Many major oil accumulations of the world are associated with oil or gas seeps. At the least, seeps prove the existence of mobile hydrocarbons in a basin. At the most, and when used with other geological and geophysical data, they can aid in locating exploratory wells.

An effective and inexpensive instrumental technique for locating gas seeps has been developed for use in water-covered areas. If a seep is present, some of the methane dissolves in the water as the gas bubbles rise to the surface. Currents spread this methane-enriched water into a long plume. A boat samples the water continuously, operating over a grid laid out at right angles to the current. The gas dissolved in the water is broken out of solution, and trace concentrations of methane detected using an infrared analyzer. This equipment has detected seeps at distances as great as six miles. A novel system of location using navigational radar is used in carrying out the survey.

Several surveys on marine seeps have been carried out using equipment mounted on various vessels ranging in size from a 14-foot outboard-powered skiff to a coastwise freighter. Under most conditions, the cost of the survey is a few cents per acre. In new basins, the method promises to be of considerable value in localizing areas of interest for more expensive exploration methods.

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