Viridien (VIRI), formerly CGG, is a multinational technology, digital and Earth data company, specializing in solving complex natural resource, energy transition and infrastructure challenges.

In 1926, Conrad Schlumberger, and his brother Marcel Schlumberger, formed Société de Prospection Electrique (SPE) which specialized in oil and coal exploration as well as civil engineering.

In March 1931, SPE and Société Géophysique de Recherches Minières (SGRM), both specialists in seismology and magnetometry, merged into La Compagnie Générale de Géophysique (CGG). SGRM provided 5,000,000 francs of capital and CGG provided 120,000 francs of capital. In his premises at 30 rue Fabert, in Paris, Conrad Schlumberger decided to transfer the subsurface business to CGG while SPE retained the logging. Marcel Champin was Chairman and Conrad Schlumberger was Vice-Chairman. At the same time, Raymond Maillet from SGRM was appointed President of CGG.

In 1954, CGG acquired its first IBM 604 computer and an MT4 analog computing center for processing field data.

In 1958, CGG completed its first dual-vessel marine survey with one source vessel.

In 1966, CGG opened its first seismic data processing center in Massy, France.

In 1971, CGG started 3D marine seismic exploration with wide-line profiling .

1974-1990, Journey into the Earth, Part 4: The third dimension