METHOD FOR EXPLORING THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY INCLUDING COMPARING RERADIATION CHARACTERISTICS OF GASES TO LOCATE ESCAPING HYDROCARBON GASES AT THE SURFACE EMITTED BY DEPOSITS OF PETROLEUM AND/OR NATURAL GAS AT DEPTH

• US 3,651,395 A
• Filed: 09/12/1969
• Issued: 03/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Julian M. Busby, Robert L. Owen
• Original Assignee: Julian M. Busby, Robert L. Owen
• Inventors: Owen, Robert L., Busby, Julian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US04/857,488
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 324/6,58.5
• US Class Current: 324/337
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

The present invention makes use of the discovery of the fact that producing or potentially producing oil and/or gas fields usually have associated therewith at the earth'"'"''"'"'s surface, the presence of escaping or permeating gases which have risen from underground stratigraphic and structural traps from which oil and/or natural gases may be recovered through drilled wells. Detection of the permeating gases is accomplished by focusing a beam of microwave radiation of known predetermined parameters thereupon, from remote locations, and measuring the parameters of the returned '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'reflected'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' microwave signals i.e., signals which are re-radiated by the hydrocarbons at the surface. Comparison of the frequency shift, and other parameters of the returned signal with the parameters of the transmitted microwave signal and correlation of the modified parameters of the returned wave with predetermined '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'microwave re-radiation characteristics'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' (MRC) of known gases will enable an immediate qualitative identification of a detected gas to be made and will enable an approximation of the quantitative concentrations of the detected gas to be made. Furthermore, by employing conventional navigational and cartographic procedures in association with the gas detecting practices of the present invention, it is possible to use ground vehicles and aircraft to explore, to prospect for, and to map gas and/or oil producing fields.

Claims

2. The method of claim 1, in which a. said radiated microwave energy is generated remotely of and at elevated altitudes with respect to the terrain under exploration;

b. said reflected microwave energy is detected remotely of and at elevated altitudes with respect to the escaping gases at the surface of the terrain under exploration.

3. The method of claim 1, in which a. said microwave energy is continuously transmitted.

4. The method of claim 1, in which a. said microwave energy is intermittently transmitted.

5. The method of claim 1, in which a. a single species of gas is sought;

b. said microwave energy is transmitted and detected over narrow bandwidths determined at least in part by the microwave re-radiation characteristics of said single species of gas.

6. The method of claim 1, in which a. any one of several species of gases is sought;

b. said microwave energy is transmitted and detected over bandwidths determined at least in part by the spectrum of microwave re-radiation characteristics of the several species of gases.