Airborne gamma-ray spectrometric technique as an indirect exploration tool of probable hydrocarbon deposits in Syrian Desert (Area-1), Central Syria

Aerial gamma-ray spectrometry technique is applied for investigating probable hydrocarbon structural and stratigraphic traps of the Syrian Desert (Area-1), Central Syria. The thorium normalization approach allows detecting twelve new subtle hydrocarbon micro-seepage anomalous patterns, where a prospective probability is indicated for oil-bearing pay zones and feasible subsurface hydrocarbon accumulations in the study region. Those detected anomalous occurrences are characterized by high uranium residual values in relation to potassium, termed as DRAD% values, accompanied with low residual potassium values termed as KD%. The DRAD% of bigger than 1.34 is adapted for characterizing the detected micro-seepage hydrocarbon anomalies. The normalization Th technique can be used in petroleum exploration domain, for detecting successfully hydrocarbon micro-seepage anomalies worldwide.