Show Salt Water V Scientists Find Oil Under Ocean Oil Oil is being discovered oil oft the shores of Texas and Louisiana by scientists probing beneath the Water wa wa- water water ter of the Gulf of Mexico in the newest new new- newest newest est phase of the search for oil on the continental shelf i r iThe The geophysicists' geophysicists exploration flotilla consists of six retired navy sub-chasers sub four shrimp trawlers two converted army sea air-sea res res- rescue rescue rescue cue boats and a foot 77 yacht that does double duty as a supply boat and hotel for visitors Deep water prospecting for oil isa is isa isa a postwar phenomenon The scientists scientists' s scientists scientists' ien- ien problems began when they tried to fix their stations stations to to deter deter- determine determine determine mine the precise points where they I were reading their gravity meters or setting off of seismograph charges The gravity grav ty meter when moved from place to place measures vari vari- variations variations variations in gravity caused by changes in the rock structures below Such changes plotted on a map may reveal re re- reveal reveal veal a hidden structure capable of bearing oil When the gravity me me- meter meter meter ter hints at such a structure the seismograph generally is called upon to define the boundaries more exactly The seismograph records on paper the time it takes shock waves from an explosive charge to hit rock layers underground and bounce back to the surface thus in in- indicating indicating the depths of various rock formations and providing a picture of an oil trap if one is there These instruments of geophysicists work substantially the same I under water as they do on land I Deep water exploration called for new means of survey however and the engineers had to adapt their land method to the t e sea Radar turned out to be the tion The survey boat can quickly take radar sights on two or three land targets of known position and thus locate the boats boat's position without with with- without without out actually seeing land which is a great help when visibility is I poor I |