MS Synopsis

Topic:
Paleogeography and Evolution of a Middle Eocene Carbonate Platform and a New
Play Definition, Middle Indus Basin: Insights from Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy.

Submitted by:
Zain Ullah
PGLF18E003
MS Geology
Session 2018-20

Supervisor:
Dr. Faisal Rehman

(Assistant Professor)

Co-Supervisor:

Mr. Zawar Hussain & Naeem Sardar

(Senior Geophysicists at PPL)

Department of Earth Sciences University of Sargodha,

Sargodha.
Introduction
Sequence stratigraphy is the study of different lithostratigraphic units in chronological order under
the different depositional environments. This also includes the reconstruction of paleogeography and
predicting the lithology/ facies away from a control point. It also provides the framework to interpret the
evolution of deposition systems through space and time (Sprague, Patterson et al. 2002).Main tool use in
the sequence stratigraphic interpretation is the strata stacking pattern and the surfaces which bounds
these stacking surface, Geometrical trend in the stacking pattern include up stepping, fore stepping,
backstopping, and down stepping. Three main units Sequence, system tracts and Para sequences define
the sequence stratigraphic framework. Each of these units is defined by specific stacking pattern and
bounded surface and these units are independent of space and time, and formation mechanism
(Catuneanu, Galloway et al. 2011)

Delineation of genetically related units which are called Depositional Sequences is carried out in the first
phase of seismic stratigraphic studies of a basin fill (Mitchum Jr, Vail et al. 1977). These deposition
sequences can be subdivided into system tracks (Van Wagoner, Mitchum Jr et al. 1987) which are
generally differentiated by specific sequence stratigraphic surfaces i.e sequence boundary, maximum
flooding surface, etc. (Armentrout and Perkins 1991). The basic method for the delineation the sequence
boundaries is called reflection termination mapping technique (Vail, Mitchum Jr et al. 1977)

The interest in seismic stratigraphic techniques to interpret seismic datasets is expanding continuously.
The advent of sophisticated subsurface reservoir studies and 4D monitoring, for optimizing the
hydrocarbon production in existing fields, do demonstrate the importance of the 3D seismic methodology.
The added value of reflection seismic has clearly been proven in the last decades and it was especially
beneficial on the petroleum development side. Seismic reflection profiles form a vast and solid data
source of information on the structure of the subsurface. The seismic dataset gets nowadays explored in
ever greater detail. These kinds of investigations provide a vital tool for delineation of subtle hydrocarbon
traps and are essential in regional basin analysis. The big advantage of seismic stratigraphy in basin studies
lies in the fact that the methodology combines two very different scales of observation: the seismic and
well-control approach. This explains why many workers are using seismic stratigraphic principles to
evaluate their seismic observations (e.g. Payton et al. 1977, Brown and Fisher 1976 and 1980, Rochow
1981, Halbouty 1982, Berg andWoolverton 1985, Bally 1987, Wilgus et al. 1988, Ziegler 1990, Armentrout
and Perkins 1991, Cramez et al. 1993, Den Hartog Jager et al. 1993, Henri 1994, Brown 1999, Cosentino
2001, Biju-Duval 2002, Davies et al. 2004).
In seismic stratigraphy, reflection seismic provides an elegant way to carry out interpolation procedures.
It equally allows extrapolation into less well explored areas. An important aspect of seismic interpretation
is the analogy or example function formed by calibrated datasets. It provides a means to make predictions
on the geological development in unknown basins, where well control is lacking or very scarce. This
analogy approach enables extrapolation of the geological data/working models into virgin areas in a
sounder manner than was previously possible.
 1. Geology and Tectonics of Study Area

The Kandhkot structure lies in the Sulaiman Sub-basin (Middle Indus Basin) and forms an
extension of the northward plunge of the Mari-Jaisalmir paleo-high, which owes its development to pre-
Himalayan Orogeny structural elements. Kandhkot area consists of shelf slope alternating clastic and
carbonate sediments as evidenced by the well data of Kandhkot and Mari gas fields. Paleocene and Eocene
sediments in the Upper and Lower Indus Basins record a period of prolonged and widespread shallow-
water platform carbonate sedimentation, terminated in the early Oligocene by the southward
encroachment of coarse clastic deposits associated with the formation of Mesozoic-Tertiary fold belts. In
the Lower Indus Basin, shoaling of lithofacies occurred during the Eocene on tectonically unstable areas
such as the Mari-Kandhkot high, resulting in the development of foramniferal banks and shoals.
Middle Indus Basin, lies to the east of the Kirthar Range and to the south of the Sulaiman Lobe of the
Sulaiman Range, extends east to the Pakistan-India border and southwards to the Lower Indus Basin. Both
the Kirthar and Sulaiman Ranges are fold belts, which were deformed and uplifted during the Himalayan
Orogeny. This Orogeny was the result of collision of the Indo-Pakistan plate with the Eurasian plate and
begins in the North in the mid Eocene, with migration of the deformation front southward with time.
Major deformation of Kirthar and Sulaiman foldbelts began in the early Oligocene with the resulting
foreland basin depocentre located adjacent to the mountain front and remaining the depocentre to the
present day.
This foreland basin effectively overlies the precollisional Middle Indus Basin.The pre-collisional Middle
Indus Basin comprises a thick sequence of Mesozoic and Lower Tertiary sediments, the youngest being of
Eocene age. These sediments thicken from east to west, measuring 8-10 km beneath the frontal folds of
the Sulaiman Range
The Middle Indus Basin comprises regional scale highs and lows with gentle bedding dip and half
wavelength tens to hundreds of kilometers. The two principle lows are the axial depocentres of the Kirthar
and Sulaiman Foredeeps. The Kirthar Foredeep is oriented north to south and is parallel and adjacent to
the mountain front of the Kirthar Range. The Sulaiman Foredeep is located in the northeast of the Middle
Indus Basin. The Jacobabad High and the northwest plunge of the Mari-Kandhkot High occur to the south
of the Sulaiman lobe and lies between the Sulaiman and Kirthar Foredeeps. The Jacobabad High is a broad
elongate arch oriented NNW-SSE and measuring at least 130 km in length started growing in response to
early cretaceous extensional tectonics. The Tertiary Sequences, both post and pre-collisional sequences,
thin onto the Jacobabad High indicating that it has been a long-lived positive feature.
Figure-1- Plate Tectonic Reconstruction-Middle Eocene (40 Ma) (Scotese, Boucot et al. 1999)
Figure- 2- Stratigraphic column of the study area and HRL Sequence

2. Literature/HRL Producing Fields Review

Habib Rahi Limestone of middle Eocene age have been the focus of field mapping, subsurface
mapping based on wells and seismic data, and sedimentological studies based on cores cut in the
boreholes and samples from outcrop sections (Nuttall 1925, Nagappa 1959, Wakefield and Monteil 2002,
Shah, Petroleum et al. 2009). Several studies have been conducted on the depositional and diagenetic
fabrics and porosity development in these formations (Iqbal, Yasin et al. 1994).
2.1 Kandhkot Gas Field
Kandhkot area is covered with alluvium therefore there is no evidence of surface structure but
based on seismic and gravity data interpretation, three distinct subsurface features are
identifiable, these are termed as western, north eastern and south eastern domes. Western dome
forms semicircular feature and located in the eastern half of kandhkot mining lease. North eastern
extends about N-S across kandhkot mining lease. Structurally it is higher than western dome.
South western dome is oriented N-S across kandhkot mining lease and forms the northern plunge
of larger structural feature. According to authors/ consultants, HRL may be described as
Calcareous shale, Argillaceous dolomite/dolomitic lime mudstone, Planktonic foram lime
wackstone/packstone, Planktonic foram skeletal wackstone/packstone,Large foram
packstone/rudstone bioclastic to argillaceous limestone deposited on a marine shelf with rimmed
shelf margin of high energy shoals

2.2 Qadirpur Gas Field

Qadirpur block (Sindh province) is the concession area operated by OGDCL. In central Indus basin,
block is bounded by Sargodha high in the north, Indian shield in the west marginal zone of Indian
plate in the west and Sukkar rift in South. The basin is separated from upper Indus basin by
Sargodha high and Pezu uplift in the north (Kazmi and Jan 1997)
Geologically Qadirpur area is situated with the Mari Kandhkot high and middle Indus basin of
Pakistan on surface the Qadirpur structure is covered by alluvium of flood plain area of Indus river.
Based on siesmic data, time structure maps have been prepared on tops of Sui Main Limestone,
Sui Upper Limestone and Habib Rahi Limestone. It is NW-SE trending anticline, comparatively
broad in its southern half. It has an aerial extend of 98 Km2 on Pab Sandstone. The amplitude on
these formations are 22M, 24M, 61M and 88M respectively
Habib Rahi and Sui Upper limestone are the main reservoirs of that area, these two reservoir
systems exhibit markedly different depositional facies development and reservoir properties. The
Habib Rahi Limestone is Middle Eocene in age. It ranges in thickness from 75.5m to 95.98m in the
Qadirpur wells, where, it comprises a series of relatively clean, variably microporous limestones.
They are interpreted to have formed part of a shoreline attached inner platform system, which
passed outboard into an inner ramp slope setting. An ‘interior shelf deep’ separates this ramp
from an outer carbonate high located along the Kirthar Range to the west
The Sui Upper Limestone is Early Eocene in age and forms a layer cake reservoir within the
Qadirpur field, ranging in thickness from 54.16m to 62.44m. Simplistically, it can be considered to
comprise 5 main lithotypes, Clean porous Limestone (typically Alveolina Limestone Mf7 &
Mf9),Clean tight limestone, Argillaceous stylonodular limestone, Variably dolomitic claystone,
Dolomitised limestone stringers within claystone intervals

2.3 Mari Gas Field

Mari Gas field is in central Indus basin, in a regional structural area commonly referred as the
Jacobabad Khirpur High. This high was created in Late Cretaceous by extensional tectonics, which
formed in response to the spreading axis between Madgascar and Indian continent. The Mari-
Kandkhot High is NWSE trending, uplift and is separated from Jacobabad–Khairpur High by Panno-
Aquil low. The structural development of the Mari high is recognized from seismic events which
are truncated by Base Tertiary unconformity and in Late Paleocene/Early Eocene, the Mari area
 was affected by basement related wrench faulting. In Late Tertiary Mari anticline was formed due
to inversion. The Mari field contains gas at shallow structure level in Habib Rahi limestone
member of Sui Formation. Whereas deeper horizons of Cretaceous Lower Goru sandstone also
contains gas.

3. Research Objectives
This work is carried by using available 3D seismic data, wireline logs, reports and sample analysis.
Following are the main objectives:

• Document genetic units bounded by sequence stratigraphic surfaces as observed on regional

seismic profiles
• Document variations in Facies based on seismic reflection geometries and as evident from logs in
nearby wells and reconstruction of depositional environment of carbonate platform.
• Document stratigraphic variations from ramp margin build-ups to down-stepping progradational
wedges and generation of Chronostratigraphic charts (Wheeler diagrams) based on Geoseismic
sections
 • Document stratigraphic architecture of the HRL, upper and lower Albastar shales succession and
provide a predictive framework for correlation and mapping to define combination and/or
stratigraphic traps

4. Data Required
3D data vintage of designated area will be used. Overall seismic quality of study area is good to
fair. Similarly, digital conventional wireline logs and Well report of four different wells will also be used as
Support data (GR, Sonic, density logs, well reports).

Table -4- Details of the required Well data

5. Methodology and Workflow

5.1 Review of data, logs-based sequence stratigraphy, Well-to-seismic tie, integration with
Seismic, Interpretation of Seismic facies, depositional environment, Generation of Isochrone
maps and 3D depositional modal, possible reservoir seal pairs
• Review of existing seismic/ Well data and reports
• Wireline log correlation to establish sequence stratigraphic framework within the study area.
Identify the major sequence stratigraphic surfaces; maximum flooding surface (MFS), sequence
boundary (SB) and define major sequence and their system tracts (HST, LST, TST & FSST)
• Well-to-seismic at different locations to map regional extensive sequence stratigraphic surfaces
such as MFS & SBs and to get information about lithologic characterization of different seismic
reflections geometries
• Interpretation of regional seismic transects to reconstruct paleogeographic, position of paleo
highs and low and chrono-stratigraphic correlation of different units across the study area
• Seismic facies interpretation through reflection geometry (parallel, semi parallel, mounded,
blocky, oblique, chaotic, etc.)
• Interpretation of different geological facies related with coarsening-up, fining-up and blocky GR
log motifs from the offset wells or from the wells located on the seismic lines
 • Interpretation of deposition environment associated with different facies (pelagic, hemi pelagic,
debris flow, upper shoal, platform interior, krastified platform top, lower shoal, slump, etc.)
• Generate Wheeler like diagram (Time-stratigraphic relationships) from sequence stratigraphic
interpretation of seismic section to show document the temporal and spatial relationships of
different stratigraphic elements, i.e., zones of progradation, erosion, non-deposition and
condensation. This help to define the different sub-plays
• Compare with the local/ worldwide modern/ ancient analogues to predict the depositional
environments, controls on the size and shape different reservoirs and seal units
• Generate Isochrone map of different system tracts (LSW, HST, TST, FSST and TST) to reconstruct
Gross Depositional Environment (GDE) map
• Generate 3D depositional model of different system tracts which show the extend of different
play in 3D
• Discuss the generated maps to predict the possible reservoir seal pairs and recommendation to
address existing limitations
5.2 Attribute Analysis
• Attribute Analysis will be done to confirm the truncations along boundaries because it depends
upon the Seismic resolution and seismic resolution is the ability to distinguish between two
features from one another Vertical resolution determines the thickness of the beds, such as two
close seismic responses corresponding to different depth levels. However Horizontal resolution
determines the termination of beds by using seismic reflection. The Rayleigh’s Limit of Resolution
states that two events should be separated by half cycle model. To solve for thickness ∆h ≥ λ/4.
To resolve for two interfaces that are closely spaced the wavelength is λ/4. For bed thickness that
is less than λ/4, amplitude and bed thickness become judgmental values. For bed thickness, more
than λ/4, the wavelength will be used to determine the bed thickness (provided all the amplitude
changes are caused by tuning e.g. constructive & destructive interferences).
5.3 Sedimentological Analysis and Reservoir characterization
• Core analysis to determine the lithofacies types and sedimentary structures for sedimentological
interpretation, Post depositional features, fractures and pore types and their significance for
reservoir qualities
• Thin section analysis to determine composition and distribution of both detrital and diagenetic
phases, to determine pore types and control on their distribution and to determine the
diagenetic sequence
• SEM analysis to interpret the diagenetic processes, and to study the nature of pores and their
distribution
• Bulk stable isotope analysis to determine the composition of samples to understand the
diagenetic sequence

5.4 Seismic Inversion

Seismic inversion will be carried out to develop a framework of acoustic impedance in the study area. The
methodology of inverting seismic into acoustic impedance is pertinent to key information of the
lithologies, thus assisting in detailed investigation of the reservoirs. Log correlations will be established to
improve well to seismic ties using provided well logs. Subsequent to suitable well-tie, wavelet from the
seismic data will be extracted and low frequency model will be generated using logs. Provided with
suitable extracted wavelet, low frequency model and best-established well-tie inversion approach will
provide encouraging results.

6. Indicative project Timeframe

Figure- 3- Project Timeframe

7. Expected Outcomes

The study will develop a better insight towards geoseismic modelling and better development of
the middle Indus basin, HRL producing fields. As no sufficient work is published yet on middle Eocene HRL
reservoir characterization through seismic sequence stratigraphy, attribute analysis, sedimentological
analysis and seismic inversion will help in developing the models of middle Eocene carbonates to better
understand the subsurface variation at the level of reservoir. Prospect evaluation studies will provide an
aid to enlighten the further promising zones and prospect in the study area
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