"...and we are fortunate to have a partnership with geophysics technology leader Geotech Ltd."

Revisiting what you posted, I see from where the confusion comes.  I do not believe that that statement was at all meant to be taken literally.  Geotech is a consultant and never a partner in the usual sense of that word.  It is critical to their reputation as consultants that they are never perceived as being biased, which the word "partnership" may suggest on too quick a reading.