Structural Geology and Hydrocarbon Prospects of the Khairi-Murat Area, Potwar Sub-basin, Pakistan

Abstract

The Khairi Murat area is the northeastern part of Potwar sub-basin. It is marked by the marine to the transitional sequence of Chharat Group (Margalla Hill Limestone, Chorgali Formation and Kuldana Formation) and the molasse sequence of the Rawalpindi Group and Siwalik Group. These sediments are folded and faulted along with the underlying Eocambrian to Eocene sediments of Indian Plate as a result of Late Tertiary tectonic collision. Structurally, the project area is highly folded, faulted and fractured. The major folds of the area trend NE-SW. The major faults in the area are the Khairi Murat reverse fault and Dhurnal back thrust. At the northern limb of Khairi Murat anticline Murree Formation is exposed, which is deformed by intraformational tight to close folds and faults, while the Kamlial Formation is exposed along the Dhurnal back thrust. A structural cross sections are constructed which depicts that the outcropping structures were evolved as the result of north south oriented stresses with south progression.