Technical note Evaluation of Rajas than desertic terrain, India, for logistic support in oil exploration using Landsat Thematic Mapper data

Abstract

The desertic terrain of Rajaslhan, India, has been evaluated to work out the logistics relevant to planning a hydrocarbon exploration programme. The digitally enhanced, high-resolution Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and SPOT data has helped in identifying various aeolian landforms. Sand dunes are most conspicuous. On the basis of sand-dune abundance, their amplitude, wavelength and direction, three land systems have been identified in the area. The gcomor-phic information extracted from the aforesaid satellite data has been used to assess each land sysem for its feasibility for seismic profiling, drill-site construction and groundwater location.