The concept of an exploration system designed to yield maximum profit recently has been successfully applied to exploration for metallic ore deposits. Similar methods using estimation of the probability of different exploration outcomes may be useful in the search for petroleum. The design of such a mineral exploration system involves the analysis of ownership, production, geological, geochemical, and geophysical data to produce maps showing regional and local probability values of mineral occurrence. These probability maps can be used in a general sequence to evaluate large land areas for minimum cost while limiting the use of more costly methods to smaller areas of progressively higher discovery potential.

Maps showing the distribution of mineral value in production and reserves covering areas as large as 100,000 square miles are particular use. These maps guide the selection of smaller areas of 25,000 square miles where patterns of basic mining activity and ownership can be related to regional geologic features. In turn, they may be used to outline smaller areas of

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higher mineral potential where geochemical and geophysical methods may be applied in the field to pinpoint the location of specific deposits and give quantitative estimates of profitable outcome.

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