Geophysicists currently lead the effort to explore marine reserves of oil, natural gas, gas hydrates, and minerals. Although geophysical techniques do not eliminate the need for exploratory drilling, they minimize this expensive process by detecting and delimiting prospects. In addition to accruing new data through field research, UTIG scientists synthesize and disseminate the scientific knowledge and technical information crucial to natural resource exploration. UTIG scientists also serve as advisers to several students sponsored by industry.

• Caribbean Basins, Tectonics, and Hydrocarbons (CBTH)

• Gulf Basin Depositional Systems (GBDS) Project

• Gulf of Mexico Intraslope Basins Project (GIB)

• PLATES Project

Hydrocarbons and economically useful minerals will remain essential commodities in the global economy well into the 21st century. Oil and mining industries therefore seek to further capitalize on innovative geophysical techniques as they extend their exploration efforts ever deeper into the ocean basins.