Phillips Petroleum Company

Phillips Petroleum

Kenneth R Sundberg

Keith H Patton

A method of processing spectral data for the earth's surface is provided which effectively identifies areas having a high probability of containing hydrocarbons. The method involves processing of intensity values for various wavebands of radiation reflected from areas of the earth's surface which correspond to image elements called pixels. The intensity values are employed in conjunction with predetermined hydrocarbon productivity data (i.e. drilled productive, dry holes) to derive discriminant probability functions whose values for various pixels are indicative of the presence of hydrocarbons in those pixels.

Spectral data processing method for detection of hydrocarbons

A method of collecting and processing spectral data obtained from the earth's surface is employed to identify areas where hydrocarbon seepage to the surface is occurring. Intensity or brightness is detected from bands 4 and 5 of light reflected from a plurality of pixels, each pixel being a small subsection of a large sectional area of the earth's terrain. Band 4 and band 5 intensity values are accordingly obtained for each pixel. An alteration index, or H(x), value is then calculated for each pixel wherein

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Bartlesville, OK, United States of America

Kenneth R Sundberg