Exploration prospects of oil and gas in the Northwestern part of the Offshore Indus Basin, Pakistan
Jian-ming Gong,
Jing Liao,
Jie Liang,
Bao-hua Lei,
Jian-wen Chen,
Muhammad Khalid,
Syed Waseem Haider,
Ming Meng
Affiliations
Jian-ming Gong
Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China; College of Earth Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China
Jing Liao
Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China; First author: E-mail address: [email protected] (Jian-ming Gong). Corresponding author: E-mail address: [email protected] (Jing Liao).
Jie Liang
Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
Bao-hua Lei
Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
Jian-wen Chen
Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266061, China
Muhammad Khalid
Pakistan Hydrographic Department 11, Liaquat Barracks Shahrae Faisal KARACHI-75530, Pakistan
Syed Waseem Haider
National Institute of Oceanography, St-47, Block-1, Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan
Ming Meng
School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
ABSTRACT: Oil and gas resources are short in Pakistan and no commercially viable oil and gas sources have been yet discovered in its offshore areas up to now. In this study, the onshore-offshore stratigraphic correlation and seismic data interpretation were conducted to determine the oil and gas resource potential in the Offshore Indus Basin, Pakistan. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the results and previous data, it is considered that the Cretaceous may widely exist and three sets of source rocks may be developed in the Offshore Indus Basin. The presence of Miocene mudstones has been proven by drilling to be high-quality source rocks, while the Cretaceous and Paleocene–Eocene mudstones are potential source rocks. Tectonic-lithologic traps are developed in the northwestern part of the basin affected by the strike-slip faults along Murray Ridge. Furthermore, the Cretaceous and Paleocene–Eocene source rocks are thick and are slightly affected by volcanic activities. Therefore, it can be inferred that the northwestern part of Offshore Indus Basin enjoys good prospects of oil and gas resources.
