Patent ID: 7042801

Claim:
A method for geophysical prospecting of a selected geographical area to determine the location, areal extent and depth to hydrocarbonaceous bearing strata under the earth's surface on land or beneath a body of water, comprising the steps of: (a) deploying an acoustical energy source and an acoustic wave detector in a lineal array; (b) deploying an electromagnetic wave generator and one or more electromagnetic wave receivers in said linear array; (c) generating an infrasonic frequency acoustic wave front which propagates downwardly from the earth's surface and is reflected, refracted and scattered by the earth's media and generates an acoustic signal train which returns to the earth's surface and is detected by said acoustic wave detector, said infrasonic acoustic wave front also generating an induced electrokinetic effect electromagnetic wave in the infrasonic frequency range which propagates upwardly when said infrasonic acoustic wave front impinges upon a hydrocarbonaceous stratum beneath the earth's surface; (d) generating an energy burst of a low frequency electromagnetic sounding wave from said electromagnetic wave generator which propagates downwardly in the earth media and is reflected, refracted and scattered, thereby returning a portion of its energy as an electromagnetic sounding wave toward the surface of the earth; (e) detecting and measuring said returning acoustic wave energy, said induced electrokinetic electromagnetic wave and said electromagnetic sounding wave at said receiver and said electromagnetic detector in said lineal array; and (f) combining said detected and measured signals from said returning acoustic wave energy, said induced electrokinetic electromagnetic wave and said electromagnetic sounding wave, together in a manner to provide location, areal extent and depth to hydrocarbonaceous strata beneath the earth's surface.