Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System Applications in Hydrocarbon Exploration: A Review

Hydrocarbon exploration requires integration and updating of multi-source geo-scientific data for gathering knowledge of subsurface oil and gas bearing geological traps. Multi-spectral aerospace remote sensing (RS) data is an important spatial geo-scientific information source for hydrocarbon exploration, when combine with data of ground based geophysical, geochemical and well log data, using geographic information system (GIS). This paper presents a review on current status as well as future prospects of satellite RS and GIS applications in hydrocarbon exploration. In recent years, satellite RS and GIS techniques successfully used for basin wide assessment of hydrocarbon favourable areas by integration and analysis of multi-spectral RS derived geological inputs on sedimentary basin, lithology, geomorphology, terrain, geological structure, tectonic information etc. RS and digital elevation model derived geomorphic anomalies in the forms of anomalous drainage pattern and surface lineament linked with subsurface structural features are widely used in onshore hydrocarbon prospecting. Commonly, in hydrocarbon reservoirs, a well-known phenomenon called seepage (both macro and micro) is associated with oil and gas leak from subsurface accumulations to the surface. Long-term hydrocarbon seepages locally alter surface geochemical and microbial processes. Recently, hyperspectral RS successfully used in onshore hydrocarbon exploration by detection of micro-seepage based on identification and mapping of altered clay minerals, bleaching of red beds and geo-botanical effects of vegetation stress. Hyperspectral satellite derived indices viz. Hydrocarbon index, vegetation indices, and spectral angle mapper and spectral unmixing classification techniques are used in micro-seepage detection. Number of studies showed the potential utility of satellite microwave synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data for offshore petroleum exploration by identification of sea surface oil slicks produced from sea floor hydrocarbon seeps. Use of satellite altimetry remote sensing technique also attempted for offshore hydrocarbon exploration by free air gravity anomalies derived geological details from satellite estimated geoid anomalies. Limited studies also highlighted potential applications of thermal and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) RS in hydrocarbon exploration. GIS aided both data and knowledge driven geospatial modelling were applied for identification of favourable potential hydrocarbon areas integration of RS derived geological and vegetation anomalies and ground geophysical, geochemical and well data. Although recent and past multi-spectral RS and GIS techniques are successfully used for petroleum exploration, in depth research studies needed in the use of hyperspectral, polarimetric microwave SAR, altimetry, thermal satellite data, UAV RS, and GIS aided spatial modeling for efficiently exploring petroleum resources.