Without hesitation, satellite gravity data may be effectively used for tectono-geological zonationan and regioning in small and middle scales. One of such examples is given in our paper: Eppelbaum, L. and Katz, Y., 2011. Tectonic-Geophysical Mapping of Israel and eastern Mediterranean: Implication for Hydrocarbon Prospecting. Positioning, 2, No. 1, doi: 10.4236/pos.2011.21004, 36-54.
You may be interested looking at our (just published) paper which utilizes Bouguer gravity data to interpret location of Indian basement structures beneath the Himalayan system:
Tracking basement cross-strike discontinuities in the Indian crust beneath the Himalayan orogen using gravity data - relationship to upper crustal faults
Laurent Godin; Lyal B. Harris
Geophysical Journal International 2014;
doi: 10.1093/gji/ggu131
We used Bouguer gravity data computed by the Bureau Gravimétrique International (BGI) from the Earth Gravitational Model EGM2008, derived from merged terrestrial, altimetry-derived and airborne gravity data (including the spherical harmonic degree and order 180 GRACE satellite gravity model).
Yes, indeed. For example, see Paper: Geophysical studies of Australia’s remote eastern deep-water frontier: Results from the Capel and Faust Basins. Ron Hackney, et al Geoscience Australia 2010. (I can send it to you if you email me: [email protected]). You can also merge the two gravity data sets, using software such as "Intrepid". Cheers Helen
The reliability of using gravity in geological studies has been proven over and over. The utility of satellite gravity depends upon the precision that is required. I have checked numerous areas in the United States and see no problem utilizing satellite gravity in regional geological studies. Therefore, in regional areas that have poor ground gravity coverage, it is certainly OK. In today's world I would say it is required, since the analysis would not be complete if it was not utilized.