Abstract

Progress and trends in oil exploration are evaluated from the overall view afforded by a research organization. The state of development of current exploration methods is discussed briefly in relationship to their effectiveness in the present exploration picture. The ineffectiveness of present geophysical methods in stratigraphic trap exploration leads to the conclusion that new methods must be developed if stratigraphic traps are to be located routinely. These methods will involve parameters more closely related to oil accumulation than geologic structure. The idea is advanced that in all probability these new methods exist today in prototype form, or even in a stage of considerable development. They may be unpopular or controversial and may have been assumed invalid by many people on the basis of second-hand evidence. Special emphasis is placed on the difficulties, psychological and industrial, in initiating new approaches or techniques in commercial enterprises. The broad, general fields of geochemical and electrical prospecting are believed to afford the best opportunity of developing new stratigraphic oil exploration methods. The breadth of the geochemical field is illustrated by examples of the use of geochemical measurements in oil exploration. In the field of electrical methods, several promising, undeveloped techniques are briefly discussed. The technical material in this paper is offered only to show the un-exploited possibilities inherent in geochemical and electrical methods of petroleum prospecting and to indicate the depth of our ignorance in these fields.