Methods for locating oil or gas deposits employing temperature and/or geothermal gradient measurements

摘要

A method for predicting the likelihood of encountering oil or gas deposits below a location. A temperature at a known depth at the location is compared to a temperature representative of the average temperature for that depth within the geographical area in which the location is situated. If the temperature at the location is less than the average temperature, it is likely that an oil or gas deposit is present at the location at a depth below the known depth. If the temperature at the location is greater than the average temperature, then it is likely that no oil or gas deposit is present at the location at a depth below the known depth. Alternatively, geothermal gradients are employed in a similar method for predicting the likelihood of encountering oil or gas deposits below a location.