A method of analyzing electromagnetic survey data from an area of seafloor
6 that is thought or known to contain a resistive or conductive body, for
example a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir 12, is described. The method
includes providing horizontal electromagnetic field data obtained by at
least one receiver 125 from at least one horizontal electric dipole
transmitter 22. Horizontal gradients in the electromagnetic field data
are determined for a first component of the electromagnetic field data
along a first direction and for a second component of the electromagnetic
field data along a second direction. The first and second components can
be the electric field along the first and second directions, or the
magnetic field perpendicular to the first direction and second
directions. The gradients are then combined to provide combined response
data. Because the combined response data are relatively insensitive to
the transverse electric (TE) mode component of the transmitted signal,
the method allows hydrocarbon reservoirs to be detected in shallow water
where the TE mode component interacting with the air would otherwise
dominate.