System, method and apparatus for exploration

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a method of locating mineral deposits suitable for production comprises obtaining via a computer an image of an area of land, determining from the image at least one fluid-expulsion structure present on the land, designating an area proximate the fluid-expulsion structure as a mineral exploration location; while in accordance with another embodiment a method of locating a hydrocarbon reservoir suitable for production is described which comprises obtaining via a computer an image of an area of land, determining from the image at least one fluid-expulsion structure present on the land, and designating an area proximate the fluid-expulsion structure as a hydrocarbon exploration location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of locating mineral deposits suitable for production, the method comprising:
 obtaining via a computer an image of an area of land;   determining from the image at least one fluid-expulsion structure present on the land;   designating an area proximate the fluid-expulsion structure as a mineral exploration location.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid expulsion structure is a breccia pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid expulsion structure is a sand injectite. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the determining from the image at least one fluid-expulsion structure comprises determining a cluster of fluid-expulsion structures. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the obtaining the image comprises obtaining a satellite image of the area of land. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the obtaining the image comprises obtaining an aerial photograph. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the obtaining the image comprises obtaining a satellite image of the area of land with a ground sample distance resolution of less than 20 meters. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the obtaining the image comprises obtaining a satellite image of the area of land with a ground sample distance resolution of less than 5 meters. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the mineral exploration location is targeted within the fluid-expulsion structure. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  and further comprising:
 determining the location of a particular metal deposit via a metal-maturity window. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of locating a hydrocarbon reservoir suitable for production, the method comprising:
 obtaining via a computer an image of an area of land;   determining from the image at least one fluid-expulsion structure present on the land;   designating an area proximate the fluid-expulsion structure as a hydrocarbon exploration location.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the fluid-expulsion structure is a breccia pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the fluid-expulsion structure is a sand injectite. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the determining from the image at least one fluid-expulsion structure comprises determining a cluster of fluid-expulsion structures. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the obtaining the image comprises obtaining a satellite image of the area of land. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the obtaining the image comprises obtaining an aerial photograph. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the obtaining the image comprises obtaining a satellite image of the area of land with a ground sample distance resolution of less than 20 meters. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the obtaining the image comprises obtaining a satellite image of the area of land with a ground sample distance resolution of less than 5 meters. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the hydrocarbon exploration location is targeted within strata proximate to the fluid expulsion structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  and further comprising:
 determining the time of hydrocarbon generation and a migration direction to establish historical progression of fluids through aquifers, so as to establish which fluid-expulsion structures among a plurality of fluid expulsion structures are most likely to contain hydrocarbons.