Electromagnetic Geoservices AS (emgs) has launched proceedings in the High Court in Londonagainst Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping plc (OHM) for the infringement of one of emgs’ patents related to Seabed Logging, also referred to as controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) marine surveying for the direct detection of hydrocarbons beneath the seabed.

Earlier this year, the University of Southampton, which founded OHM, withdrew an appeal against a decision made in July 2005 by the UK Patent Office to award ownership of a UK patent and a number of foreign applications on Seabed Logging to Statoil ASA. This patent and the foreign applications were then transferred from Statoil to emgs. Despite this decision, emgs officials claim that OHM has continued to perform Seabed Logging operations in regions in which emgs has confirmed patents. In view of this situation emgs has been forced to pursue a case to enforce its intellectual property rights through the courts.

Meanwhile, OHM announced that it has received details of the claim by emgs and will consider those with its advisers. Company spokesmen are confident they are not infringing emgs's patented technology and that this claim should have no impact on their business.