EXHIBIT 99.1

                                  PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  CONTACT:  P. BLAKE DUPUIS
                                                                    936-291-2277


                     MITCHAM ACQUIRES SEISMIC ASIA PACIFIC -
                      EXPANDS OPERATIONS TO SOUTHEAST ASIA



HUNTSVILLE, Texas - January 3, 2003 - Mitcham Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIND)
announced today that it has acquired all of the stock of Seismic Asia Pacific
Pty Ltd ("SAP"). In a related transaction, Mitcham acquired certain
oceanographic equipment from Nautronix Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. SAP is
headquartered in Brisbane, Australia and has been an equipment supplier to the
Southeast Asia land and marine seismic, oceanographic and hydrographic
industries for more than 25 years.

"SAP's established customer base and operational infrastructure, combined with
our extensive lease pool, will provide Mitcham with a solid platform to launch a
broad scale entry with the latest technology seismic equipment into a region
that is currently undersupplied," said Billy Mitcham Jr., Mitcham's President
and CEO. "While opening a new geographic market for our seismic equipment rental
and sales business, we will also benefit from the diversification of our
business into oceanographic and hydrographic equipment supply. I am especially
pleased that Paul Duncan, SAP's General Manager and Rodger Quick, SAP's Sales
manager have agreed to remain in their positions. Our past successful business
dealings with Paul and Rodger give me a strong feeling of confidence that this
expansion will be a positive move for the company," added Mr. Mitcham.

Mitcham Industries also announced that it has signed a letter of intent to
supply a 3400 channel Sercel 408UL seismic data acquisition system for operation
in Indonesia. "We believe that this initial lease contract will lead to future
equipment lease and sales opportunities in the Southeast Asian market which we
will be better able to exploit due to our acquisition of SAP," stated Mr.
Mitcham.

                                     M O R E






Mitcham Industries, Inc., a geophysical equipment and front-end services
supplier, offers for lease or sale, new and "experienced" seismic equipment to
the oil and gas industry, seismic contractors, environmentalists, government
agencies and universities. Headquartered in Texas, with sales and services
offices in Calgary, Canada and associates throughout Europe, South America and
Asia, Mitcham conducts operations on a global scale and is the leading
independent exploration equipment lessor in the industry.

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1993 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts
included herein, including statements regarding potential future demand for the
company's products and services, the company's future financial position and
results of operations, business strategy and other plans and objectives for
future operations, are forward-looking statements. Although the company believes
that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have
been correct, and actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking
statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences
include a prolonged and gradual recovery, or no full recovery, of the energy
services sector of a depressed oil and gas industry, and thereafter, the
inherent volatility of oil and gas prices and the related volatility of demand
for the company's services; loss of significant customers; significant defaults
by customers on amounts due to the Company; international economic and political
instability; dependence upon additional lease contracts; the risk of
technological obsolescence of the company's lease fleet; vulnerability of
seismic activity and demand to weather conditions and seasonality of operating
results; dependence upon few suppliers; and other factors which are disclosed in
the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, available from the
company without charge. Further, all written and verbal forward-looking
statements attributable to the company or persons acting on its behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by such factors.


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