Years ago, exploration was done through surface observations and divining rods now, it is done by satellites, microprocessors, remote sensing, and supercomputers. In the 1970´ s, the exploration success rate was 14 percent, today, it is nearly 29 percent. Not so long ago, three dimension (3D) seismic diagnostic techniques helped recover 25-50 percent of the oil in place now, 4D seismic helps recover up to 70 percent of the oil in place. 3D and 4D seismic and earth imaging systems also help in understanding the subsurface flow of other fluids, such as groundwater and pollutants.Seismic surveys a technique in which sound waves are bounced off underground rock struktures to reveal possible oil and gas bearing formation are now standard fare for the modern petroleum industry. But todays seismic methods are best at locating structural traps where faults or folds in the underground rock have created zones where oil can become trapped
