Dawson Geophysical Company provides onshore seismic data acquisition and processing services in the United States and Canada. It acquires and processes 2-D, 3-D, and multi-component seismic data for its clients, including oil and gas companies, and independent oil and gas operators, as well as the providers of multi-client data libraries. The 2-D method involves the collection of seismic data to generate a single plane of subsurface seismic data. The 3-D method creates a volume of seismic data, which produces precise images of the earth's subsurface. As of September 30, 2012, the company operated 14 3-D seismic data acquisition crews in the lower 48 states, as well as a seismic data processing center. Dawson Geophysical Company was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Midland, Texas with additional offices in Houston, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Pittsburgh.