Paleomorphology, Lithofacies and Tectonics at Play in Northwest Himalayan Basin

Abstract

  Kirthar, Sulaiman and Northwest Himalayan sedimentary basins, which are oil and gas producing areas of Pakistan, are proposed to replace the existing Indus Basin.
The N. W. Himalayan Basin is extended to include all areas situated north of Indo-Gangetic water divide. It is subdivided into 8 troughs and 8 depressions based on paleobarriers deduced from lithofacies variations, isopachites and impact of unconformities, in Early Eocene. Based on the nature of rocks marked by major thrustfaults,7 provinces ofthe N.W. Himalayan Basin are suggested.
The nomenclature and courses of 5 major thrust faults and 2 major strike slip faults are revised. One of the later introduced for the first time, apart from the assumed extension of HFT east of Mangla.
The occurrence of a specific set of rocks enclosed by major thrust faults has led to the identification of 13 tectonostratigraphic blocks, 5 of these homologous on either side of the Muzaffarabad High.
Northwest Himalayas are subdivided into 5 morphotectonic divisions based on variations in altitudes, geology.and major thrust alignments.
Based on well data, distribution of highs and water divides, a model of oil distribution is suggested, which could be useful in understanding hydrocarbon occurrence in these basins.