Acquisition Expands Seequent’s Subsurface Technology Portfolio
Seequent, the subsurface technology business of infrastructure software company Bentley Systems, has acquired Eliis, a specialist in seismic interpretation software. Announced on November 2, 2026, the acquisition is expected to strengthen Seequent’s geophysics capabilities and expand its ability to help organisations understand complex underground environments.
Eliis, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Montpellier, France, develops software that enables geoscientists to process and interpret seismic imaging data to create detailed models of the subsurface. Its global team of more than 100 geoscientists, technical specialists and researchers will join Seequent.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
PaleoScan Technology Adds Advanced Seismic Interpretation
A key part of the acquisition is Eliis’ seismic interpretation platform, PaleoScan. The software combines patented Relative Geological Time technology with AI-assisted interpretation capabilities and is used by hundreds of energy companies.
Eliis also brings PaleoModel, an industry co-innovation project designed to support downstream reservoir simulation.
These capabilities complement Seequent’s existing subsurface technology portfolio, which includes Leapfrog, its implicit geological modelling platform. The combination is expected to strengthen workflows connecting seismic interpretation with geological modelling and other geoscience applications.
Opportunities Across Energy and Mining
The acquisition reflects growing demand for detailed subsurface information across several industries. Energy security, the transition to lower-carbon energy systems and the need for critical minerals are increasing the importance of understanding underground geological structures.
According to Seequent CEO Graham Grant, lower-cost seismic data acquisition and AI are also expanding the use of seismic methods beyond traditional oil and gas applications.
Potential areas of opportunity include mining, groundwater management, mineral recovery from brines and carbon storage. In mining, improved seismic interpretation can help reduce geological uncertainty and support the exploration of deeper mineral deposits.
Building a Broader Subsurface Technology Platform
Seequent operates in more than 150 countries. Following the addition of Eliis, the company expects to have approximately 950 employees across 32 locations.
Eliis CEO Benoît Matha said the acquisition provides the company with a long-term home and an opportunity to extend its subsurface technology capabilities beyond the energy industry.
For Seequent, the deal adds specialist expertise and technology to its existing portfolio. It also reflects a wider industry direction in which AI-assisted interpretation, geophysical data and geological modelling are becoming increasingly important to exploration and infrastructure decisions.
As demand for critical resources and more sustainable development grows, combining these technologies could help organisations make more informed decisions about what lies beneath the surface.
