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.

Recon Exploration Pty. Ltd. has successfully completed initial testing of a new method for processing and interpretation of AGSO’s (Australian Geological Survey Organization, formerly Bureau of Mineral Resources) aerial gamma‐ray spectrometer data for petroleum exploration in the Canning Basin, Western Australia and the Otway Basin, Victoria. Count‐rate data for potassium and uranium were normalized to the thorium count rate for each sample to suppress unwanted effects of variations in surface lithology or soil type, soil moisture, vegetation cover, and counting geometry. The Canning Basin test area included five producing oil fields. All except one clearly exhibit significant and characteristic radiometric anomalies which include negative normalized potassium and more positive normalized uranium values. The Otway Basin test areas included PPL-1 commercial gas production which is associated with a group of significant radiometric anomalies similar to those in the Canning Basin. These results are similar to extensive ongoing tests in the U.S. and are explained in terms of well‐understood geological, geochemical, and geophysical models. Based on 69 wells in the three test areas, it is estimated that the chance of encountering hydrocarbons (economic production or shows) in wells within the radiometrically favorable zones is about 2.6 times greater than outside the favorable areas.