Remote sensing from space for oil exploration

Abstract

Remote sensing from space implies the use of gravity or electromagnetic interactions. Complementarily with the other papers to be presented in the session dedicated to remote sensing in oil and gas exploration, I will first discuss gravity surveys, as the altimetric on sea or those carried out with the satellites Grace and GOCE. Then, I will present lower frequency microwave imaging methodologies like those that will be carried out with the forthcoming missions of the European Space Agency named BIOMASS and SAOCOM Companion, in the bands P and L respectively (435 and 1275 MHz). The penetration in the vegetation and the upper layers of the terrain (if dry) will allow the study of morphology under vegetation and of the water table in desert areas. The use of microwave imaging radars at higher frequencies like C (5 GHz), and X (10 GHz) allows to evaluate not only ground morphology and soil rugosity, but also to detect oil spills on sea, and finally to measure accurately ground motions. These topics will be discussed in the presentations in this session where the optical and multispectral missions, all important to be used for oil prospections, will also be presented.