Abstract: An airborne exploration system used with an aircraft for exploration of oil and gas, mineral deposits and aquifers. The survey system uses natural electromagnetic EM fields as an energy source. The exploration system includes at least one non-directional, wideband, total electric field, water sensor. The water sensor includes a water container filled with water and adapted for mounting on an aircraft. The water container has a pair of conductive metal bands mounted around opposite ends thereof. The metal bands provide a capacitive electrical coupling with the water in the container. The water container has a diameter substantial the size as a length of the container. Therefore, the sensor responds to an electric field substantially independent of the relative orientation of the electric field. The bands are electrically connected to a computer data processing unit mounted on the aircraft.

Abstract: An airborne exploration system used with an aircraft for shallow and deep exploration for oil and gas, mineral deposits and aquifers. The survey system uses natural electromagnetic EM fields as an energy source. The exploration system includes a pair of aerodynamic housing pods adapted for mounting on wing tips of the aircraft. The housing pods include electric field sensors with three orthogonal electric dipoles oriented along an X, Y and Z axis. An optional third set of orthogonal electric dipoles can be mounted in the tail of the aircraft. The field sensors are electrically attached to angular motion detectors mounted inside housing pods. The motion detectors are used for compensating for errors caused by angular motion of the aircraft when in the presence of strong electric field gradients. The system also includes a total field magnetometer mounted in the aircraft.

Abstract: A marine oil and gas exploration system used for measuring telluric currents as a natural electromagnetic energy source flowing beneath an ocean and sea floor. The marine exploration system includes a towed fish adapted for being pulled behind a survey ship. The coordinates of the ship and the towed fish can be controlled by a GPS satellite and time data. The fish includes an aerodynamic waterproof housing, somewhat reminiscent of a shape of a fish. Metal sheet electrodes of electric field sensors are mounted on the surface of a tubular nose extending outwardly from the housing. The electric field sensors are in direct contact with the sea water. Typically, the fish is towed approximately 100 feet above the sea floor. The positioning of the fish is maintained by the use of an acoustic “pinger” on the fish. The pinger transmits signals up a towed cable to the survey ship. The fish can also include a cesium magnetometer connected to the electric field sensors.

Abstract: A magnetotelluric geophysical survey system used with an airborne survey bird for natural resource exploration of oil and gas, mineral deposits and aquifers. The survey system uses natural electromagnetic EM fields as an energy source. The magnetotelluric airborne survey system includes an aerodynamic airborne survey bird adapted for being towed behind a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft. The survey system can also be incorporated into a fixed wind aircraft. The survey system includes a non-conductive nose boom on the survey bird with orthogonal electric dipoles for measuring electric fields from 0.01 Hz up to 480 Hz. An angular motion detector is mounted inside the bird and used for compensating for errors caused by angular motion of the bird when in the presence of strong electric field gradients. The survey bird can use a single magnetometer or pairs of magnetometers for measuring electromagnetic gradients.

Abstract: A method of detecting hydrocarbon seeps in a sea or in earth is disclosed. The method involves interrogating aerosols formed above the sea or earth surface with an intense beam of primary light radiation generated aboard an aircraft or other vehicle. The spectral composition of the beam is selected to induce secondary light radiation in certain hydrocarbon materials contained in aerosols generated by hydrocarbon seeps rising to the sea or earth surface. The secondary light radiation is detected aboard the aircraft and subjected to spectral analysis to determine whether the composition of the aerosols is characteristic of aerosols generated by hydrocarbon seeps. Apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to the method, a primary electromagnetic field, defined by a waveform of known shape and containing a plurality of frequency components, is directed towards a target zone. Signals are received in the vicinity of the target zone which are attributable to eddy currents in conductors present in the target zone and direct coupling with the primary field. A reference signal having a complex waveform similar to that of the primary field is generated artificially and the reference signal is compared with the received signals in a digital computer in such a manner as to minimize the amount of signal present in the received signal which is attributable to direct coupling with the primary field. The resulting received signal may then be correlated with a plurality of stored reference waveforms in order to obtain the best fit.

Abstract: A sample of material to be analyzed is applied in a thin layer to a substrate such as an elongated tape and then is illuminated by a laser beam of such wavelength and power that at least a portion of the sample is vaporized. The substrate is non-absorptive at the laser wavelength and therefore is unaffected by the laser beam. The vaporized matter is removed from the region at which vaporization takes place, and is subsequently excited in a plasma to facilitate analysis by a conventional spectrometer.

Abstract: A method of collecting and processing geochemical samples in which particles which are contained on the very surface, or surficial layer of the earth, or of vegetation are collected, and are graded to exclude fine particles below about 50 microns in size.