An Evaluation of the Integrated Remote Sensing Data Analysis Approach
Analysis of the Chaoshui and Yabulai basin data sets demonstrates that the application of the multi-platform, multiband and multi-time remote sensing is a viable approach to obtain useful information for oil and gas exploration in Central China. The results can be improved further with the integration of surface geology, geophysical and geochemical data. TM and NOAA multi-band remote sensing data provide useful geological information in the visible, near-infrared and far-infrared portions of the electro-magnetic spectrum, while the ERS-1 SAR data provide additional spatial information of the geological objects under study. It should be stressed that although the Chaoshui and Yabulai basins are located in a semi-desert area, mostly cover by sands, the penetration capability of the microwave into thin, dry sand sheets may disclose geological structure, such as faults and intrusive bodies, in residual basement hills. These features often elude surface geological surveys.

Multi-platform imaging provides image data from the study area with multiple surface resolution. The SAR with a spatial resolution of 25m and its steep, terrain, enhancing viewing geometry facilitates the interpretation of the micro-drainage and micro-structural bopography. The interactive relations between the NW and approximately E-W fault groups in the Longshoushan mountain were shown very clear in the local and regional SAR coverage.

The NOAA AVHRR data not only provided geothermal data from the geological objects, but also displayed some regional geological structures at its low resolution of 1.1 km. The NW striking subsurface fault in the Northwest of the Chaoshui Basin and the approximately EW striking regional fault in the East of the basin are both very clear in the NOAA image because of the thermal difference between the two sides of the fault.

Conclusion
In the oil & gas geological study of the Chaoshui and the Yabulai Basin, the following techniques were applied : (1) multi-band remote sensing for acquiring structure information on the oil and gas geology of the two basins; (2) satellite image analysis of data with different spatial and temporal resolution for discerning some important structure and details associated with the regional oil and gas geology; (3) analysis of TM image mosaic for the geological and structure features of the entire basin; (4) analysis of high-resolution satellite SAR images of key areas with shallow subsurface or some-subsurface structures; (4) integration of seismic profiles and extended aeromagnetic data for disclosing deep and basement features. In the study of the Chaoshui and the Yabulai Basin, various remote sensing data with different advantages were successfully applied. This enabled us to effectively solve the problems arising from geological interpretation of the essentially two-dimensional satellite remote sensing data. The integration of seismic and aeromagnetic data made it possible to establish an integrated 3D-basin petroleum geological model with information from multiple horizons including surface, shallow, deep and basement. This approach is a new and more comprehensive attempt to apply remote sensing in petroleum exploration. It has led us to new results and a better understanding of the regional geological structure.