Equinor Ventures, Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures and Sumitomo Corporation Invests in Total 75 mNOK in Norwegian Artificial Intelligence Software Provider Earth Science Analytics
2.9.2020 09:30:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Earth Science Analytics AS, a Norwegian petroleum geoscience software provider, has raised a series B funding from Equinor Ventures, the corporate venture fund of Equinor, a broad energy company and the leading operator in Norway, Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures, the corporate venture subsidiary of Wintershall Dea, Europe’s leading independent gas and oil company and Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world’s largest general trading companies. The three new investors are joining Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, who first invested in the company in 2019.
Earth Science Analytics is spearheading the development of the next generation petroleum geoscience software based on artificial intelligence, physics- and data-driven approaches. Earth Science Analytics’ proprietary software package EarthNET, is a modern cloud-native application that allows faster, cheaper and more accurate prediction of rock and fluid properties in the subsurface. This leads to greater profitability and higher success rates for oil and gas exploration, development and production.
The funds will allow Earth Science Analytics to continue developing its unmatched cloud based geoscience software to the next level as well as expand its presence across the world.
Lisa Rebora, Senior Vice President in Equinor Exploration, commented “Digitalisation is impacting how we work, making it easier to analyse and be creative with data, improving how we collaborate and enhancing our understanding of the subsurface. We are always seeking to learn and improve, looking externally for those partners and innovators who can help us release the value of our data and the knowledge of our people. The Earth Science Analytics cloud-native solutions will contribute to empower more people to access data-driven and cutting-edge technology, and help generate more opportunities and value with increasing efficiency.”
Andreas Berger, Managing Director of Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures, commented “Our industry will be led by companies who integrate digital technology into all areas of the business and foremost in their key processes in order to gain value. The solutions of Earth Science Analytics will enable us to make data-driven decisions faster and more precise with direct impact on our bottom line.”
Kenichi Hotta, GM of Sumitomo Corporation Global Energy Service Department, commented “We believe that Earth Science Analytics (ESA) brings more digital capability to the industry. Together with ESA, Sumitomo continuously contributes to ongoing digital transformation initiatives by supporting process automation, cost reduction and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, initiatives such as our new ‘green’ subsurface businesses (including carbon capture and storage, geothermal development and underground energy storage) will greatly benefit from the use of ESA’s data-driven and cutting-edge technology.”
Kjell-Erik Østdahl, Chairman of Earth Science Analytics, commented “We are proud to welcome Equinor Ventures, Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures and Sumitomo Corporation as new institutional investors. Together we will continue to develop the technology to create a step change in geoscience interpretation using AI.”
About Equinor Ventures
Equinor Ventures is Equinor’s corporate venture fund dedicated to investing in attractive and ambitious early phase and growth companies. We believe that the innovation, creativity and agility of start-ups can drive change and transition the energy industry towards a low carbon future.
About Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures GmBH
Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures GmbH (WDTV) is the venture capital arm of Wintershall Dea, Europe’s leading independent gas and oil company. WDTV is responsible for integrating innovative concepts and technologies to the core businesses of the company. The aim of WDTV is to make investments into digital solutions and relevant break-through technologies and business innovations along the value-chain of our industry. The focus of investment is on cost reduction, increased recovery of hydrocarbons, reduction of environmental footprint or reduction of subsurface uncertainty.
About Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation (SC) is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 136 locations (Japan: 22, Overseas: 114) in 66 countries and regions. The entire SC Group consists of more than 900 companies. SC conducts commodity transactions in all industries utilizing worldwide networks, provides related customers with various financing, serves as an organizer and a coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to promote greater growth potential. SC’s core business areas include Metal Products, Transportation and Construction Systems, Infrastructure, Media and Digital, Living Related and Real Estate, Mineral Resources, Energy, and Chemical and Electronics.
About Earth Science Analytics AS
Earth Science Analytics AS (ESA) is a Norwegian technology company developing the next generation web-based cloud-native geoscience software and solutions. ESA incorporates extensive knowledge and experience in geoscience, computer science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, to develop software and solutions for the energy industry. The software products provide geoscientists with opportunities to work with large data sets more efficiently and obtain more accurate results at a lower cost compared to what can be achieved with traditional methods.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200901006003/en/
Contact information
Equinor Ventures
Fredrik Jebsen Bråten, Communications Manager
Phone: +47 984 02 255
Email: fjbr@equinor.com
www.equinor.com
Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures GmbH
Dr. Andreas Berger, Managing Director
Phone: +49 561 301-0
Email: Andreas.Berger@wintershalldea.com
www.wintershalldea.ventures
Sumitomo Corporation
Kenichi Hotta, GM of Sumitomo Corporation Global Energy Service Department
Phone: +47 948 50 125
Email: kenichi.hotta@sumitomocorp.com
www.sumitomocorp.com
Earth Science Analytics AS
Kjell-Erik Østdahl, Chairman
Phone: +47 928 72 213
Email: contact@earthanalytics.no
www.earthanalytics.ai
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Allianz Delivers Record Nine-month Result of 14.1 Billion Euros and Raises 2026 Outlook12.11.2026 08:06:00 EET | Press release
3Q 2026 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261111915059/en/ Oliver Bäte, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE Total business volume at 44.4 billion euros, an internal growth of 3.0 percent1. Excellent contribution from Asset Management and good internal growth in Property-Casualty. Operating profit rises 6.2 percent to 4.7 billion euros, driven by an outstanding result from the Asset Management segment, attributable to higher business volume and margins, and a strong contribution from Life/Health. Shareholders’ core net income increases 1.2 percent to 2.9 billion euros. Adjusted for offsetting measures following the sale of the stake in our Indian JVs, underlying growth is 3 percent. 9M 2026 Total business volume at 143.0 billion euros, an internal growth of 3.8 percent 1 , driven by excellent growth in Asset Management and good internal growth in Property-Casualty. Operating profit rises 7.8 percent to 14.1 bil
LTM Brings AI-Powered Quantum Error Mitigation to IBM Quantum Functions Catalog12.11.2026 07:30:00 EET | Press release
LTM, the Business Creativity partner to the world’s largest enterprises, today announced that AI-QEM, its proprietary AI-powered Quantum Error Mitigation capability, is now available in the IBM Quantum Functions Catalog. With this milestone, LTM becomes the first Global Systems Integrator (GSI) worldwide to publish a function in the catalog. The IBM Quantum Functions Catalog is an ecosystem of partner-built quantum software services that simplify quantum workflows and enable researchers and enterprises to run quantum experiments more efficiently for algorithm development and application prototyping. AI-QEM is available as a circuit function, allowing users of eligible IBM Quantum access plans to apply LTM's error mitigation capability directly within their Qiskit workflows. Quantum computers are inherently susceptible to noise and errors that can impact computational outcomes. While conventional error mitigation techniques often require additional circuit executions, quantum processing
Access Advance Announces New Effective Discount Rates for Its Multi-Codec Bridging Agreement, Starting on January 1, 202711.11.2026 21:18:00 EET | Press release
Access Advance LLC today announced that the Licensors of the HEVC Advance and VVC Advance Patent Pools have independently approved a two-step, phased reduction in the effective royalty discount available under the Multi-Codec Bridging Agreement (MCBA) for Licensees of both pools who sign the MCBA on or after January 1, 2027. Licensees that join both the HEVC Advance and VVC Advance Patent Pools and execute the MCBA on or before December 31, 2026, will secure the current MCBA rates, resulting in an effective discount of up to 50%. Licensees that sign on or after January 1, 2027 will receive a reduced discount as further described below. The MCBA is an administrative agreement, not a separate license, that lets Licensees of both HEVC Advance and VVC Advance Patent Pools pay a single, reduced royalty rate for products that include both HEVC and VVC codecs. Today the MCBA rate for a dual-codec product is the same as the VVC Advance single codec product rate; up to 50% of what a Licensee wo
Angel Aligner Unveils Six Innovations for 202711.11.2026 18:23:00 EET | Press release
Angelalign Technology Inc. (6699.HK) (“Angel”), a global clear aligner leader, has unveiled six new clinical innovations, including SuperElastic (MC-SE)* aligner material, a Deepbite Solution for significantly expanded indications, and the Adapt-MATMsystem for next generation growth guidance for young patients. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261110338654/en/ Unveiling Angel's 2027 Innovations. Orthodontists and opinion leaders have long remarked about Angel’s clinical excellence. Orthodontics educator and thought leader Dr. David Sarver said: “In over 4 decades, I’ve never had a parent say I’d be happy if you ensure that my child’s treatment results are average.” Angel is committed to elevating the orthodontic specialty well above the average, especially as more competition and harder referral cases demand outstanding results. Bindu Saran, VP of Product Strategy, added: “Angel was founded by orthodontic profe
Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit Concludes with Research Partnerships and New Programmes to Advance Prevention and Health Innovation11.11.2026 16:58:00 EET | Press release
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026 concluded with agreements and initiatives spanning drug discovery, clinical research, preventive and reproductive health, alongside research and entrepreneurship programmes that will sustain collaboration beyond the Summit. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261111545964/en/ The Summit is the annual flagship gathering of Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi, curated and convened by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) together with Founding Partners PureHealth, M42, Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD) and Mubadala Bio. Held from 20–22 October, the Summit attracted more than 17,300 visitors from 85 countries. It brought together health leaders, researchers, policymakers, investors and inn
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom