(19)

(11)

EP 2 294 459 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 16.03.2011 Bulletin 2011/11 (21) Application number: 09751010.1 (22) Date of filing: 09.01.2009

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01V 3/26(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2009/030526 (87) International publication number: WO 2009/142779 (26.11.2009 Gazette 2009/48)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA RS (30) Priority: 19.05.2008 US 54362 08.01.2009 US 350914 (71) Applicant: William Marsh Rice University Houston, TX 77005 (US)	(72) Inventors: SCHMIDT, Howard, K. Cypress TX 77433 (US) TOUR, James, M. Bellaire TX 77401 (US) (74) Representative: Harrison Goddard Foote  Belgrave Hall Belgrave Street Leeds LS2 8DD Leeds LS2 8DD (GB)