Exploration in Sedimentary Basins of India for

oil and gas: A future perspective

By
Roshan Vishwakarma

E-mail: roshan_geo07@yahoo.com
 Contents
Chapter 1) Introduction
Chapter 2) Categorization of sedimentary basins
Chapter 3) The petroliferous basins of India
Chapter 4) Hydrocarbon Potential of India
Chapter 5) Production and Consumption of
Petroleum (crude) and Natural gas
Chapter 6) Perspective plans of exploration and
development for hydrocarbons
Summary
References
Chapter 1: Introduction
• It is well known that the oil has been mostly generated and
accumulated in the sedimentary rocks, the world over.
• Sedimentary basins are in a broad sense, all those areas in which
sediments can accumulate to considerable thickness and be
preserved for long geological time periods.
• In India, hydrocarbons have been struck in different basins ranging
in age through out the Phanerozoic.
• Oil exploration in India dates over a century back when drilling of
first well begun in 1866 just seven years after the first oil well was
drilled in Pennsylvania, USA by Col. Drake (1859).
• The sedimentary basins of India received attention of geoscientists
due to increased activities for petroleum exploration since 1950’s.
• There are 26 sedimentary basins in India covering an area of about
3.14 million sq. km, of which 13 are of interest for hydrocarbon
exploration based on current status of exploration, knowledge and
commercial status.
 Chapter 2: Categorization of sedimentary
basins

• During the exploration programme of ONGC, erection and

refinement of stratigraphy has been carried out continuously from
last few decades till date.
• By early seventies it was obvious that a small number of basins
alone were producing most of the hydrocarbons in the country and
the others had low rate of success.
• Based on the data accumulated on the regional basin wide scale,
the petroliferous sedimentary basins were divided into 4 groups or
categories (Bhardwaj and Saini, ONGC, Dehradun).
Category I: Basins with Proven commercial productivity:
• Cambay basin
• Assam shelf
• Bombay offshore
• Krishna- Godavari basin
• Cauvery basin
• Assam- Arakan fold belt.
• Rajasthan
Category II: Basins with Identified prospectivity:
• Kutch
• Andaman- Nicobar
• Mahanadi basins
Category III: Prospective basins:
• Himalayan Foothills
• Ganga basin
• Vindhyan
• Saurashtra
• Kerala- Konkan- Lakshwadeep
• Bengal
Category IV: Potentially prospective:
• Karewa
• Spiti- Zanskar
• Satpura- South Rewa
• Narmada
• Deccan Syneclise
• Bhima- Kaladgi
• Cuddapah
• Pranhita- Godavari
• Bastar
• Chasttisgarh

• In addition, the deep water areas beyond 200 m isobath upto EEZ
form a separate category and are considered to be highly
prospective. A total of 10, 90,923 sq. km. covering 15 sedimentary
basins are under exploration, which is about 35 % of the total
sedimentary area available.
 Out of 26 Basins 7 are petroliferous

1889: Assam Shelf

1967: Rajasthan Basin

1973: A&AA FB

1958: Cambay Basin

1980: KG Basin

1974: Mumbai Offshore

1985: Cauvery Basin

Chapter 4: Hydrocarbon Potential of India

(Source: DGH)
Chapter 6: Production and Consumption of
Petroleum (crude) and Natural gas
• The total consumption of petroleum products increased in 2006-
2007 by 5.6% over the previous year.
 Chapter 6: Perspective plan of exploration and
development for hydrocarbons
• The ONGC and OIL, the two National Oil Companies and a few
private and joint venture companies were engaged in exploration and
production activities of oil and natural gas in the country. As on
1.4.2007 in public sector, ONGC’s Jurisdiction extended to 339 oil/
gas fields including offshore areas where as OIL was engaged in 19
fields.
• The long-term vision known as India Hydrocarbon Vision 2025
evolved by the Government of India to intensify exploration and
enhance hydrocarbon reserves, these includes development
of new as well as existing fields, implementation of Enhance
Oil Recovery Schemes, recourse to specialized technology,
enlisting the services of international experts and
encouraging participation of private and joint- venture
companies in the exploration programme.
• ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), a wholly owned subsidiary of
ONGC, is pursuing to acquire exploration and production
opportunities in Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Latin America
and Southeast Asia.
• In private sector, RIL’s overseas interests include a block each in
Yemen and Oman.
 Summary
• Oil has been mostly generated and accumulated in the sedimentary
rocks, the world over.
• There are 26 sedimentary basins in India covering an area of about
3.14 million sq. km.
• Basins with Proven commercial productivity are seven viz. Cambay
basins, Bombay offshore, Krishna- Godavari basin, Cauvery basin,
Assam shelf, Assam- Arakan fold belt and Rajasthan
• The Bombay offshore basin is the biggest among the proved
petroliferous basins of India and is contributing app. About 65% of the
domestic production.
• With the increase in technology and exploration work, the category II,
III and IV basins may come and join the category I basins.
• With the country importing 70% of its crude oil requirements and to
increase the indigenous production, the programme such as India
Hydrocarbon Vision 2025 can prove to be fruitful.
 References
• Bhowmick P.K., Phenerozoic Petroliferous basins of India.,
Glimpses of Geoscience Research in India, pp.1-16.
• Bhardwaj V.K. and Saini S.S., Hydrocarbon Potential of India,
Glimpses of Geoscience Research in India.
• Indian Mineral Year Book 2007, IBM.
• Pandey J. and Dave A., Stratigraphy of Indian Petroliferous
Basins.
• Journal of Indian Association of Sedimentologists (1984) 1-66.
• Umathe R.M., Mineral deposits of India.
• Bjorlykke K, Sedimentology and Petroleum Geology.
• Einsele G., Sedimentary Basins.