Exploration of probable hydrocarbon micro-seepage accumulations in Area-3, Northern Palmyrides, central Syria by...

Aerial gamma-ray spectrometry technique is used herein as an indirect approach for petroleum prospecting to investigate possible hydrocarbon stratigraphic and structural traps of Area-3, Northern Palmyrides, Syria. This indirect approach is based on the thorium Th normalization technique, oriented towards suppressing the influence of the regional geological signatures. The use of the thorium normalization technique in the study Area-3 allows to detect new subtle micro-seepage anomalous patterns. The detected micro-seepage occurrences are characterized by both low residual potassium values termed as KD (%) and high uranium residual values in relation to potassium, termed as DRAD (%) values. DRAD (%) results from the subtraction of potassium from uranium residual values. Eight probable zones are identified and mapped over the study area grace to the application of the thorium normalization technique, that might indicate a prospective possibility for feasible subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations and oil-bearing pay zones at Area-3.