Analysis of subsurface structural trend and stratigraphic architecture using 2D seismic data: a case study from Bannu Basin, Pakistan

The present study is focused on the subsurface geology of Bannu Basin, a part of western Indus foreland Pakistan. For this purpose, some regional seismic profiles and deep exploratory wells data have been used in integration.A total of ten mappabale seismic reflection events have been identifed which are representative of specific geological units. In general, based on the seismic the formation trends, the horizons are dipping in the northwest direction of the study area. The area generally deepens toward the northwest due to sediments load toward the northwest. The seismic profile MWI-83 shows a unique faults bounded anticlinal structure that has also been mapped on the two-dimmensional contour maps. This could be regarded as potential hydrocarbon entrapment. The regional seismic profiles are contoured for the entire grid in both time and depth domain to obtain the clearer image of the subsurface individual stratigraphic units. The 2D contour maps for Lower Permian aged Warcha Sandstone, Middle Triassic aged Tredian Formation and Early Jurrasic aged Datta Formation have been prepared using gridded TWT of the seismic profiles. The time and depth contour maps of the Datta Formation and Tredian Formation show a four way clouser oriented in the southeast dierction. The area of the closure was computed which is 24 Sq km approximately. Furthermore, the formation tops of the five wells have been used to correlate the wells for understanding the lateral and vertical variations in the stratigraphic layers. The correlation shows that the Datta Formation’s thickness increases at the centre of the basin whereas decreases on the east and south flanks of the basin. Reasons of Wells failure were concluded on the basis of the final well report and concluded that these well failure occur due to poor quality of the data and also due to some mechanical problems. Reservoircharacterization using statistical rock physics and petrophysics coupled with core data analysis can provide further insights into the hydrocarbon exploration.

Integrating the palynostratigraphy, petrography, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy data for evaluating hydrocarbon reservoir potential of Jurassic rocks in the Kala Chitta Range, Northwest Pakistan

In this paper, we present the palynostratigraphy, petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations to evaluate hydrocarbon reservoir potential of the Jurassic clastic-carbonate mixed sequence of the Kala Chitta Range, northwest Pakistan. The chronostratigraphic sub-divisions of the diverse lithologies within the sequence were made by using palynostratigraphy. The clastic dominated sequence of Datta Formation was assigned Toarcian-Bajocian age, while the Shinawari Formation was deposited during the Bajocian-middle Bathonian. The carbonate shoal facies of the Samana Suk Formation showed late Bathonian-Tithonian time of deposition. The primary and secondary porosities augmented by the plug porosity and permeability data suggest that the sandstone of Datta Formation is an excellent reservoir. The dominance of diverse matrix within the Shinawari Formation occluded the primary porosity. However, based on dissolution and dolomitization, the Shinawari Formation is categorized as a moderate reservoir. The dominance of various types of matrix and cement with superimposed burial diagenesis has occluded the primary porosity within the Samana Suk Formation. However, the diagenetic dissolution and dolomitization during the telogenetic stage were supported by the SEM and bulk geochemical data. Such diagenetic overprinting has significantly enhanced the reservoir potential of the unit.