NEW DISCOVERIES SIGNIFICANTLY BOOST THE HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF INDIAN SEDIMENTARY BASINS

By DR. AVINASH CHANDRA DIRECTOR GENERAL DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF HYDROCARBONS NEW DELHI, INDIA India has a long history of petroleum exploration and production going back to 1889 with the discovery of the Digboi field in Assam. Since then, over 160 oil and gas fields have been discovered including seven giant fields. The country has 26 sedimentary basins covering an area of 3.14 million sq. km. The geological estimates of countrys resources are 28 billion tonnes (205 billion bbls.) of oil and oil equivalent gas (O+OEG) which are under upward revision. Presently, seven sedimentary basins are proven producers of hydrocarbons with annual oil and gas production of around 33 million tonnes (660,000 bopd) and 30 BCM (1075 BCF) respectively. Prior to 1996, almost 50% of sedimentary areas, especially the deep waters were unexplored. To give a boost to exploration activities mainly in deep water areas, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) initiated a number of regional 2D seismic and G.M. surveys. Thus, 8% of new sedimentary areas have been opened up between 1997 and 1999. Over 35 new strati-structural plays, such as turbidite fans, gravity slumps, canyon/channel fills, wedge outs were mapped besides several areas with growth faults, rollover anticlines and horst and graben features. Many plays were identical to proven features established in deep water areas of West Coast of Africa and in the Campos basin, Brazil. The interpretation of new data indicated an additional potential of 7 billion tonnes of O+OEG. Based on these surveys, seven deep water blocks were awarded for the first time in the country and within a span of one year significant commercial discoveries have already been made in one deep water block in Krishna-Godavari basin. The source rocks are from Cretaceous to Paleocene with multiple reservoirs established in Mio-Pliocene sequences. During the last 2 years, upto a total of 16 seismic vessels operated mainly in deep waters. The encouraging leads obtained would firmly place India as the latest deep water destination of the world and yield significant untapped resources.

During 2000 & 2001, DGH opened-up more areas for exploration around the Southern Tip and in parts of East Coast of India. The interpretation of the data has revealed the presence of new tectonic elements and about 50 new stati-structural deep water plays, such as carbonate build-ups, turbidite fans, wedgeouts etc. Based on new data and also the earlier data acquired by National Oil Companies, 0.26 million sq. km. area (27 blocks) constituting 9% of total sedimentary area is being offered by Govt. of India under NELP-III bidding round for exploration. Besides above, in the last 3 years, several new discoveries have been made in new sub-basins far away from the producing areas. Significant oil and gas discoveries have been made in Rajasthan and Gujarat States in western onland part of the country. A large area has emerged as a major gas producing belt with six new discoveries in western shallow waters. In addition, producing fields have yielded additional reserves either as extension zones or as Satellite structures both along the east and west coasts. As a result, recent reserve accretion has been highest in the last 10 years. The intensive exploration activities carried out in new areas, as well as, large commercial discoveries of oil and gas in new sub-basins, in recent years, has greatly improved the perception of oil companies about the prospectivity of Indian basins. Large areas are being opened up by Govt. of India for exploration, which provides ample opportunities for E&P companies to make India as their next destination.