Press Release Source: TGC Industries, Inc.

TGC Industries announces the deployment of it's sixth field acquisition crew…….

PLANO, Texas, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TGC Industries, Inc. (AMEX:TGE) announced today that the Company has secured a sufficient number of additional contracts to deploy its sixth seismic field acquisition crew, which will be operational by the second half of January.

On November 21, 2005, the Company announced its intention to purchase a fourth ARAM ARIES seismic recording system, which was expected to replace one of the Company's two Opseis Eagle systems. Rather than replace one of the Company's Opseis Eagle systems with its new ARAM ARIES system, as stated in the earlier press release, the new ARAM ARIES system will be placed into service with this new field acquisition crew. Additionally, the Company announced that it will be taking delivery of three new vibration vehicles before the end of January.

Wayne Whitener, President and CEO of TGC Industries stated, "We continue to experience rising demand for our land 3-D seismic surveys and are responding by optimizing our equipment and crews, as well as the productivity of our crews, to fulfill the requirements of our customers." TGC Industries, Inc., based in Plano, Texas, with a branch office in Houston, is one of the leading providers of seismic data acquisition services throughout the continental United States.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward looking statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release regarding the Company are forward looking statements. There can be no assurance that those expectations and projections will prove to be correct.

CONTACTS: Wayne Whitener
Chief Executive Officer
TGC Industries
(972) 881-1099

Jack Lascar, Partner
Karen Roan, SVP
DRG&E (713) 529-6600

Source: TGC Industries, Inc.