Hydrocarbon Potential Of Zinda Pir Anticline, Eastern Sulaiman Fold Belt, Middle Indus Basin, Pakistan

Abstract

The synthesis of biostratigraphic information from Well X-1 geochemical data from Zindapir-1 well, wireline logs of Well X-1 and Zindapir-1 in eastern Sulaiman Fold Belt, in middle Indus basin and Sequence Stratigraphic studies of Lower-Middle Indus bBasin indicate that Lower Cretaceous Sembar Formation, considered to be the principal source rock of Lower and Middle Indus Basin is absent. The Well X-1 and Zindapir-1 at Zindapir Anticlinorium were drilled and abandoned as dry holes. The source rocks identified in clastic and carbonate facies of Jurassic Chiltan Formation and Cretaceous Goru Formation encountered in Zindapir-1, comprising of gas prone Kerogen type III have poor source rock potential in the area indicating possible generation of hydrocarbons in limited quantity, lacking expulsion, migration and accumulation of hydrocarbons in the reservoirs.

Discovery of hydrocarbons of varying composition at Dhodak, Rodho and Afiband anticlines of Zindapir Anticlinorium located from north to south along the strikes indicates multiple source rocks with various level of maturity, possibly expelled and migrated through fault as conduits within the potential kitchen area in Sulaiman Foredeep in the east and Barthi Syncline in the west , due to increased overburden or being generated by indigenous potential source rocks of varying composition. It seems that Zindapir structure is still virgin to flow hydrocarbons, and there are ample chances of compartments, developed as a consequence of transpressional movement at the periphery of the structure. These compartments may host hydrocarbon, generated and migrated either from Barthi syncline and Sulaiman Foredeep or generated by indigenous source rocks possibly deposited in the south of Zindapir-1 and Well X-1. It is therefore recommended that the subsurface structure pattern of Zindapir Anticlinorium may be investigated in detail, using additional seismic data . In addition source of hydrocarbons discovered at Dhodak , Rodho and Afiband structure may be identified for the inference of possible hydrocarbon source in the southern part of Zindapir Anticlinorium.