We have developed a method to analyse SPOT imagery for oil exploration. This method is assessed in an area located in southeastern France, a region already associated with such activity. After standard processing of SPOT data, a 1:200 000 scale overall analysis is made on a mosaic of the different images. This is followed by a detailed analysis at the same scale. A more detailed analysis at 1:100000 scale, taking into account all the pre-existing data that are compiled comparatively with the imagery, results in a synthetic geological map. Systematic exploitation of SPOT stereoscopy, good ground resolution and more specialized processing techniques permitted the discovery of large or detailed structures that were unknown in this area. From this new and rapid geological mapping, geological cross-sections were drawn and afterwards compared with seismic profiling records. Many important results and interpretations concerning the subsurface structures and petroleum exploration problems were obtained: pattern of the fracturing, basin and fault inversion, evaluation of the cover detachment, amount of strike-slip movements, geometry of the Faisceau Cevenol formation of Oligocene grabens. These results assess the efficiency of the methodology used.