This British Geological Survey (BGS) marine geophysical and sampling survey took place in October 1974 in the North Forties-South Viking area aboard the Royal Research Ship RRS John Murray. The purpose was to evaluate gamma spectrometry technique in an area where no solid outcrop would occur. This provided an opportunity to gather data in an area with no previous coverage. A total of 1290 km of data were collected in a grid of 13 survey tracks. Sea floor data were collected using a echo-sounder and a transit sonar. Subsurface data were gathered using a suite of seismic instruments (airgun, sparker, pinger). Analogue data were collected and paper records were generated. Sea-bed samples and cores were collected using shipek grab and gravity corer. The data are archived by BGS. Technical details of the survey are contained in BGS Technical Report WB/74/15C.