Application of Giorgio G. Soli

RICH, Judge.

This appeal is from the decision of the Patent Office Board of Appeals affirming the examiner’s rejection of method claim 13, the sole claim in application Ser. No. 587,521, filed May 28, 1956, for “Petroleum and Natural Gas Prospecting.”

The basis for and the general nature of appellant’s invention is disclosed in the specification as follows:

“The method is based on the fact that, in many instances in oil and gas areas, gaseous hydrocarbons are slowly escaping through the sedimentary formations to the surface. These gases serve as a steady supply of carbon and energy to…