Basement configuration and structural style in OIL’s operational areas of Upper Assam*

T. Satish Kumar1, B.R. Bharali1, and A.K. Verma1

Search and Discovery Article #50739 (2012)*

*Adapted from extended abstract prepared in conjunction with oral presentation at GEO-India, Greater Noida, New Delhi, India, January 12-14, 2011,
AAPG©2012
1
Oil India Ltd., Assam, India ([email protected])

Abstract

The Upper Assam Basin in northeast India is a passive continental margin characterized by Mesozoic and Cenozoic hydrocarbon
systems. Regional Basement structure in the basin consists of tensional horsts and grabens active since at least late Permo-
Carboniferous (Gondwana) time. The trends of these Basement features in general are normal to the active continental margin. The
general trend directions are caused by Mesozoic and Tertiary deformations. Thickness and facies distribution of Tertiary units in
Upper Assam basin are closely related to syn-sedimentary relative motions of Basement.

Significant geoscientific data has been generated in the last fifty years of exploration in the basin. Basement configuration and
structural styles of Upper Assam Basin has been a very imperative need with the available datasets. Efforts have been made to
interpret 230 drilled well data, along with seismic data of 4,550 km2 of 3D and 1,400 GLKM of 2D seismic data has enabled an
understanding the structural style of the Basement. Interpretations suggest that two distinct fault patterns (Eocene and Post Eocene)
occurred in this study area. Eocene fault patterns are dominantly E-W regional and semi regional faults present in the central part of
the study area, which is parallel to the Jorhat fault. Regionally the Jorhat fault culminates as Basement structural nose of Mikir Hills
and it divides Upper Assam Basement high with a saddle in between. Post Eocene fault patterns are dominantly of NE-SW trends.
Other semi regional faults are segmented in nature. The major E-W trending faults of Eocene age extend upward and become
segmented into two different parts extending from Dibrugarh to Jorajan oilfield. All the NE-SW trending faults at Oligocene level
extend upwards to the Middle Miocene level and become segmented. A less number of faults extend upward at the Upper Miocene
level with minor northward swing in fault direction. The E-W and NE-SW longitudinal faults and the associated structures acted as
major areas of entrapment for hydrocarbons. Interplay of extensional, compressive and lateral movement clearly explains the
hydrocarbon accumulation pattern in the area. In general, the Basement is dipping to the South, SE, and NE and maximum depth of
Basement in the shelf part of the basin is around 7.0 km.

Introduction

The Upper Assam Basin is a composite foreland basin, which is situated in the far northeast of India, within the curve of the Assam
Syntaxis, which is a major orocline in the Himalayan Orogenic Belt (Figure 1). The basin has thrusted margins on three sides; to the
south the Naga Hills Thrust Belt and Manipur ophiolite belt; to the east and north the Main Frontal Thrust of the Himalayas, which
was active from the mid Miocene to present-day, bends around the Assam Syntaxis. In the subsurface, a ridge of Precambrian rocks
known as Brahmaputra arch roughly bisects the Assam Basin. The arch plunges northeastward from outcrops in the Mikir Hills to the
northeastern part of the basin, where the plunge of the arch becomes northerly. The Paleocene and Eocene units thin and lap out
against the arch, overlying Oligocene and Miocene units thin over it. Sediments on the south flank of the arch are cut by normal faults
that roughly parallel and fall away from the axis of the arch (Bhandari et al. 1973; Das Gupta and Biswas, 2000). The Basin comprises
of about 7,000 m thick sediments of mostly Tertiary and Quaternary age. Worldwide, > 56 % of conventional oil reserves are in
foreland basins (Hunt, 1996). Such basins accumulate huge amounts of hydrocarbon by lateral secondary migration from large
drainage areas.

Basement configuration is very important for deciding exploration strategies in a basin. An integration of subsurface geological and
regional geophysical data allows the definition of regional Basement structures in spite of lack of Basement outcrop data across the
basin. Based on subsurface information from drilled wells and seismic data are used to describe the Basement configuration and its
structural style in this study area.

Geological Setting

The Basement of northeast India comprises various Gondwana fragments, mainly Peninsular India (Indian Craton) and the West
Burma Block, with the Lhasa and Sibumasu Blocks framing the regional picture. Terrine, or block, boundaries, as well as major
structural elements are shown in Figure 1b. These continental fragments rifted and drifted from Gondwana across Tethys during the
late Paleozoic to late Mesozoic, with the current configuration in place by the Eocene, from which time strong deformation affected
the area in the Himalayan Orogeny. Since then ongoing movement of the Indian plate and West Burma Block has led to major
differential movement along block boundaries, resulting in basin formation and structuration, which continued into the Quaternary.
The present-day basin, a cratonic margin, reflects three distinct tectonic phases. The earliest was Late Cretaceous to Eocene block
faulting and development of a northern easterly dipping shelf. During the second phase, in Oligocene time, uplift and erosion occurred
north of the Dukai fault, many Basement faults were reactivated, and many Basement-controlled structures became prominent (Naidu
and Panda, 1997). Late Miocene through Pliocene extensive alluvial deposition followed Oligocene uplift and erosion (Pahari et
al.2008).

Materials and Methods

Drilled well data and seismic data are not evenly distributed in study area. A 230-drilled well data, about 4,550 km2 of 3D data and
1,400 GLKM of 2D (areas with less data of drilled wells) is considered for gridding to prepare depth map on top of Basement. The
data are scanty, therefore, the minor structural events are smoothened and the major structural events are considered in this study, as it
has less bearing in regional configuration of structures. Fault patterns are picked from seismic data The 2.5 km by 2.5 km grid pattern
was used for generating regional Basement depth map.

Basement Fault Patterns and Structural Style

There are two distinct fault patterns (Eocene and Post Eocene) occurring in the study area. Eocene fault patterns are dominantly E-W,
regional and semi-regional faults present in the central part of the study area, which is parallel to the Jorhat fault (Figure 2).
Regionally, the Jorhat fault culminates as Basement structural nose of Mikir Hills and it divides Upper Assam Basement high with a
saddle in between. The E-W trending fault divides Moran, Shalmari, Sapekhati and Nahorkatiya to the south and Central Basement
High (CBH) to the north. CBH comprising of Chabua, Tengakhat, Dikom, Kathaloni and Balijan, separates Baghjan, Barekuri and
Makum regional high by a set of NNE-SSW trending faults. A number of semi regional N-S and E-W trending faults are present
within these three different regions.

Post Eocene fault patterns are dominantly of NE-SW trends. One of the regional faults is Rajgarh fault to the south of the area
extending from Dipling to Bogapani area. Other semi regional faults are segmented in nature. The major E-W trending fault of Eocene
age extends upward and become segmented into two different parts extending from Dibrugarh to Jorajan oilfield. In general, all the
NE-SW trending faults at Oligocene level extend upwards to Middle Miocene level and become segmented. A less number of faults
extend upward at Upper Miocene level with minor northward swing in fault direction.
 Basement Configuration

The Basement surface has been affected by a number of major and minor faults with dominant E-W and NE-SW trends. Two N-S
trending major faults extend across the southern part of the area. Two NNE-SSW trending faults divide CBH and adjoining area,
Baghjan, Barekuri and Makum oilfields. Most of the major Eocene oilfields are lying north of E-W trending faults. CBH area extends
from Dikom, Chabua to Balijan II and Dinjan areas to the NE (Figure 2). Few E-W trending minor grabens are present within CBH
area. Basement depth in the area is in the range of 3,600 m to 3,700 m. Barekuri and Baghjan areas are (eastern part of the study area)
structurally down dip at Basement level (depth range is in the order of about 3,700 m to 3,800 m). The Barekuri and Baghjan High
area has lateral shift north compare to the CBH area. It might have been due to sinistral movement along the NNE-SSW trending
faults during later phase of plate movement. In general, the Basement is dipping to the South, SE, and NE. Maximum depth of
Basement in the shelf part of the basin is around 7.0 km.

Regional geological sections were prepared in two directions (NE-SW and NW-SE) to understand the geological setting of the basin.
Profile A-A’ is passing through Kathaloni, Sealkati, Chabua, Baghjan and Mechaki fields in NE – SW direction (Figure 3), which
covers the northern part of the study area. Profile B-B’ is NW-SE direction passing through Dikom, Salmari and Baruanagar fields and
covers western part of the study area (Figure 4).

Along this profile A-A’, Barails and Kopili thickness is more to the NE direction i.e. at Mechaki area. Thickness of Tipam Formation
is reduced in Sealkati and Baghjan areas that may be due to erosion at post Girujan time. In these two fields, Girujans are completely
eroded. Girujan remnants are confined in smaller pockets in northern most areas. Namsangs are also absent or not defined. Alluvium
and Dhekiajuli thickness is more towards SE areas. There are few major faults in the section. A graben has divided the CBH area and
Baghjan structure. Basement is structurally high at CBH area compared to Baghjan oilfield. Profile B-B’, thickness of sediments from
Langpar to Tipam formation is uniform. Girujans are quite thick in Baruanagar area. Namsangs are very thin or absent towards NW.
Alluvium and Dhekiajuli thickness is less towards SE areas. Number of major faults in these areas is presented having to SE.

Conclusion

Based on integration and interpretation of drilled well data, along with seismic data suggest that two distinct faults patterns (Eocene
and Post Eocene) occurred in this study area. Eocene fault patterns are dominantly E- W regional and semi regional faults present in
the central part of the study area, which is parallel to the Jorhat fault. Regionally, the Jorhat fault culminates as Basement structural
nose of Mikir Hills and it divides Upper Assam Basement high with a saddle in between. Post Eocene fault patterns are dominantly of
NE-SW trends. Other semi-regional faults are segmented in nature. The major E-W trending fault of Eocene age extends upward and
become segmented to two different parts extending from Dibrugarh to Jorajan oilfield. All the NE-SW trending faults at Oligocene
level extend upwards to Middle Miocene level and become segmented. A less number of faults extend upward at Upper Miocene level
with minor northward swing in fault direction. The E-W and NE-SW longitudinal faults and the associated structures acted as major
areas of entrapment of hydrocarbons. In general, the Basement dips South, SE, and NE with a maximum depth of Basement in the
shelf part of the basin around 7.0 km.

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the management of Oil India Limited for permission to submit this paper for publication.

References

Bhandari, L.L, R. Fuloria, and V.V. Sastry, 1973, Stratigraphy of Assam Valley, India: American Association of Petroleum Geologists
Bulletin, v. 57/4, p. 642-652.

Das Gupta, A.B., and A.K. Biswas, 2000, Geology of Assam: Geological Society of India, Bangalore, India, 169 p.

Hunt, J.M., 1996, Petroleum Geochemistry and Geology, 2nd edition: Freeman, New York, U.S.A., 743 p.

Naidu, B.D., and B.K. Panda, 1997, Regional Source Rock Mapping in Upper Assam Shelf, in Proceedings of the Second
International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition, Petrotech-97: New Delhi, India, v. 1, p. 350-364.

Pahari. S., H. Singh, I.V.S.V. Prasad, and R.R. Singh, 2008, Petroleum systems of upper Assam shelf, India: p. 14.
Figure 1. (A) Location map of the study area; (B) Major Tectonic elements of Assam-Arakan Basin.
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Figure 2. Depth contour map on a horizon close to Basement Top of Upper Assam Basin.
Figure 3. Regional geological section of Profile A-A’.
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Figure 4. Regional geological section of Profile B-B’.