held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, headed by Bandar Al-Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of SGS, one contract and three contract awarding documents were signed by the IGS-GTK consortium, Sander Geophysics Arabia Ltd, Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics and the China Geological Survey. The IGS-GTK consortium signed the contract awarding document, to provide technical assistance, quality control and supervision of the survey programs. The event signalled the start of the ambitious RGP, which will survey 600,000 km2 of the potentially mineral-rich Arabian Shield in western Saudi Arabia.
The IGS-GTK consortium was represented at the ceremony by Mark Parker, Chairman of the IGS Board who said:
“The IGS-GTK consortium is pleased and proud to have been awarded the important technical oversight contract, which is a key element in one of the most important geoscience and exploration initiatives ever. We greatly look forward to working closely with SGS and other agencies in ensuring that the data from this programme are of the highest possible quality, as befits such an important project.
We whole-heartedly support the primary objective of the Arabian Shield Geoscience Data Acquisition Program to attract investment into the mining sector, and we believe that the data will also find important application in many other activities such as soil science, geohazard assessment and environmental geology.
We are sure that SGS has made the right decision in choosing our group for this vital function – with our origins in two of the world’s oldest and best geological surveys, coupled with one of the world’s best geophysical consultants as a subcontractor and Saudi Arabia’s leading geoscience firm as our partner on the ground, we are confident that we will carry out our responsibilities effectively.
I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to SGS and the team under the leadership of Dr Wadee Kashghari, whose passion and commitment as Head of the RGP program has inspired us all.
Our teams are excited by Saudi Arabia’s geology, natural and human history and culture. Both IGS and GTK have been working in Saudi Arabia for several years – some of our colleagues even for decades. These earlier projects have laid a solid foundation for further close cooperation with SGS, building up mutual trust with our Saudi colleagues and developing a good understanding of how we can support the Kingdom in the successful completion of the RGP project.
Once again, on behalf of our consortium, I am pleased and excited that we were awarded the role of Technical Partner and look forward to a long and fruitful working relationship with SGS.”
Links to media reports are provided below.
Saudi Press Agency report
Global Mining Review
ArabNews.com