Patent ID: 7528949

Claim:
A method for detecting solid, liquid or gas hydrocarbon deposits in a testing area to be examined, the method comprising: a) aerial spreading of biosensors on the surface of the testing area to be examined, wherein the biosensors have the ability to metabolize hydrocarbons and provide an indicator signal of such metabolism; b) waiting a sufficient amount of time for interaction of the biosensors with the hydrocarbons for the metabolism of the hydrocarbons; c) exposing the biosensors and surface of the testing area at a measuring point to an aerial-supported source of electromagnetic energy having at least one wavelength sufficient to stimulate the indicator signal of the biosensors; d) detecting simultaneously at the measuring point the indicator signal of the biosensors and the surface reflection signal of the electromagnetic energy to provide data for a digital terrain model showing topographic detail of the surface testing area and locations of hydrocarbon deposits.