Hydrocarbon Prospectivity of the Bhittani and Northern Sulaiman ranges, North-West Himalayas, Pakistan

Abstract

The Bhittani and northern Sulaiman ranges are integral part of the Himalayan foreland fold-thrust belt that surrounds the northwestern apex of Tank Reentrant of the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan. Despite several significant oil and gas discoveries in the southern and northwestern segments of the Himalayan foreland fold-thrust belt, Bhittani and northern Sulaiman ranges are still challenging frontiers for petroleum explorationists. This article is an attempt to address the geological risk of the area through the concept of hydrocarbon system and play. Critical review of the available literature and geological fieldwork in the region depicts that all the potential parameters of a working “hydrocarbon play” that are source, reservoir, trap/seal, timing and migration, exist underneath Bhittani and northern Sulaiman ranges. The petroleum system is high impedance, characterized by multiple reservoirs and sealing horizons that are likely to be charged by multiple source rocks. Surface structural style shows that enechelon anticlinal closures developed within the hanging walls of Jandola, Bhittani and Domanda faults are potential drillable prospects. The presence of a regional hydrocarbon kitchen is well supported by the stratigraphic record of the area. Whereas, the discovery of Savi Ragha within the Sulaiman Range has clearly established a working hydrocarbon system i.e. optimum timing of hydrocarbon generation, migration and entrapment.