Patent ID: 7376515

Claim:
A method of geophysical exploration within a predetermined volume of the earth containing subsurface structural and stratigraphic features conducive to the generation, migration, accumulation, or presence of hydrocarbons, wherein is provided at least one source electrode and a plurality of receiver electrodes, comprising the steps of: a. selecting a survey area above at least a portion of said predetermined volume of the earth, wherein at least a portion of the survey area comprises marine ice; b. determining a surface location of each of said at least one source electrode; c. determining a surface location of each of said plurality of receiver electrodes; d. selecting an electrode from among said at least one source electrode and said plurality of receiver electrodes, said selected electrode having a selected surface location associated therewith, wherein said selected surface location is on the marine ice; e. creating at least one hole in the marine ice proximate to said selected surface location, wherein said hole extends through the marine ice and into the water underneath; f. lowering said selected electrode into the hole until said selected electrode is in contact with the water beneath said marine ice; g. performing steps (d) through (f) at least once; h. positioning any of said source or receiver electrodes not previously selected proximate to each source or receiver electrode's determined surface location; i. transmitting an electrical signal from said at least one source electrode-to said plurality of receiver electrodes, wherein at least a portion of said electrical signal passes through at least a portion of said predetermined volume of the earth; and j. receiving representations of said transmitted electrical signal through said plurality of receiver electrodes, thereby performing a method of geophysical exploration within the predetermined volume of the earth.