Advances in interpretation techniques have made possible effective use of aerial high-sensitivity gammaray spectral data to explore for petroleum in selected environments. These data were collected by the u.s. Department of Energy during the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) program throughout the conterminous U.s. and most of Alaska between 1974 and 1981. The tests reported here were limited to portions of the following I degree by 2 degree National Topographic Map Series (NTMS) quadrangles: the west half of the Palestine quadrangle, the east half of the San Angelo quadrangle, and the southeast quarter of the Big Spring quadrangle, all of which are in Texas.The radiometric uranium and potassium data were normalized for surface lithology (including soil differences), as well as for variations in counting geometry and hydrologic conditions, using a new technique based on thorium measurements and geochemical relationships between thorium and potassium and between tho-

A new exploration method has been developed using surface and aerial gamma‐ray spectral measurements in prospecting for petroleum in stratigraphic and structural traps. Formerly troublesome lithologic and environmental variables are suppressed by correcting potassium and uranium readings using a new process of thorium normalization. Normalized potassium shows characteristic low concentrations above petroleum deposits. Normalized uranium shows higher values than normalized potassium over petroleum and generally lower values elsewhere. We attribute these anomalies to effects of microbial consumption of microseeping light hydrocarbons. Studies of National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) Program aerial, gamma‐ray, spectral data covering portions of six states have shown characteristic normalized potassium and uranium anomalies above 72.7 percent of 706 oil and gas fields. Additionally, an average of 27 similar untested anomalies were found for each 1000 square mi (2600 square km) covered. Similar aerial gamma‐ray spectral data are available over large portions of potential petroleum areas of the U.S. including Alaska and Australia. Preliminary tests in two basins in Australia showed positive correlation between radiometrically favorable areas and known oil and gas regions. Ground‐based, gamma‐ray, spectral measurements found the same types of potassium and uranium anomalies over all twelve fields evaluated. Since 1988, our research of surface radiometric data coupled with soil gas hydrocarbon and soil magnetic susceptibility surveys has resulted in discovery of four oil and gas fields in Concho County, Texas.

[1] The twin Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) delivered an unprecedented array of image sensors to the Mars surface. These cameras were essential for operations, science, and public engagement. The Multimission Image Processing Laboratory (MIPL) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory was responsible for the first-order processing of all of the images returned by these cameras. This processing included reconstruction of the original images, systematic and ad hoc generation of a wide variety of products derived from those images, and delivery of the data to a variety of customers, within tight time constraints. A combination of automated and manual processes was developed to meet these requirements, with significant inheritance from prior missions. This paper describes the image products generated by MIPL for MER and the processes used to produce and deliver them.

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