ION Introduces SM-24XL 'Extended Life' Geophone

HOUSTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ION Geophysical Corporation (NYSE: IO) today announced that its Holland-based Sensor B.V. subsidiary has commercialized a new, high performance geophone, the SM-24XL.  This newest addition to the Sensor portfolio leverages a simplified product design to deliver enhanced durability in the field while continuing to record high quality acoustic data for customers in oil & gas exploration and in other industries.  The SM-24XL recently underwent stringent testing with TU Delft University and Sensor's long-standing customer, Geofizyka Torun, an international geophysical service provider specializing in onshore and transition zone seismic acquisition.

Henryk Chojnowski, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Geofizyka Torun, commented, "Our twenty-five year relationship with Sensor affords us an opportunity to be early adopters of new technology and provides an operational advantage for our crews.  The new SM-24XL not only proved to be as reliable and efficient as the previous generation of Sensor geophones, but also delivered the same high quality data our clients rely upon to make strategic drilling decisions.  We are thoroughly pleased with the new, simplified design, and we anticipate improved durability and product performance, along with full support in the field by the Sensor team."

Steve Bate, Senior Vice President of ION's Land Imaging Systems group, commented, "The completion of this field trial is a testament to our organization's commitment to innovation and desire to create a higher value geophone that exceeds our customers' expectations.  For over forty years, Sensor has designed and manufactured high quality geophones and related products that deliver results in any operating climate or environment with field proven, out-of-the-box reliability.  The SM-24XL is indicative of our commitment to customer satisfaction and is the only geophone available on the market that comes with a four-year warranty."

The XL (eXtended Life) variant of the SM-24 maintains the technical specifications of the first generation of SM-24 geophones that continues to set the oil & gas industry standard, while incorporating a simplified design that enables longer field life and greater return on investment.  The new SM-24XL geophone is manufactured in Dubai under the rigorous ISO:9001 quality standards and is immediately available as a commercial product.

To learn more, visit: www.iongeo.com/Land_Imaging/Geophones.

About ION

ION Geophysical Corporation is a leading provider of geophysical technology, services, and solutions for the global oil & gas industry. ION's offerings allow E&P operators to obtain higher resolution images of the subsurface to reduce the risk of exploration and reservoir development, and enable seismic contractors to acquire geophysical data more efficiently. Additional information about ION is available at www.iongeo.com.

The information included herein contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may vary fundamentally from those described in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements reflect numerous assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include risk factors that are disclosed by ION from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE ION Geophysical Corporation