“It’s only gas,” said the geologists. And wow, were they ever frustrated…  The year was 1959. The geologists were in the Netherlands, near a small town named Groningen, at the southern edge of the North Sea. They worked for Shell and Esso (now Exxon Mobil) and were drilling a well. Instead of oil, however, the drill bored into a massive deposit of natural gas. All that hard work and expense for a disappointing find of natural gas.

But the politicians of Europe weren’t so disappointed. They soon sat up and took notice, because…

With further drilling near Groningen, it became clear that the Dutch gas field was gigantic. We now know that in its early days, the Groningen field was the largest gas field in Europe. In fact, it was one of the largest gas fields ever discovered anywhere in the world, holding over 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

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I first realized satellite imagery was going to be a hit when it came to the world of fishing. Thanks to innovative companies like Digital Globe, the same kind of technology the government uses to spy on its enemies helps guys like me catch more fish.

For just a few bucks each month, I have access to daily current reports, water temperature charts and some pretty crazy satellite maps. If the technology is loved by the sportfishing industry, image what the defense and oil explorations sectors think.

The reason I mention Digital Globe is the company is about to go public. In just the fifth American IPO this year, the Colorado-based company will look to raise $250 million during its debut on May 14. The firm expects to get between $16 and $18 for its 14.7 million shares.

A successful IPO will not only be a boost for Digital Globe and its operation

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