OVERFLOW OF SPACE AGE TECHNOLOGY INTO PETROLEUM EXPLORATION

Abstract

From the standpoint of time, the "Space Age" is generally shown as commencing October 4, 1957, with the orbiting of the first Sputnik Earth satellite, and extending up to the present moon surface exploration by members of the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 crews. The "Space Age" is also defined as an environment of mental disciplines and teamwork which has provided the creative approach leading to the greatest concentration of new technical developments and innovations of any comparable period in history. A combination of micro-electronic developments with applications of information theory has aided digital data recording and processing techniques, including the capability to retrieve weak signals from high level background noise. Applications of inertial accelerometers and of stabilized platforms have led to the development of a new shipboard gravity meter. A new gravity method has been developed using time-differentiation of doppler-derived spacecraft velocities. Magnetometers developed for petroleum exploration have been adapted for use in spacecraft. The development of an all-weather satellite navigation system and a doppler sonar system have provided accurate navigation systems for petroleum exploration which are free from geographic and weather limitations. Through the development of several "remote sensing" tools and techniques, such as side-looking radar, thermal-infrared imagery, and photography from satellites, the exploration geologist now has new measurements from new vantage points to aid in the interpretation of prospect areas. The VIBROSEIS' method is based on a chirp signal source and processing based on information theory concepts which have been in common use by Space Age programs, computer industry and petroleum exploration. With the advent of a coherent light source (laser), optical holography has become possible. Considerable research is now in progress to develop acoustic holographic techniques for petroleum exploration.