The method is based on principally new physical notions about the origin of the Earth's natural radio noise and the noise generating mechanism in the range of very low frequencies. Recording the parameters of a lithosphere component of the radio noise generated at any point of the earth surface due to continuous motion of the Earth's crust makes it possible to search and map hydrocarbon fields. It is structural and lithological heterogeneities of the Earth that are the main sources of the natural fields. Hydrocarbon traps are detected in the vicinity by a highly radiating zone surrounding the hydrocarbon field and by a lowered level of radio noises recorded directly from the oil and gas deposit.
To search oil and gas deposits, a network of noise recording stations widely spread on the area is used. Some stations are fixed and considered as reference stations. These fixed stations record time variations of the Earth' radio noises. The other stations are moved along a grid lines traversing the hydrocarbon field and they measure and record radio noises on the lines. Calculation of spatial variations of radio noises after removal of their time variations allows us to make a conclusion about availability of hydrocarbon traps on the area. The fundamental difference of the method and equipment proposed from all other conventional geophysical survey methods is in two factors ...
The natural radio noises of the Earth's crust, their lithospheric component, serve as an informative arameter. This radio noise method combines positive aspects of electrical exploration and geophysical survey methods. Field researches have proved its very high sensitivity to faults and dislocations in the Earth's crust, to boundaries of different rocks, to changes in lithology and to structures badly detected by conventional electrical and geophysical metodes.
Before analyzing the results, each radio noise pulse recorded is sorted, then pulses generated out of the investigated area are deleted. These make it possible to increase dramatically the sensitivity and accuracy of he method
NIEM allows to measure radio noise fields in the simplest of ways, on foot or using light vehicle. Measuring time at any given location is around 15 min in a prospecting project where where the baseline is based upon previous projects and data. In an unknown area the measurement time range from 30 min to several days to the achieve the best data results.