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Mining · head to head

IHS Markit Petra vs Imago

IHS Markit Petra logo

IHS Markit Petra

Mining

Geological interpretation and mapping software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Imago logo

Imago

Mining

Geological database and exploration management

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IHS Markit Petra iHS Markit Petra's product page (ihsmarkit.com/products/petra.html) now redirects live to spglobal.com, confirming IHS Markit's merger into S&P Global means the Petra product line is sold under S&P Global rather than as an independent IHS Markit product (redirect observed 19 August 2026).; Imago no pricing amounts published on vendor website; specific tier costs must be obtained by contacting sales
  • They diverge on capability: IHS Markit Petra covers Well log analysis, Imago covers Geological database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IHS Markit Petra and Imago actually diverge.

Attributes where IHS Markit Petra and Imago differ
AttributeIHS Markit PetraImago
Founded19591998

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Windows), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mining).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in IHS Markit Petra

  • Well log analysis
  • Cross-section creation
  • Contour mapping
  • Formation tops
  • Volumetric calculations
  • Kingdom
  • ArcGIS
  • Petrel

Only in Imago

  • Geological database
  • Drill hole management
  • Sample tracking
  • Data validation
  • Reporting tools
  • Leapfrog
  • Vulcan
  • GIS systems

Both cover

  • Excel
  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

IHS Markit Petra

  • Well log interpretationnot Imago
  • Geological mappingnot Imago
  • Exploration analysisnot Imago
  • Formation evaluationnot Imago
  • Resource assessmentnot Imago

Imago

  • Digitising and managing drill core photographynot IHS Markit Petra
  • Linking core imagery to geological logging datanot IHS Markit Petra
  • Streaming high-resolution core imagery into Leapfrog modelsnot IHS Markit Petra
  • Sharing geoscientific imagery across a distributed exploration teamnot IHS Markit Petra
  • Capturing core images in the field with the mobile appnot IHS Markit Petra

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

IHS Markit Petra

  • IHS Markit Petra's product page (ihsmarkit.com/products/petra.html) now redirects live to spglobal.com, confirming IHS Markit's merger into S&P Global means the Petra product line is sold under S&P Global rather than as an independent IHS Markit product (redirect observed 19 August 2026).

Imago

  • No pricing amounts published on vendor website; specific tier costs must be obtained by contacting sales
  • Tiers are designed for mining operations (each mine site requires separate subscription)

Pricing, plan by plan

IHS Markit Petra

On request
  • Petra Standard$8000/year
    • Well log analysis
    • Cross-sections
    • Contour mapping
  • Petra Professional$15000/year
    • 3D visualization
    • Advanced mapping
    • Volumetric analysis

Imago

On request
  • Imago Professional$6500/year
    • Database management
    • Drill hole tracking
    • Sample management

Which should you pick?

Choose IHS Markit Petra if

  • You need well log analysis.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want cross-section creation.
IHS Markit Petra review

Choose Imago if

  • You need geological database.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want drill hole management.
Imago review

Questions people ask

Is IHS Markit Petra or Imago better?
Neither clearly leads. IHS Markit Petra starts at On request and Imago at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IHS Markit Petra or Imago?
IHS Markit Petra starts at On request and Imago at On request.
Does IHS Markit Petra or Imago run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is IHS Markit Petra best used for?
IHS Markit Petra is most often used for well log interpretation, geological mapping, exploration analysis, formation evaluation. Of those, well log interpretation and geological mapping are not what Imago is typically brought in for.
What can IHS Markit Petra do that Imago cannot?
IHS Markit Petra covers Well log analysis, Cross-section creation, Contour mapping, Formation tops. Imago covers Geological database, Drill hole management, Sample tracking, Data validation. Both handle Excel, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Imago: What are the Imago subscription tiers?

Imago offers three subscription tiers: Standard (single workspace, unlimited users, 3TB storage), Enterprise (multiple workspaces, unlimited users, 6TB shared storage, SSO and user group management), and Junior (single workspace, unlimited users, 500GB storage, for non-producing companies or academic licensing only). All tiers are contracted on 12-month agreements.

Source
Imago: What add-on options are available for Imago?

Imago offers add-on subscriptions including Chip Shot (RC chip tray capture control), Mobile Capture X (smartphone field capture workflows), and Storage (additional capacity in 1TB increments). Each additional mine site requires a separate Imago subscription.

Source
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