Introduction

This paper will present two promising technologies: Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) along with several case studies illustrating the benefits that can be derived from these emerging technologies with special reference to the implementation of GIS in Pakistan for upstream petroleum activities. These technologies are being widely used nationally as well as internationally in almost all walks of life in general and in earth sciences particularly. The growth of GIS has been a marketing phenomenon of amazing breadth and depth and will remain so for many years to come. Clearly, GIS will integrate its way into our everyday life to such an extent that it will soon be impossible to imagine how we functioned before. Before discussing the applications of GIS and Remote Sensing in hydrocarbon exploration, their brief introduction is presented.