PROCESS OF SEARCH FOR OIL AND GAS FIELDS Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: geological prospecting operations in oil and gas industry. SUBSTANCE: two stages of geochemical survey of explored territory and subsequent seismic prospecting are conducted. Both stages are conducted when snow covers terrain. At first stage presence of zone or zones of hydrocarbon anomalies is determined. With it in mind explored territory is divided by regular rectangular grid. Samples are taken in points of grid crossing and sent for laboratory analysis to determine content of hydrocarbons as a result of which outline of each found hydrocarbon anomaly is established. At second stage boundary of location of each zone is defined more accurately by taking samples in grid squares bordering on found outline. In this case squares are divided into four approximately equal parts. Established anomalies are examined by methods of seismic prospecting to determine spatial positions of oil and gas fields, to define their boundaries more accurately. Obtained data are used to specify points of drilling of search, prospecting and operating holes. EFFECT: reduced cost and increased accuracy of proposed process.