Abstract: A method of locating potential oil and gas reservoirs in the earth utilizing a satellite equipped to receive reflected solar energy from the earth at at least one selected frequency band, transmitting signals indicative of the received reflected energy to the earth, recording the received signals in a manner to provide a map of the earth's surface, filtering the received signals to provide signals representative of bands characterized by hydrocarbon gas absorption of the solar energy, and displaying the filtered signals, the area of hydrocarbon absorption being indicated by low intensity levels. The satellite system can be equipped with a coherent infrared irradiation system which scans the area of obsrvation, utilizing a selected infrared wave length beam to augment normal solar radiation at those wave lengths most effective for detecting the hydrocarbon gas cloud which appears above an oil or gas reservoir.

Abstract: A method of locating potential oil and gas deposits by directing a beam of coherent high-intensity infrared radiation into the atmosphere above and adjacent the earth's surface, the wave length of the beam being selected such that it energizes selected hydrocarbon gas molecules, the beam being scanned in a raster pattern, detecting re-radiation generated by hydrocarbon molecules in the atmosphere which are energized by the infrared radiation, converting the detected re-radiated energy into electrical signals, and displaying on a raster scanned imaging tube a pictorial representation employing the electrical signals to indicate the presence of hydrocarbon molecules as an indication of the possibility of deposits of oil and gas in the earth below.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting subterranean gas samples including an elongated stiff rod having a gas passageway from near the bottom end to near the top end, a means for driving the rod into the earth whereby the lower end is positioned below the earth's surface, a means to selectably open and close the gas passageway so that the passageway may be closed until the rod lower end is driven beneath the earth's surface after which the passageway may be opened, and means adjacent the upper end of the rod for extracting a gas sample from the passageway.