Disclosed are methods for locating deposits of mineral resources below the Earth's crust. A period of resonance of 14-day gravitational tides is predicted based on known information about a location. During the period of resonance, element vapor emissions and/or other data are recorded using gas analyzers and/or other devices, which are spread in an array over the location. The vapors and/or other data are recorded for a period of about 3-4 days. The recorded data is analyzed to determine when and where any anomalies exist. By comparing anomalies to control data, the changes can be further extrapolated to obtain more accurate data. After anomalies are detected and analyzed, the locations of deposits comprising mineral resources can be determined and maps of the locations correlating to the surface are generated.

The invention relates to a method for detecting and locating hydrocarbon deposits under a body of water in several steps. First, images of a surface of the body of water taken at different times are acquired. Next, for each image, traces of hydrocarbon leaks are identified. Next, a detection map is generated. This map indicates probabilities of the presence of a hydrocarbon leak around the identified traces. The map is obtained by processing the image at least based on a criterion of distance to the identified traces. Finally, the detection maps are combined to produce a hydrocarbon leak location map.

A method of identifying hydrocarbon seeps that are connected to hydrocarbon reservoirs and for identifying in situ conditions of hydrocarbon reservoirs is disclosed. The method comprises, obtaining a sample from an area of interest, such as a sediment sample or water column sample near a hydrocarbon seep; analyzing the sample to detect microbial signatures that are specific to families associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs; and using the signature to determine whether the hydrocarbon seep is connected to a hydrocarbon reservoir and to identify properties of the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Gas migration rate(s) are determined using gas measurements from gas migration measurement devices. In response to the gas migration rate increasing, at least one of: air ionization measurements are collected from air ionization measurement device(s), and meteorological measurements collected from air temperature sensor(s), relative humidity sensor(s), and air pressure sensor(s). A latent heat energy release rate is determined using at least two of: the air ionization measurements, the meteorological measurements, and a numerical assimilation model. In response to the latent heat energy release rate increasing, at least one transient outgoing long wave radiation (OLR) anomaly is looked for using atmospheric measurements. In response to observing the transient OLR, at least one ionospheric anomaly is looked for using ionosphere measurements. In response to observing the at least one ionospheric anomaly, a forecast alert that an earthquake is likely to occur within one to four days is generated.

A measured wetness of and a .sup.13C associated with a gas sample from a hydrocarbon formation is received wherein the wetness is a percentage of C2+ by mass. Calculated wetnesses of and .sup.13C values associated with a plurality of gas samples taken from one or more analogous hydrocarbon reservoirs is received. Each wetness is calculated as a percentage of mass within the gas sample. The measured wetness received for the gas sample from among the calculated wetnesses is identified. A .sup.13C is determined from among the .sup.13C values that corresponds to the measured wetness of the gas sample. A gas maturity for the gas sample is determined using the determined .sup.13C.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for detecting seepage of hydrocarbons in subterranean zones. In one aspect, a method includes detecting hydrocarbon seepage at multiple different sampling depths from a surface in a surveyed geographic region, comparing each of the hydrocarbon seepage at the multiple different sampling depths, wherein hydrocarbon seepage at a reference depth is known, and determining hydrocarbon seepage through the surveyed geographic region based on a result of the comparison.

A computerized method and system for of operating an oil/gas facility for processing oil and gas from a reservoir. The method includes steps of receiving input data concerning condensate phase and gas phase components in the reservoir, the input data characterizing both phase components, determining a pore capillary pressure of the reservoir based on the received input data which characterizes the phase components, determining PVT parameters of the reservoir phase components based on the determined pore capillary pressure, and controlling a setting of the oil/gas facility based on the determined PVT parameters of the reservoir phase components.

Methods and apparatus suitable for quickly and accurately measuring .sup.13C levels and supporting data in an aqueous fluid reservoir. Interpreting the resulting data to indicate key factors regarding a reservoir and completion methods, including reservoir constraint, gas producibility, and completion success. A sensor and to a sensing method that evaluates the level of hydrologic constraint in aquifers occurring in unconventional reservoirs, such as shales and coals is disclosed. Specifically, Raman spectroscopy is disclosed as a sensor and a sensing method that measures the level of naturally-occurring .sup.13C in an aqueous reservoir and compares the level of .sup.13C to the levels typical for highly constrained and highly unconstrained reservoirs. The disclosed sensor and sensing method also monitors the level of naturally-occurring .sup.13C in a reservoir. Also disclosed is a method of using .sup.13C.sub.Dic to evaluate geographic areas of coal bed reservoir water having biologic methanogenic activity.

Gas migration rate(s) are determined using gas measurements from gas migration measurement devices. In response to the gas migration rate increasing, at least one of: air ionization measurements are collected from air ionization measurement device(s), and meteorological measurements collected from air temperature sensor(s), relative humidity sensor(s), and air pressure sensor(s). A latent heat energy release rate is determined using at least two of: the air ionization measurements, the meteorological measurements, and a numerical assimilation model. In response to the latent heat energy release rate increasing, at least one transient outgoing long wave radiation (OLR) anomaly is looked for using atmospheric measurements. In response to observing the transient OLR, at least one ionospheric anomaly is looked for using ionosphere measurements. In response to observing the at least one ionospheric anomaly, a forecast alert that an earthquake is likely to occur within one to four days is generated.

The invention is a method for optimizing working (EXP) of a deposit of fluid traversed by a network of fractures that involves determining the transitory exchange terms between matrix blocks and fractures (FFA, FFN), for any type of available information (INFO) concerning the network of fractures, regardless of the level of knowledge of the fractured environment.