Text Assam Arakan Basin

Assam-Arakan
INTRODUCTION
The Assam-Arakan Basin is one of the 26 sedimentary basins of India (Fig.1), situated in the
country’s northeastern part, and covers the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya,
Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland (Fig.2). It is a polyhistory basin that evolved
simultaneously with other East-Coast basins of India, concomitant with the rifting and
subsequent drifting of the Indian Plate from eastern Gondwanaland. The basin was initiated
in an extensional phase and later was modified by different episodes of compressive phases.
Superimposition of compressive phase on extensional regime modified the earlier extensional
structures that indicate the poly-phase/ poly-history nature of the basin. The Assam-Arakan
Basin is a shelf-slope basinal system filled with about 5000m of Tertiary sediments above
Precambrian igneous and metamorphic basement.The basin evolved from an easterly dipping
passive-margin setting in Paleogene to present day foreland basin during Neogene and
onwards. The NE-SW trending Assam Shelf is primarily a southeast-dipping shelf overthrust
by the Naga Hills on the southeast and the Himalaya Mountain range to the north. In the
southwest, the shelf terminates against a large Precambrian basement high, outcropping at the
surface in the Mikir Hills and Shillong Plateau.The area within the Upper Assam shelf
measures approximately 56000 sq.kmwith a total Cretaceous –Recent sedimentary succession
of up to 7 km thick and the area within the Fold & Thrust Belt measures approximately
60,000 Sq.km with a total Paleocene- Recent sedimentary succession of up to 10 km thick.
The total sedimentary thickness may exceed 7000 m of sediments ranging in age between
Cretaceous to Recent in the deepest part of basin (Fig.3).
The three major tectonic elements (Fig.4) of the basin are:
 Upper Assam Shelf

 Naga Schuppen belt
 Assam-Arakan Fold belt.

The Upper Assam shelf, where most of the hydrocarbon discoveries in the basin have been
made, lies between two major, counter dipping thrust systems; the Himalayan Front to the
north-northwest and the Naga Overthrust Belt to the southeast. These thrust systems converge
to the northeast of the
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Assam-Arakan
basin in the Mishmi Hills. In the southwest, the Upper Assam shelf terminates against a large
Precambrian basement high, outcropping at the surface in the Mikir Hills and Shillong
Plateau.Jorhat fault bifurcates the upper Assam shelf into two distinctive areas viz., North
Assam shelf and South Assam shelf. Dauki fault, along southern boundary of Shillong
Plateau is also an E-W trending strike slip fault and is associated with the upliftment of
Shillong Plateau (Fig-5).
Oil exploration in Assam commenced in the year 1867, when the Margherita and Makum
wells were drilled making non-commercial oil discoveries. The first commercial oil discovery
was the Digboi oil field by AR&TC (Assam Rail & Trading Co. Ltd) in the year 1889. The
well was located on an exposed Naga thrust related anticline having 24 oil-bearing layers.
The field’s production peaked to 435 BOPD in 1911 and continues to produce few barrels of
oil even today. Subsequent discoveries of the Nahorkatiya, Moran and Rudrasagar oil fields
in 1953, 1956 and 1960, respectively, established the Upper Assam basin as a petroleum
province. Since then, more than 100 oil and gas fields, including Jorajan, Kumchai, Hapajan,
Shalmari, Lakwa, Lakhmani, Geleki, Amguri, Charali, Borholla, Khoraghat,Dirok, Hortoky
etc. have been discovered by Oil India Limited (OIL), Oil & Natural Gas Corporation
Limited (ONGC) and PVT/JV Companies (Fig. 5A).
Most of the oil and gas, discovered in Upper Assam, has been found in the Barail Group of
Upper Eocene to Lower Oligocene age and the Tipam Group of Upper Miocene age.Oil and
gas accumulations have also been discovered within the Langpar and Lakadong formations of
Paleocene to Lower Eocene age in several structures like Dikom, Kathaloni, Bhagjan and
Panidihing. In the Borholla oil field, fractured granitic basement rock of Precambrian age has
been proved to be oil bearing. The oilfields, discovered so far, are situated only in the areas
south and southeast of the Brahmaputra river and a few in the thrust belts, associated with
Naga thrust. However, the area to the north of the Brahmaputra river up to the Eastern
Himalayan foothills has remained poorly explored. In the Assam Arakan fold belt, apart from
the Digboi oil field, one more oil field, namely, the Kharsang field, having oil accumulations
in Upper Miocene, has been discovered.
In the Khoraghat and Nambar fields situated in southeastern part of the Dhansiri Valley, oil
occurs in the Bokabil Formation (Middle Miocene), which is not developed towards north in
the Brahmaputra valley. In some of the exploratory wells e.g. Tenyiphe-1, Chumukedima-1
and Rajaphe drilled in the
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Assam-Arakan
southwestern part of the Dhansiri valley, good shows of oil have been observed in Eocene
and Oligocene sands.
In Assam–Arakan Fold belt the earliest geological survey was carried out by Geological
Survey of India in 1891. The first well Badarpur -1 was drilled in 1911 -12 to a depth of 730
ft by a syndicate which gave oil indication. Bardarpur Oil Company Ltd. succeeded in finding
oil in 1915. The fieldwas developed and attained a peak production of 1000 BOPD in 1920.
The field was abandoned in 1933 after a total production of 321000T. Early explorers had
drilled at Chhatachura, Kanchanpur, Patharia and Masimpur near oil shows upto a depth of
3000 ft without tangible success.
Subsequent geological mapping established the presence of several oil/gas seepage and N-S
trending anticlinal folds Assam-Arakan Fold Belt from exposures throughout from eastern to
western part. The ONGC had discovered gas in Baramura structure in 1975. Thereafter
several gas discoveries were made mostly in west Tripura and Cachar. Some of these are
Adamtila (Cachar), Agartala Dome, Gojalia, Konaban, Manikya Nagar. Some of the recent
discoveries are Tulamura, Khubal and Ambassa drilled in Dholai syncline. New gas
discovery Hortoky-1 is found in Barail Coal Shale unit in a new Sentet anticline structure in
Assam- ArakanFold Belt.
As on 31.03.2015, about 14 PEL blocks assigned to National Oil Companies and Private/
Joint Venture Companies under Pre-NELP and NELP blocks are under operation.
The prognosticated resources are estimated to be 5040 MMT. Out of these resources, 3180
MMT are in Assam Shelf and 1860 MMT are in Assam-Arakan Fold Belt.
North Bank Area of the Upper Assam Basin situated on the northern bank of river
Brahmaputra is a vast alluvial tract in the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent.
Eastern Himalayas and Mishmi Hills mark the north northwestern and eastern limits of this
area; the southern limit is of course marked by the mighty river Brahmaputra
Oil exploration in India commenced with the discovery of Digboi oilfield in Upper Assam
more than 100 years ago, when a well was drilled on oil seepage in an exposed anticline
associated with Naga thrust. Other significant milestones in oil exploration in Upper Assam
were discoveries of Nahorkatiya and Moran oilfields in 1953 and 1956 respectively.
Subsequently several discoveries were made by Oil India Limited (OIL) and Oil & Natural
Gas Corporation (ONGC), the two national oil companies namely, Jorajan, Kumchai, Hapjan,
Shalmari, Rudrasagar, Lakwa, Geleki and Borholla.
Bulk of hydrocarbon discovered in Upper Assam basin till late 1980s were in the Barail
Group of Upper Eocene/Lower Oligocene age and Tipam Group of Lower Miocene age.
During the last decade OIL has discovered, oil and gas accumulations within Langpar and
Lakadong + Theria Formations of Paleocene/Lower Eocene age in several structures like
Dikom, Kathaloni, Tengakhat, Tamulikhat.
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Assam-Arakan
The oilfields discovered so far are situated mainly in the areas south of the Brahmaputra river
and a few in the thrust belts associated with Naga-Patkai Hills. However, the North Bank
Area including the Brahmaputra river bed upto the Eastern Himalayan foothills have
remained poorly explored / unexplored. Recently, during 1997-2003 five wildcat wells have
been drilled in the North Bank Area of which three are located west of river Subansiri, one
east of it and the 5th one, northeast of Dhemaji town. Although, these wells did not establish
any commercial accumulation, indications of hydrocarbons have been found in wells
Bihpuria-1 and Dhakuakhana-1.
The prognosticated reserves for OIL'S acreage (approx 16,500 sq.km.) spread over North
Bank and south of river Brahmaputra as brought out by an integrated study by an
internationally reputed foreign consultancy firm, are of the order of 3750 million tonnes of oil
plus oil equivalent of gas. OIL has so far established about 750 million tones reserves. The
above activities have, however, been concentrated in the area falling south of river
Brahmaputra and a considerable part of yet to be established reserves lie in North Bank Area,
which continues to be poorly explored.
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Assam-Arakan
PHYSIOGRAPHY, CLIMATE AND COMMUNICATIONS

Physiography
The Assam Shelf of Assam–Arakan Basin is covered by alluvium of Brahmaputra River and
its tributaries. Towards north and northwest the shelf is bound by Himalayan foothills while
the Naga-Schuppen belt limits its southern and southwestern boundaries. Towards Northeast
it is bounded by Mishmi hills and in west by Mikir hills. This extends to north Cachar Hills
and Shillong Plateau. The shelf narrows down in southwest and extends to Dhansiri valley
and further southwest into Surma valley. The shelf continues to north of Brahmaputra river
with thinner sedimentary cover.
North Cachar hills, exposing Tertiary sediments, lie to the south of the Mikir hills and
southwest of the southern part of the Dhansiri valley. Outcrops of Tertiary rocks continue to
occur further southwest to west in the North Cachar hills, Jaintia hills and southern slope of
the Shillong massif. The hill ranges of western Nagaland aligned roughly in NNE-SSW
direction and exposing Tertiary sediments which are involved in a complex system of
imbricate thrusts lie on the southeastern side of the Upper Assam Shelf.
The general elevation of the Dhansiri and Brahmaputra valleys ranges between 85m and
135m above mean sea level (MSL) and elevation of the area of North Cachar hills and
southwestern Naga Hills ranges from 95m to about 250m above MSL. The Naga-Schuppen
Belt and Assam-Arakan Fold belt are densely forested with mountainous rugged terrain.
The entire area in Assam-Arakan Fold Belt consists of a series of N-S trending steep hills
ranges with intervening narrow valleys and display a first order topography. The average
height of the hill ranges varies between 900 and 1200m. The general elevation of the region
shows an increasing trend towards east. The hills ranges consist of compact and resistant
rocks of older age while the valleys comprise of younger and relatively less compact rocks
exposed in synclinal core.
Climate
Northeastern India, covering the Assam-Arakan basin, has a humid tropical climate with
annual rainfall ranging from 300cm to a little more than 400cm. The maximum temperature
during the summer months of April, May and June ranges between 30C in the hilly terrain
and 38C in the plains. The monsoon sets in rather early in this part of the country, with the
advent of pre-monsoon rain during May, and continues up to September. During the winter
months (November, December and January), the temperature ranges from 12C to 25C.
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Assam-Arakan
Communication
Northeastern India is well connected with the rest of the country by road, rail and air.
National highway (NH-37) (Ref. Road and Rail route Map of India) connects the state of
Assam with Kolkata and runs up to the township of Dangori via Makum in the northeast.
Across the Lohit river, the road leads to Sadiya town and further NNE to Roing in Arunachal
Pradesh. National Highway (NH-38) originating from the NH-37 at Makum town leads to
Margherita town towards east. National highway (NH-54) runs upto Lungleh, the southern-
most township of Mizoram, Imphal and ,Kohima. The capitals of Manipur and Nagaland,
respectively, are connected by National highway (NH-39) originating from NH-37 at
Naogaon town, NH-36 goes upto Dimapur town in Nagaland. In addition to the National
highways, many State highways, motorable, fair weather roads and cart tracks criss-cross the
region. The International airports in this region are at Kolkata and Guwahati. The major
cities, Guwahati, Shillong, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Silchar, Dimapur, Imphal and Agartala are all
linked to Kolkata and Delhi by regular air services. The main rail-route connecting Guwahati
with Kolkata and Delhi runs up to Tinsukia and Lekhapani in Assam and Dimapur in
Nagaland. From the Lumding railway junction, a branch line extends to Badarpur railway
junction in Cachar, and Kumarghat in Tripura. From Katakhal railway junction in Cachar,
one branch line extends via Silchar to Bhairabi in Mizoram State and another line, to Jiribum
in Manipur State.Arunachal Pradesh is also visible now in railway map of India. A New
railway line hasbeen started to connectfrom Dekargaon, Assam to Naharlagun in Arunachal
Pradesh.
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Assam-Arakan
STATUS OF EXPLORATION
Geological Surveys
Whole of the Upper Assam Shelf, Naga Schuppen Belt and the Assam-Arakan Fold belt of
the Assam-Arakan Basin have been extensively surveyed by many geologists from
Geological Survey of India, AOC, BOC since the late nineteenth century. ONGC has initiated
mapping various parts of the basin in detail, since 1957. The entire area has been covered by
91605 sq.km of detailed/semi detailed geological surveys. Photo-geological surveys with key
field checks conducted in Manipur, Mizoram, Cachar and Nagaland during early seventies.
The geological map of the Assam-Arakan basin and its surrounding areas is given in Fig.6.
Geophysical Surveys
Geophysical surveys in the area commenced with aeromagnetic coverage by Hunting
Geophysics Ltd., U.K. in 1953-54. This was followed by detailed gravity-magnetic and
conventional (single fold) seismic surveys by ONGC during 1965-75. Subsequently, since
1978 till date, CDP seismic surveys with 12/24/48 fold coverage have been carried out by
ONGC and OIL. Extensive 3D seismic surveys have also been carried out in selected areas.
Detailed aeromagnetic surveys were also made by National Geophysical Research Institute
(NGRI), India, in 1978 and 1989, covering 9400 and 1200 sq. kms, respectively.
The entire shelf and basinal areas (Naga Schuppen belt and Assam-Arakan Fold belt) have
been covered by Gravity-Magnetic surveys. In Assam Shelf GM data has been acquired in an
area of about 46500 Sq.km. The basin is adequately covered by Aeromagnetic surveys. The
Bouguer anomaly map (Fig.7) has brought out the following salient features:
(i) There is a prominent gravity high with its axis trending E–W from Garo hills
(Shillong massif) to Haflong, which then swings towards northeast and thereafter gradually
becomes subdued and then disappears near Kohima in Nagaland.
(ii) The contour pattern from the Mikir Massif up to Jorhat and further towards NE
suggests that the exposed granitic massif plunges towards
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Assam-Arakan
northeast below the tertiary sedimentary cover and continues as a subsurface basement ridge
along the southeastern side of the Brahmaputra river known as the Brahmaputra arch (Fig. 8
& 9). This basement ridge came into existence during Plio- Pleistocene.
(iii) There are two prominent gravity lows: one, which lies in the North Lakhimpur
District of Assam, near the main boundary fault, is related to the Assam Himalayan
foredeep and the other, lying in the extreme northeast of the area is the Mishmi foredeep
(Fig.7).The basement configuration map (Fig.9) also depicts the features mentioned above.
The other prominent tectonic features (Fig.8) brought out by the survey are:
(IV) Assam – Arakan fold belt is constituted by a series of N-S trending anticline with
Naga-Schuppen belt in the north, continuing as series of fold in Bangladesh and Myanmar in
south, the geoanticlinal belt in east and continued fold system in Bangladesh in west (Fig.10).
(V) Surma Basin (Sylhet Trough)
Recently in November-December, 2011, M/S Jubilant in the NELP-VIII blocks AA-ONN-
2009/1 and AA-ONN-2009/2 had carried out 5275 LKM of Airborne Gradiometry-GM
Survey covering the two blocks in Manipur area of Assam-Arakan Fold belt.
Seismic Surveys
The Upper Assam Shelf, particularly the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, which
contains most of oil fields of NE India, is extensively covered by 12/24/48 fold CDP seismic
surveys. Most of the major oil fields have been covered by 3D seismic surveys. However, in
the hill ranges of North Cachar and Cachar of Assam, Nagaland and Tripura, only a few
selected areas have been covered by CDP surveys. As on 31.03.2015, approximately
68747LKM of 2D and 14701 sq km of 3D seismic surveys has been carried out in Assam-
Arakan Basin for exploration of conventional hydrocarbon .
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Assam-Arakan
Exploratory Drilling
Drilling history of the Upper Assam Shelf, Naga Schuppen belt and Tripura- Cachar-
Manipur-Mizoram fold belt dates back to late nineteenth century, when the Digboi and
Badarpur oil fields were discovered by the ARTC, Burma Oil Company (BOC). Oil India
Ltd. (OIL) discovered its first field in Upper Assam, viz. the Nahorkatiya field in 1953
followed by discovery of fields such as Moran, Jorajan, Dikom, Khumchai, Kharsang and
many more. Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) discovered its first oil field,
Rudrasagar in 1960 in Upper Assam. Subsequent exploratory efforts in many parts of Upper
Assam and Nagaland have established Lakwa, Lakhmani, Geleki, Amguri, Charali, Borholla,
Changpang, Khoraghat, Babejia, North-Geleki, Khagorijan, Balimara, South Chandmari,
Moran, and Barekuri fields.
Exploration in Assam-Arakan Fold Belt had commenced in 1891 and first oil well, Badarpur-
1was drilled in 1914-1915. Thereafter, exploratory drilling was carried out in Chhatachura,
Kanchanpur, Patharia and Masimpur upto a maximum depth of 3000 ft with no success. The
ONGC drilled their first discovery well in Baramura structure which tested commercial flow
of gas. Since then over 19 gas discoveries were made such as Gojalia, Manikya Nagar,
Tulamura, Agartala Dome, Sundalbari.
The exploratory wells drilled in Upper Assam shelf are well spread throughout the basin.
However, in Naga-Schuppen Belt, limited numbers of exploratory wells are drilled, mostly in
NE part and a few in SE nearer to Dhansiri valley. In the Assam-Arakan Belt, exploratory
drilling is limited to NE in Silchar area and to the west in the west Tripura area. These efforts
have lead to large number of discoveries in the basin.
As on 31.03.2015, approximately more than 1276 exploratory wells have been drilled in
Assam Arakan Basin for exploration of conventional hydrocarbon. Recent discoveries and
the lithocolumns of few key wells of Assam-Arakan Basin are described as follows:
Mechaki#2
The well was drilled upto the depth of 5610m and was bottomed in Granitic basement. It
penetrated through 115m thick Girujan sequence consisting of dominantly shale; 280m thick
Tipam sanstone; 730m thick Barail sandstone; 390m thick Kopili shale; 70m thick Prang
sequence comprising dominantly shale with thin interbedded limestone; 120m thick sequence
of Narpuh consisting of alternation of shale and sand; 110m thick sequence of Lakadong and
Therria comprising sandstone and 95 m thick Langpar sandstone. The well was an oil
discovery which produced from Lakadong+Therria and Langpar Formation (Fig: 11).
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Assam-Arakan
Tenyiphe#1
The well was drilled up to the depth of 4518 m and penetrated 530 m of Recent to Namsang,
649 m Girujan Clay, 707 m Tipam sandstone, 1264 m Bokabil, 350 of Barail, 630 m Kopili,
380 m Sylhet and 8 m of Tura Formations. The well was bottomed in granitic basement. Only
one of the objects 4427m - 4437m was tested which indicated presence of water with salinity
0.82gms/ltr (Fig: 12).
Kasomarigaon#1
The well was drilled upto the depth of 2338.30m. It penetrated through 765m of Post Tipam
sands, 650m of Tipam sandstone, 460 m of Bokabil sequence, 80m of Barail sandstone, 200m
of Kopili shale, 100m of Sylhet limestone, 30 m of Basal sandstone and encountered granitic
basement at the bottom. The well produced oil @ 60 m3/d through 6mm bean from Object-I,
perforated in the interval of 2000-2009 and produced oil @ 96m3/d and gas @ 11540scfd
through 7mm bean. The well was considered an oil and gas discovery (Fig: 13).
Telihal#1
The well was drilled up to the depth of 2690.4 m. It penetrated through 700m sediments of
Alluvium, Namsang &Upper sandstone, 230m of Girujan clay, 815m of Tipam sandstone,
385m Bokabil claystone, 90m of Barail sandstone, 210m of Kopili shale, 105m Sylhet
limestone, 55m of Tura sandstone and was bottomed in Granatic basement. The sediments of
Bokabil sandstone of Middle Miocene, Barail sandstone of Oligocene, Kopili sandstone of
late Eocene, Tura sandstone of Palaeocene and fractured basement are having good reservoir
properties (Fig: 14).
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Assam-Arakan
Masimpur#3
The well drilled upto the depth of 4419.2m and was bottomed in the Oligocene Renji
Formation. The well encountered Bokabil, Upper Bhuban, Middle Bhuban, Lower Bhuban
and Renji Formations. On testing, the well produced gas@ 16000 SCF/D from Renji sands
(Fig: 15).
Gojalia#5
The well was drilled down to the depth of 2470m and had penetrated through 1018m of
Bokabil Formation, 792m of Upper Bhuban Formation and 660m of Middle Bhuban
sediments. The well flowed gas and condensate @ 92000 m3/day through 6mm bean in the
interval 1898.5 – 1891m in Middle Bhuban Formation. The well was considered a Gas
discovery (Fig: 16).
Tulamura#1
The well was drilled down to the depth of 2401m. It was bottomed in Middle Bhuban
Formation, penetrating 560 m of Bokabil (Late Miocene), 888 m of Upper Bhuban (Middle
Miocene) and 953m Middle Bhuban (Middle Miocene). Production testing was carried out in
the interval of 665m – 671m in Upper Bhuban Formation which has produced gas @
50,976m3/d through 8mm bean. The well was declared as gas discovery (Fig: 17).
HOAB (Hortoky#1)
The well was drilled in the year 2011 by ONGC in the NELP block AA-ONN-2001/2upto the
depth of 3859mto explore the hydrocarbon potential of Bhuban & Renji formations. It
penetrated Tipam Formation from surface to 609 m, Bokabil Formation from 609 m to 1545
m, Upper Bhuban Formation from 1545 m to 2242 m and Middle Bhuban Formation from
2242 m to 3284 m and Lower Bhuban Formation from 3284 to 3859m+ (Fig.18). Details of
perforated and tested zones are mentioned below :
Perforated Formation/Geological Age Bean(mm) Flow rate(SCFD)
Interval(m)
3292-3287 Lower Bhuban/Lower Miocene 4 Flowed Gas -
5, 52,674 SCFD
3 SCHP/STHP - 147/103 KSC
4,78,584 SCFD SCHP/STHP -
145/107 KSC
3070-3064 Middle Bhuban/Lower 4 Flowed Gas-
Miocene 3,97,590 SCFD,
SCHP/STHP - 105/105 KSC
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Assam-Arakan
Khubal#4
The well was drilled in the year 2009 in the NELP block AA-ONN-2001/1 upto the depth of
3068m to explore the hydrocarbon potential of Upper Bhuban & Middle Bhuban sands. It
penetrated Tipam Formation from surface to 758 m, Bokabil Formation from 758 m to 1645
m, Upper Bhuban Formation from 1645 m to 2100 m, Middle Bhuban Formation from 2100
m to 2930 m and Lower Bhuban Formation from 2930 to 3068 m+(Fig: 19). Details of
perforated and tested zones are mentioned below:
Perforated Bean FBHP Qg Ql SBHP

Remarks
Interval (mm) (KSC) (m3/d) (m3/d) (KSC)
3025-3012m No activity
3024-3016.5m -- -- -- -- -- 3024-3016.5m
re-perforated
2955-50 @ 18 SPM
5 338.52 98,169 1.28 404.60
2955-2950m 2950-49 @ 12 SPM
2950-2948m
6 338.84 1,22, 792 3.32 403.61
7 328.99 1,34, 240 2.48 402.65
8 312.55 1,54, 474 2.72 -- Extended FBHP
DIROK#1
The well was drilled in the year 2007on the independent ENE-WSW trending ramp fault
anticlinal structure related to Margherita thrust.This well was drilled with the objective to
determine the presence of hydrocarbons in Girujans, Tipam & Barail formations. The well
was drilled upto the depth of 1632 m, terminated prematurely in Girujan Formation because
of high pressured zones encountered within Girujan Formation. The Tipam and Barail
formations could not be penetrated (Fig: 20). Details of perforated and tested zones
mentioned below:
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Assam-Arakan
Perforated Choke Gas Rate Condensate FTHP

Interval(m)
(inch) (MMSCFD) (BBL/D) (PSI)
1482-1484 16/64 1.628 24.88 1120
1485-1487
1466-1469 16/64 0.432 - 395
1471-1477
1240.5-1244.5 16/64 3.918 84 1616
Charali#36
The well was drilled in the year 2009upto the depth of 3423m and was bottomed in Barail
Coal Shale Unit. Three (3) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified for testing.
Only one object flowed gas and condensate. Details of the hydrocarbon bearing zone
(perforated and tested) is given below:
Zone Interval Bean Gas Condensate STHP SCHP

(m)
(mm) (m3/d) (m3/d) (kg/cm2) (kg/cm2)
BCS 3107.5- 5 45,381 14.6 216 228
3105 6 67,197 14.5 218 228
Details of the gas properties of sample collected are given below:
Zone Interval Sp.Gr. Density Mol. Net. C.V Gross C.V

Wt.
(m) @60/600F (Kg/m3) (K/cal/m3) (K/cal/m3)
BCS 3107.5- 0.6395 0.782 18.48 8884 9831
3105
Borholla West#1
The well was drilled in the year 2008upto the depth of 2607.6m and was bottomed in Granitic
basement. Two (2) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified for testing. Details
of the Oil bearing zone (perforated and tested) is given below:
Zones Interval Bean Oil FTHP CHP
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Assam-Arakan
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (KSC) (KSC

)
Fractured 2550-2576 8 6-7 6 10
Basement
Tura 2543-2549 8 6-7 6 10
API at 600F is 30.8 and Pour Point of the oil is 360C.
Hazarigaon#1(HZAA)
The well was drilled in the year 2009 upto the depth of 1750m and was bottomed in Granitic
basement. Three (3) hydrocarbon interesting zones were identified for testing. Well flowed
gas from Sylhet Formation. Details of the Gas bearing zone (perforated and tested) is given
below:
Zone Interval Bean Gas Rate SBHP
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2)

1543.5-1541 4 20,116
5 29,328
Sylhet & 6 45,264 145.3 at 1500m
1539.5-1537
Babejia#1
The well was drilled in the year 2008 upto the depth of 2529m and was bottomed in Basal
Sandstone. Three (3) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified for testing. Well
flowed Oil & Gas. Details of the hydrocarbon bearing zones (perforated and tested) are given
below:
Zones Interval Bean Oil rate THP CHP
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Basal 2407-2398 - 200Lt. Oil during - -
Sandstone reverse out
Sylhet 2352.5-2350 - Water with traces - -
of oil
Sylhet 2336-2332 - Water with little - -
gas
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Assam-Arakan
4 8.16 45 85
Bokabil 2028-2025
6 21 24 60
Results of MDT:
Tested Zone/Age Oil & Gas rate

2235.5m - Sylhet/Mid. Miocene 3.5 Lts of muddy water with thin film of
oil
2026.5m - Bokabil/Mid. Miocene 9.0 Lts of Oil with 3 Cu. ft of gas
Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-Va are given below:
Interval GO API Pour Point(oC) Sp.Gr. @60/60oF

R Gravity(60oF)
(m)
2028-2025 200 33.1 27 0.8596
Kunjaban#3
The well was drilled in the year 2008upto the depth of 3202m and was bottomed in Middle
Bhuban Formation. Six (6) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified. Only one
zone is tested and it flowed gas. Details of the hydrocarbon bearing zones (perforated and
tested) are given below:
Zone Interval Bean Gas rate Liquid THP CHP
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

4 38,800 0.015 212 213
Mid. 3141-
6 72,000 0.320 158 155
Bhuban 3139
8 86,350 2.10 110 112
Mekrang#7
The well was drilled upto the depth of 2959m and was bottomed in Sylhet Formation. Only
one zone is tested and it flowed Oil. Details of the Oil bearing zone (perforated and tested)
are given below:
Zone Interval Bean Oil FTHP FCH

P
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (KSC
) (KSC
)
Sylhet 2871-2869 6 56.88 12 20
35
Assam-Arakan
Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-I are given below:
Zone Interval GOR API Gravity Pour Point Sp.Gr.
(m) (60oF) (oC) @60/60oF

Sylhet 2871-2869 Gas negligible 30.9 30 0.8596
NG#1
The well was drilled in the year 2009upto the depth of 3545m and was bottomed in Tipam
Formation. Three (3) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified. Two zones are
tested and it flowed oil & gas. Details of the hydrocarbon bearing zones (perforated and
tested) are given below:
Zones Interval Bean Gas Liquid THP BHP

rate
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)
3
(m /d)
- - Water with - -
2928- traces of oil
Tipam
2943 during
activation
Tipam 5 4658 66(WC 4.2-2%) 70 230
2902-
6 6140 69(WC <1%) 60 213
2908
7 6857 66(WC <1%) 52 197.5
Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-IIare given below:
Zone Interval Wax (%) Asphaltene API Gravity Pour Point Sp.Gr.
(m) (%) (600F) (0C) @60/600F

Obj-I 2902-2908 16.74 0.62 36 27 0.8444
Sundalbari#4
The well was drilled in the year 2009upto the depth of 3400m and was bottomed in Tipam
Formation. Five (5) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified. Three zones are
36
Assam-Arakan
tested and it flowed gas. Sample collected from Obj-IV for gas analysis contain 96% of
methane. Details of the Gas bearing zones (perforated and tested) are given below:
Zones Interval Bean Water rate Salinity Gas rate Liquid FTHP
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (gpl) (m3/d) (m3/d) (KSC)
- 21.6 with 11.934 - - -

Upper 2980- feeble gas
Bhuban 2983
36 with 10.73 - - -
Upper 2967- feeble gas
Bhuban 2973
6 - - 1,06369 0.192 170
Upper 2164-
7 - - 1,35066 0.264 160
Bhuban 2168
8 - - 1,60000 0.48 150
Kasomarigaon#2
The well was drilled in the year 2009 upto the depth of 2929.6m and was bottomed in Tura
formation of Paleocene age. Five (5) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified.
Three zones are tested and it flowed oil & gas. Details of the oil & Gas bearing zones
(perforated and tested) are given below:
Zones Interval Bean Gas Oil Liquid THP BHP

rate rate
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)
(m3/d) (m3/d)
- - Water with - -
2860- traces of oil
Tura
2868 during
activation
2000- 6 Flowed oil &gas @60m3/d 68-70 73-74
Bokabil
2009
5 9959 45 - 70 193.44
1993-
Bokabil 6 10783 65 - 65 190.9
1996
7 11540 96 - 62 188
Results of MDT:
Zones(m) Formation Gas rate
1670.3 Lr. Tipam/Miocene 1.6 Cu.ft of gas recovered
37
Assam-Arakan
Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-II & IIIA are given below:
Zone Interval API Pour Point Sp.Gr. Wax Resin (%)

Gravity (%)
(m) (oC) @60/60oF
(60oF)
Bokabil 2000-2009 26.9 21 0.8934 15.6 21.89
&
1993-1996
38
Assam-Arakan
AD#30
The well was drilled in the year 2011upto the depth of 3515m and was bottomed in Middle
Bhuban Formation. Six (6) hydrocarbon interesting zones were identified. Four zones are
tested and it flowed gas. Details of the Gas bearing zones (perforated and tested) are given
below:
Zones Interval Bean Gas rate Liquid Salinit FTH BHT

y P
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (m3/d) (0C)/SBHP
(gpl) (KSC
) (KSC)
Mid. 3454.5- - Flowed water with 8.775 - -
Bhuban 3458.5 feeble gas
Mid.Bhu 8 11,000 72 10.53 - -
3363-3366
ban
3259-3262 - Flowed water with 13.455 - -
feeble gas
Mid.Bhu
&
ban
3253-3256
6 76,120 21.6 - 118 90.91 &
Up.
2597-2599 7 92,615 40.2 - 98 256.42 at
Bhuban
8 1,13,400 72 - 98 2500m
Patharia#5
The well was drilled in the year 2011 upto the depth of 1402m and was bottomed in Bokabil
Formation of Miocene age. Four (4) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified.
All four zones were tested and it flowed gas with water. Details of the Gas bearing zones
Zones Interval Bean Gas rate Liquid Flare FTHP

height(ft)
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2)
1294- - Flowed sub- 3 -
Bokabil
1287 commercial gas
1280- - Flowed sub- 3 -
Bokabil
1273 commercial gas
1136- 3 9,400 Little - 44
Bokabil
1128 water
1121- 3 3,160 Little - 67
Bokabil
1114 4 4,820 water - 65
At the shallower level of Bokabil Formation RDT samples were collected and two interval
zones (535-495m and 420-390m) were showing presence of Methane gas (96.14%).
39
Assam-Arakan
KH#31
The well was drilled in the year 2011 upto the depth of 2493.7m and was bottomed in Sylhet
formation of Mid. Eocene age. Three (3) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were
identified. Three zones were tested and it flowed gas. Details of the Gas bearing zones
Zones Interval Bean Oil rate Gas rate THP CHP

2330.5- - Water with feeble gas - -
Sylhet
2334
Sylhet 2336-2338 - Water with feeble gas - -
3 16 1800 68 88
2288-2290
4 31 2100 67 85
Kopili & 2296-
5 43 2600 64 86
2298
6 64 3100 63 90
Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-II are given below:
Zone Interval GOR API Gravity Pour Point Sp.Gr.
(m) (v/v) (60oF) (oC) @60/60oF

Kopil 2288-2290 48 36.14 12 0.8427
i
2296-2298
G#354
The well was drilled in the year 2011 upto the depth of 3680m and was bottomed in Tipam
Formation of Mio-Pliocene age. Three (3) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were
identified. Two zones were tested and it flowed oil & gas. Details of the oil & gas bearing
zones (perforated and tested) are given below:
Zones Interval Bean Oil rate Gas rate THP BHP

4 41.76 7170 96 278.46
2877-
Tipam 5 66.79 9976 99 275.39
2868
6 107 11314 87 271.6
Tipam 2810- 4 45 7310 62 260.11
2804 5 57 10374 62
40
Assam-Arakan
Zones Interval Bean Oil rate Gas rate THP BHP

6 72 12706 60
Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-I are given below:

Zone Interval Wax% Asphaltene% Resin API Pour Sp.Gr.
(m) (w/w) (w/w) % Gravity Point @60/600
(w/w) (600F) (0C) F
Tipam 2877- 7.8 0.19 4.09 32.65 30 0.8620
2868
PHULANI#1
The well was drilledin the year 2012 upto the depth of 2729.5m and was bottomed in
Basement. Four (4) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified. Two zones were
tested and it flowed oil with negligible gas. Details of the oil & gas bearing zones (perforated
and tested) are given below:
Zones Interval Bean Oil rate Gas rate THP CHP

- Water bearing with - -
maximum salinity of
2680-
Basement 9360 ppm
2729.5
5 66.79 9976 99 275.39
6 107 11314 87 271.6
2596- 4 34.56 Negligible 36 40
Sylhet
2598.5 6 76.8 - 29 23
Recovered 3lts of oil in MDT from 2598m(Sylhet). Formation pressure at 2598m is
3643.6psi (256.23ksc) & Mobility is 208.9 md/cp. Recovered 5 lts of water with oil film from
2619m (Tura) interval. Formation pressure at 2619m is 3669.09 psi (258.02 ksc) & Mobility
is 305.1 md/cp.
Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-IV are given below:
Zone Interval WC (%) API Pour Point Sp.Gr.

Gravity
(m) (0C) @60/600F
(600F)
Sylhet 2598 22 29.10 33 0.8805
AD#37
41
Assam-Arakan
The well was drilledin theyear 2013 in the Assam Arakan Fold Belt upto the depth of 3500m
and was bottomed in Middle Bhuban Formation. Numerous hydrocarbon bearing interesting
zones were identified. Two zones were tested and it flowed oil with negligible gas. Details of
the gas bearing zone (perforated and tested) are given below:
Zones Interval Bean Liquid Gas rate FTHP CHP

rate
(m) (mm) (m3/d) (KSC (KSC
(m3/d) ) )
5 0.5 83,376 210 210
Mid. 2809.5-
6 1 1,08,576 203 203
Bhuban 2806
7 1.2 1,34,400 190 195
Barekuri#12
The well was drilled in the year 2013 upto the depth of 4027m and was bottomed in
Lakadong and Therria formation. Three (3) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were
identified. One zone is tested and it flowed oil. Details of the oil bearing zone (perforated and
tested) where DST is carried out is given below:
Zones Interval Bean Oil rate SITP FTHP
(m) (mm) (klpd) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Lakadong + 3947- 6 92 141 105
Therria 3953
Fluid properties of the sample collected from 3947-m is:

API - 23.6oC ; Pour Point - 30oC
East Khagorijan
The well was drilledin the year 2012 upto the depth of 3716m and was bottomed in Lakadong
and Therria Formation. Three (3) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified. One
zone is tested and it flowed oil. Details of the oil bearing zone (perforated and tested) where
DST is carried out is given below:
Zones Interval Bean Oil rate SITP FTHP Salinity

(m) (mm) (klpd) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2) (ppm)
Lakadong + 3597.5- 5 66 60 49 3700

Therria 3600.5
42
Assam-Arakan
API - 23.60C ; Pour Point - 240C
Balimara#2
The well was drilledin the year 2012 upto the depth of 4400m and was bottomed in Barail
Formation. Four (4) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified. One zone is tested
and it flowed oil. Details of the oil bearing zone (perforated and tested) where DST is carried
out is given below:
Zone Interval Bean Oil rate Water rate FTHP Salinity
(m) (mm) (klpd) (klpd) (Kg/cm2) (ppm)

4314-4320
Barail & 6.5 18 54 39 2500
4317-4320

API - 34.60C ; Pour Point – 300C
South Chandmari#4
and Therria formation. Five (5) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified. One
zone is tested and it flowed gas & oil. Details of the gas & oil bearing zone (perforated and
Zone Interval Bean Gas rate Oil rate FTHP Salinity
(m) (mm) (SCMD) (klpd) (Kg/cm2) (ppm)

3915-3919 5 38,000 12 134 7700
Lakadong +
&
Therria
3915.5-3920
Fluid properties of the sample collected from 3915-m & 3911-m are:
API - 36.90C ; Pour Point -<90C
Moran#116
43
Assam-Arakan
and Therria formation of Eocene age. One (1) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were
identified. One zone is tested and it flowed oil. Details of the oil bearing zone (perforated and
Zones Interval Bean Water rate Oil rate FTHP
(m) (mm) (klpd) (klpd) (Kg/cm2)

Lakadong + 5 8 84 120
4143-4149
Therria
Fluid properties of the sample collected from 4140-m are:

API - 30.340C ; Pour Point – 300C
NHK#600
The well was drilled in the year 2012 upto the depth of 3311m and was bottomed in Tipam
formation. Four (4) hydrocarbon bearing interesting zones were identified. One zone is tested
and it flowed gas. Details of the gas bearing zone (perforated and tested) where DST is
carried out is given below:
Zone Interval Bean Gas rate FTHP
(m) (mm) (klpd) (Kg/cm2)

Tipam 2262-2268 5 50,000 169
Fluid properties of the sample collected from2253-m are:

C1 - 97.42% ; C2+ - 2.58% ; GCAL value - 8890KCAL/SCM ; NCAL value:
8000KCAL/SCM.
Sologuri-1
This well was drilled in 2013-14 in Dibrugarh PEL area of Oil Nomination regime. One zone
is tested and it flowed Oil (Fig-21). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval(m) Oil rate
(klpd)
Lakadong+Theria sand
Formation of Plaeocene – 3835-3832,
35
Lower Eocene age 3830-3829m
API gravity of Oil 24.20, Pour point 33OC.
44
Assam-Arakan
South Kathaloni-3
This well was drilled in 2013-14 within Hugrijan ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Oil was
discovered at Lakadong and Theria sand Formation of Plaeocene –Lower Eocene age (Fig-
22) . Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval Bean Oil rate FTHP
(m) (mm) (klpd) (Kg/cm2)
Lakadong+Theria 3580.5-3578m 6 60 52
sand
45
Assam-Arakan
Singhibil-1
This well was drilled in 2013-14 within Hugrijan ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Gas
was discovered at Lakadong and Theria sand Formation of Plaeocene –Lower Eocene
age(Fig-23). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval Bean Gas flow FTHP
(m) (mm) (Kg/cm2)
Lakadong+Theria sand 3939-3936 7 45000SCMD 415.7KSC
Nagajan/NHK-405
This well was drilled in 2013-14 within Hugrijan ML area of OIL Nomination regime at
Nagajan structure. Gas was discovered at Upper Tipam sand of Miocene age(Fig-24).
Testing details mentioned below
(m) (mm) (Kg/cm2)
Upper Tipam 2883-2880, 2879.5-2877.5m 7 45000SCMD 210

sand
NHK-610
This well was drilled in 2013-14 within Hugrijan ML area of OIL Nomination regime at east
Deohal structure. Gas was discovered at Barail 4 th sand of Upper Eocene to Lower Oligocene
age(Fig-25). Testing details mentioned below
(m) (mm) (Kg/cm2)
Barail 4th sand 2591-2585 7 85000SCMD 180
NHK-614
This well was drilled in 2013-14 within NHK Ext ML area of OIL Nomination regime at
Jaipur structure. Oil was discovered at Middle Tipam sand of Miocene age(Fig-26) .
48
Assam-Arakan

Zone Interval(m) Bean(mm) Oil flow
Middle Tipam sand 2876-2873, 2.5 Gas input 11KLPD

2871-2865
Baruanagar-3
This well was drilled in 2013-14 with in Borhat-ML area of Oil Nomination regime at
Baruanagar structure. Very minor amount of oil was discovered from Barail sand of Upper
Eocene to Lower Oligocene age and Tipam sand of Miocene age. This was accepted as
Technical discovery only(Fig-27). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval(m) Oil flow
Barail sand 4314-4306.5, 4262.5-4256.5 Selfflow did not

sustain
Tipam sand 4083.5-4077.5
API gravty of the oil 33.4O,31.4O,28.8O and Pour point 33O

Khubal-7
This well was drilled in 2013-14 within NELP block AA-ONN-2001-1 by ONGC at Khubal
structure. Gas and Condensate was discovered from Middle Bhuban (Fig-28). Testing details
mentioned below
Zone Interval(m) Bean; Gas flow Condensate Flow
(mm)
Middle 3116-3111, 3094-3085 6 78000 m3/day 2.1 m3/day

Bhuban.
North Atharamura-1
This well was drilled in 2013-14 within NELP block AA-ONN-2002-1 at North Atrharamura
supra thrust/sub thrust by JOGPL. The Atharamura anticline is the largest anticline exposed in
Tripura Fold belt. Gas was discovered from Middle Bhuban formation of Miocene age during
RLT(Fig-29).
53
Assam-Arakan
RLT details mentioned below

Zone Interval(m) Bean Gas flow Pressure
Middle Bhuban. 625-610 32/64” 2.6MMSCF/day THP- 508-514 psi,

BHP-629 psi
NHK-466
This well was drilled in 2014 within Hugrijan ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Oil was
discovered from Kopili sand. Testing details mentioned below (Fig-30).
Zone Interval Oil flow Bean
(m) (mm)
Kopili sand 3808.0-3802.0 18KLPD 12
Balimara-2
This well was drilled in 2014 within Borhat ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Oil was
discovered from Barail Sand (Fig-31). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval Oil flow Bean
(m) (mm)
Barail Formation 4265.0-4224.0 8KLPD 12
NHK-616
This well was drilled in 2014 within NHK Extn ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Oil was
discovered from Barail Sand (Fig-32). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval Oil
(m)
Barail Formation 2598.8 -2577 92.8%
57
Assam-Arakan
Hapjan-24
This well was drilled in 2014 within Hugrijan ML area of OIL Nomination regime. . Oil was
discovered from Barail extra sand (Fig-33). Testing details mentioned below
Barail(extrasand) 2712.5-2716.5 ; 2713.0-2717.0 12 klpd
Rudrasagar- 184
This well was drilled in 2014 within Rudrasagar ML area of ONCG Nomination regime. Oil
was discovered from BCS of Oligocene age (Fig-34). The success in this well has opened
another structural culmination with upside potential for exploration & delineation of SW part
of the main Rudrasagar Field. Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval (m) Bean (mm) Oil flow
BCS 3294-3291.5 6 47.8 m3/d
Tukbai-3A
This well was drilled in 2014 within Sector VC PEL of AAFB-Cachar area of ONCG. Gas
discovered from Upper Bhuban Pay Tukbai part of Sector VC PEL of AAFB-Cachar (Fig-
35) .Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval Bean Gas flow
(m) (mm)
Upper Bhuban Pay 972-968 6 13,000 m3/d
Khoraghat-35
This well was drilled in 2014 within Nambar ML area of ONGC. Gas and condensate was
discovered from Bokabil Formation of Middle Miocene age in Khoraghat area of South
Assam Shelf (Fig-36). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval Bean Gas flow Condensate flow
(m) (mm)
Bokabil 2412.5-2410.5 4 32,000 m3/d 9 m3/d

Formation
61
Assam-Arakan
Khoraghat-37
This well was drilled in 2014 within Nambar ML area of ONGC. Gas was discovered from
Bokabil Formation of Middle Miocene age in West Khoraghat area of South Assam Shelf and
would open up prospective areas for further exploration (Fig-37). Testing details mentioned
below
Zone Interval (m) Bean (mm) Gas flow
Bokabil Formation 1597.5-1594 5 13,963 m3/d
Mechaki-3
This well was drilled in 2014 within Mechaki Ext. ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Oil
was discovered from Narpuh Formation Sand (Fig-38). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval (m) Oil flow
Narpuh Formation 5416-5410 1–2 klpd
Barekuri-2
This well was drilled in 2014 within Dumduma ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Gas was
discovered from Narpuh Formation Sand (Fig-39). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval (m) Bean (mm) Gas flow
Narpuh Formation 3796-3789.5 5 1,00,000 SCUMPD
NHK-405
This well was drilled in 2014 within Hugrijan ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Gas was
discovered from Lower Tipam Sand (Fig-40). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval(m) Bean(mm) Gas flow
Lower Tipam 2877.5-2879.5 6/7 45000 SCUMD
2880.5-2883.0
66
Assam-Arakan
NHK-614
This well was drilled in 2014 within NHK Extn ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Oil was
discovered from Middle Tipam Sand (Fig-41).
Middle Tipam Sand 2876 – 2873 8 klpd with 1klpd water
2871 – 2865
Nadua-1
This well was drilled in 2014 within Chabua ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Oil was
discovered from Lakadong and Therria Formation (Fig-42).Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval (m) Bean (mm) Oil flow
Lakadong+Therria 3635.0-3634.0 4.5 48 klpd

Formation
Rangmala-1
This well was drilled in 2014 within Tinsukia ML area of OIL Nomination regime. Gas was
discovered from Lakadong and Therria Formation (Fig-43). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval (m) Gas flow
Lakadong +Therria 3797.0-3787.0 17500 SCUMPD

Formation
Hapjan-28
This well was drilled in 2014 within Hugrijan area of OIL Nomination regime. Gas was
discovered from Lakadong andTherria Formation (Fig-44). Testing details mentioned below
Zone Interval Bean Gas flow
(m) (mm)
Lakadong+Therria sand 4331-4323.5 6 28000 SCUMPD
71
Assam-Arakan
TECTONICS AND STRATIGRAPHY

Tectonic Framework
The Assam-Arakan sedimentary Basin is a shelf–slope–basinal system. The shelf part of the
basin spreads over the Brahmaputra valley and the Dhansiri valley, the latter lying between
the Mikir hills and the Naga foothills. From the Dhansiri valley, the shelf trends westward to
the southern slope of the Shillong Plateau. The shelf-to-basinal slope, i.e., the hinge zone lies
below the Naga Schuppen Belt. The basinal (geosynclinal) part is occupied by the Cachar,
Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur fold belts.
The shelf part rests on Precambrian granitic basement, whereas the basinal part lies on
transitional to oceanic crust. The area within the Upper Assam Shelf, having high petroleum
potential, measures approximately 56000 sq km and contains about 7000m thick sediments of
mostly Tertiary period, and the area in the basinal part with moderate to high hydrocarbon
potential measures about 60,000 sq km and contains more than 10,000m thick sediments of
mostly Tertiary period.
The major tectonic and structural elements of the Assam–Arakan Basin (Fig.4 & Fig.45) and
the salient features of each element are briefly described in the following pages.
Upper Assam Shelf
1. Southernly to southeasternly moving thrust sheets of younger (Miocene to Plio-
Pleistocene) sedimentary rocks in the Assam Himalayan foothills.
2. The Himalayan Foredeep zone north of the Brahmaputra river. The northern periphery
of the foredeep is overridden by the southerly moving thrust sheets of younger
sedimentary rocks (Fig.8).
3. The Brahmaputra-Arch, running along the southeastern side of the Brahmaputra River
in Upper Assam.
4. The southeastern slope of the Upper Assam Shelf, southeast of the Brahmaputra arch,
having local structural highs and lows, upto the Naga thrust, and extending 8 to 10 km
beneath the Naga Schuppen Belt. This element contains most of the oil fields of the
Upper Assam Shelf (Fig. 5A).
76
Assam-Arakan
5. The Shillong Plateau and Mikir Hill Uplift, composed mostly of Precambrian granitic
and metamorphic rocks
The southern slope of the Shillong Plateau exposes Gondwana, Cretaceous and
Tertiary rocks (Fig.6).
Shelf–To–Basinal Slope To Basinal Area (Fig-4)
1. The Naga SchuppenBelt, occurring between the Naga and the Disang thrusts.
In this shelf–slope–basinal architecture, the hinge zone, at and across which the Upper
Cretaceous-Eocene shelf facies changes over to basinal facies, is envisaged to lie below
the Naga Schuppen Belt. The Kharsang, Digboi and Champang oil fields are located in
this element.
2. The Assam – Arakan Fold Belt
This fold belt may be divided into two zones bounded by prominent thrusts, viz, (i) the
Naga fold zone, lying between the Disang and Tapu thrusts and having exposures of
Disang Shales and Barail sediments, and (ii) the central flysch zone, lying between the
Tapu thrust and Changrang – Zunki thrust and having exposures of mainly Disang
Shales.
3. The Zungki Schuppen Belt, containing mostly older Disang Shales (Upper
Cretaceous) & occurring between the Zungki and Moya thrusts
4. The Ophiolite Complex, occurring between the Moya and the Eastern thrust
Disang shales, occurring in association with ophiolites, are somewhat metamorphosed
here.
5. The Naga Metamorphic Complex, east of the Eastern thrust.
The metamorphic complex occurs mostly to the east of the Indo-Myanmar international
border.
Other Salient Features
• The Naga and Disang thrusts merge together near Haflong, a prominent gravity
high, and the unified trace trends westwards as the Dauki fault.
• The Assam–Arakan Fold Belt extends southward as the Cachar – Mizoram fold
zone. West of this zone, lies the frontal fold belt of Tripura with mostly closed folds which
gradually become tighter towards east in Mizoram.
• The Tripura fold belt consists of long, doubly plunging, asymmetric N – S trending
anticlines, with limbs (mostly eastern) generally, traversed by longitudinal reverse faults. In
this fold belt, the synclines are wider than the anticlines.
78
Assam-Arakan
The principal geotectonic features of the basin are shown in Fig.45, and a cross
section of the basinal part of the Assam–Arakan Basin is shown in Fig .3.
Basin Evolution
Many earlier workers have dealt with the tectonic evolution of the Assam–Arakan Basin
based on plate tectonic models. An outline of the tectonic evolution of the Assam–Arakan
Basin, which is based on a synthesis of published works, is given in the following pages.
The evolution of the basin from its inception in Cretaceous to its present state took place in
four major phases (Fig. 46).
Phase-I: Cretaceous – Paleocene

The formation of the basin was initiated in the Early Cretaceous due to continental rifting.
Subsequent drifting of the Indian plate from the Indo-African–Antarctic continent (Sub-
Gondwana) took place during the Late Cretaceous. This resulted in the formation of several
horst and graben features in a tensional regime on the granitic crust of the shelf. During this
period, sedimentation on the southern slope of the Shillong Plateau, Mikir hills and in
Dhansiri Valley (Dergaon area) took place in a shallow sea, while in the basinal area,
comparatively, in deeper sea.
Phase-II: Paleocene – Eocene

Continued northward drift of the Indian plate resulted in the initiation of subduction of the
oceanic part of the Indian plate below the Tibetan plate in the north, and below the Burmese
plate in the east. This caused the formation of the Indo-Burmese trench system east of the
Assam Shelf. Further northeast,
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Assam-Arakan
the peripheral arc system merged into the Shan volcanic arc system. The Indo-Burmese
trench system became the locus of deep marine sedimentation.
Phase-III: Eocene to Early Miocene

The continued convergence during Eocene-Oligocene resulted in the rise of the peripheral arc
system and narrowing of the intervening sea. Simultaneously, the Assam Shelf continued to
evolve under a passive margin tectonic setup. But, east of the hinge, deposition continued to
be under basinal condition till the end of early Late Eocene. Continued convergence during
Late Eocene to Oligocene resulted in further narrowing of the intervening sea. This event was
followed by regional upliftment and erosion during Late Oligocene-Early Miocene.
Phase-IV: Miocene – Recent

The above event was followed by a pronounced southerly to southeasterly tilt of the basin
due to tectonic loading consequent upon continued indentation of the Indian plate below the
Burmese plate. The Surma Group of sediments was deposited in this foredeep under deltaic
to shallow marine conditions. This event was followed by a regional upliftment and total
withdrawal of the sea from the Assam Shelf as well as from the basinal area, heralding the era
of continental sedimentation all over the Assam-Arakan Basin.
The continued push of the Indian plate on the Burmese plate after the cessation of subduction,
ultimately, caused westward propagation of tectonic forces and development of several sub-
horizontal thrusts with westward transport direction. The most prominent among them is the
Disang thrust which marks the northwestern limit of Disang shale outcrops.
The Disang thrust is regarded as a sole or decollement thrust underlying the Upper Disang
shales. The westward propagation of tectonic forces acting on the sediments northwest of the
Disang thrust caused development of numerous imbricate thrust faults and upliftment as well
as successive overriding of the older sediments which were finally stacked adjacent to the
Assam shelf, west and northwest of the Disang thrust. The boundary between the Upper
Assam plains and the Naga hill ranges defines the surface trace of a major thrust, known as
the Naga thrust. It is not a single thrust, but a series of en-echelon thrusts, aligned
approximately in NE-SW direction. This imbricate thrust belt between the Disang thrust and
the Naga thrust is known as the Naga Schuppenbelt (Fig.4). An 8 to 10 km wide zone of the
Upper Assam shelf and the shelf–to-basinal slope is overridden by the Naga thrust (Fig.10).
During this orogenic phase, intermontane basins, formed in the Upper Assam Shelf as well as
in the Surma basin areas, were filled with molasse deposits belonging to the younger post-
Tipam sequences.
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Assam-Arakan
During Mio-Pliocene and later times, a frontal foredeep developed in front of the rising
Himalayas due to tectonic loading by thrust slices of Mio-Pliocene and younger rocks and, as
a result, the Brahmaputra arch (Fig 47 ), that occurs along the southeastern side of the
Brahmaputra river, came into being. During this time, due to upliftment of the Mishmi
Granitic Complex along the Mishmi thrust, the Brahmaputra arch plunges towards northeast,
creating a prominent depression (Fig. 46) infront of the Mishmi hills. Upliftments of the
Mikir hills, Shillong Plateau and development of the Sylhet Trough, south of the Zungki
fault, are penecontemporaneous tectonic events.
On the basis of remote sensing data the entire basinal area can be divided into 3 distinctive
(Fig.10) styles of structural set up from north to south, namely
1. Structural zone north of Dauki fault system with proven hydrocarbon resources.
2. Structural zone associated with Dauki fault system containing proven hydrocarbon
resources.
3. Structural zone south of Dauki fault system with oil and gas in Cachar and gas in
Tripura
It is considered that most of structural patterns in this part of basin might have originated
from compressive stress domain related to the convergent plate boundary dynamic
system. The intensity of deformation increases from west to east with increasing
proximity of plate edge. The general increase in age of structural development and
successive depocenters of sedimentary units in the easterly direction indicates that
Tertiary foredeep migrated to the west by a series of fold uplift due to successive
orogenic pulses occurring progressively outward during the Late Tertiaries.
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Assam-Arakan
STRATIGRAPHY
Sedimentary sequences ranging in age from Late Mesozoic to Cenozoic are exposed in the
Assam-Arakan Basin. The sequences can be divided into shelf facies and basinal
(geosynclinal) facies. The shelf facies occur in Garo hills, Khasi-Jaintia hills, parts of North
Cachar hills and Mikir hills, and below the alluvial cover in Upper Assam, Bengal and
Bangladesh. The basinal facies occur in the Patkai range, Naga hills, parts of North Cachar
hills, Manipur, Surma valley, Tripura, Chittagong hills of Bangladesh and Chin hills of
Myanmar (Burma). The generalized stratigraphic succession is given in Table-1.
The Assam Shelf, as stated earlier, pertains to the composite shelf–slope-basinal
configuration of the Assam-Arakan Basin. In Upper Assam, the shelf is essentially a Tertiary
basin, developed on granitic basement rock. The Tertiary stratigraphy of the shelf,
particularly of Upper Assam, is shown in Figs. 48 & 49. A geological cross section of the
shelf through major oil fields and structures of Dhansiri and Brahmaputra valleys is given in
Fig. 50.
The lowermost Tertiary stratigraphic unit on the shelf is a transgressive unit which was
deposited on the southern edge of the Shillong Plateau known as the Therria Formation
(Upper Paleocene), it comprises of limestone, sandstone and shale (Fig. 51). The succeeding
Lakadong Formation (Early Eocene), comprising limestone and coal-bearing sandstones
was deposited in shallow marine to lagoonal conditions, while the overlying Tura Sandstone
(Upper Paleocene-Early Eocene), which was first mapped in the Garo Hills, was deposited
under fluvio-deltaic environment. The Tura Sandstone is extensively developed in the
subsurface of the Upper Assam Shelf where it is also known as the Basal Sandstone. It
attains a maximum thickness of 150-200m in Nazira–Geleki areas (Nazira Low). The
sandstone is fine grained, calcareous and compact. In the Dimapur Low, it is about 40m
thick. The formation is oil-bearing in the Borholla and Champang fields.
The Sylhet Limestone (Middle Eocene), consisting mostly of compact Nummulitic
limestone with thin layers of shales and fine grained sandstone, is a shallow marine
transgressive unit. It attains a maximum thickness of 225m in Nazira- Banamali area (Nazira
Low) in the northeast and around 400m in the Dimapur Low (Dhansiri valley) in the
southwest. , The thickness reduces to 25-
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Assam-Arakan
75m over paleohigh, which extends from Khoraghat to Dergaon-Borholla area.

The overlying Kopili Formation (Upper Eocene) (Fig.3), consists of an alternation of grey
shales and subordinate sandstones. It attains a maximum thickness of over 850m in the
Dimapur Low and over 450m in the Nazira Low. North and northeast of Mechaki well-1 the
thickness of the formation appears to increase to more than 1000m (seismic data). The
formation is oil-bearing in Borholla and Geleki fields. Kopili shales form the main source
rock sequence for hydrocarbons in the Nazira and Dimapur lows.
The Sylhet Limestone and Kopili Formation change over to a monotonous succession of
marine shales constituting the Disang Group beyond the hinge zone (shelf–to-basinal slope
transition), which is presumed to lie below the Naga schuppen belt. The Disang sediments
are exposed in Manipur and Nagaland in the east, and along a narrow belt along the Haflong
Disang thrust north of Cachar. The Disang Group attains a maximum thickness of about 10
km east of Mizoram, whereas it is reported to be only about 1 km near Bangladesh boundary
in the west.
The succeeding Barail Group, which was deposited under deltaic environment, is divisible
into two litho-units in the Upper Assam Shelf: the Main Sand Unit and the overlying Coal-
Shale Unit. The Barail Main Sand Unit is composed of mostly medium to fine grained
sandstones and subordinate shales, and the overlying Coal-Shale Unit consists of shales,
carbonaceous shales, sandstones and coal bands. The thickness variation of the Barail Group
and the two litho-units within it are as follows.
Amguri-Borholla
Stratigraphic Units Nazira Low Dimapur Low
Area
Barail Group
Coal-Shale Unit >500m ~ 50m 0-50m
Main Sand Unit

>500m ~ 50m 50-300m
(Arenaceous Unit)
The Barail Group is oil-bearing in most of the oil fields of the Brahmaputra valley. The post-
Barail unconformity becomes pronounced in the Dhansiri valley. This has resulted in the
partial to total erosion of the Coal –Shale Unit (Fig. 49) and at places, even the total Barail
Group.
In the Naga hills, the Barail Group consists of three formations:
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Assam-Arakan
Tikak Parbat : Carbonaceous shales and coal seams (600m)
Baragoloi : Sandstones,carbonaceous shale &coal seams (3300m)
Nagaon : Sandstones (2200m)
Northeast of the Haflong–Disang thrust, outcrops of the Barail Group occupy a large
area, but the rock sequence shows a different lithological aspect. It is well developed in the
Surma valley, North Cachar hills and the Khasi and Jaintia hills (Fig.6 & 51), where it is
divided into three formations:
Renji : Massive sandstones with subordinate shales (1000m), -Upper

Oligocene
Jenam : Sandstone alternating with dominant shales and carbonaceous shales

(1200m), – Lower Oligocene
Laisong : Hard, thin bedded sandstones and subordinate shales (2400m), – Upper
Eocene.
The succeeding Surma Group (Lower to Middle Miocene) is developed in the Mikir hills,
Dhansiri valley (Fig. 51) and the North Cachar hills of Upper Assam, but not developed in
the Brahmaputra Valley. In the Dhansiri valley, only the uppermost unit of the group, i.e., the
argillaceous Bokabil Formation is developed over the denuded surface of the Barails and
Kopilis. In the Mikir hills, the formation onlaps the Kopili, Sylhet and Tura formations, and
at places, even directly overlies the Precambrian basement rock. The formation, which was
deposited in tidal flat environment, consists of shales with subordinate sandstones and
siltstones, and attains a thickness of over 1200m in the Dimapur Low. In the Khoraghat area,
the thickness varies between 600m and 800m. The formation onlaps the post-Barail
unconformity towards northeast and pinches out south and southwest of the Borholla
structure (Fig. 50). It is oil bearing in Khoraghat, Uriamghat, Kasomarigaon and Nambar
structures.
In the North Cachar hilly area of the shelf and Naga Schuppen Belt, the Surma Group
(Table-1) is represented by the argillaceous Middle Bhuban (500m), arenaceous Upper
Bhuban (400m) and argillaceous Bokabil (800m) formations, but the arenaceous lowermost
unit of the Surma Group, ie., the Lower Bhuban Formation is not developed in this area; but
well developed in the Barail Range, Surma valley and Tripura, Mizoram and Tripura areas.
The Tipam Sandstone (Upper Miocene) of the Tipam Group overlies the Bokabil
Formation in the Dhansiri Valley, but directly lies over the post- Barail unconformity in the
Brahmaputra Valley. It is a fluvial deposit and attains a thickness of around 1500m in the
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Assam-Arakan
Nazira Low and over 800m in the Dimapur Low. In Nazira, Geleki, Lakwa areas, the Tipam
Sandstone Formation contains a number of well correlatable shale beds which act as excellent
cap rocks for oil pools in Nazira, Geleki, Namti, Charali, Lakwa and many other fields of
Upper Assam.
The Girujan Clay (Mio-Pliocene), a flood plain deposit, consists of mottled clays with
impersistent sandstone layers. In the Kumchai- Manabhum area (Mishmi Foredeep) in the
northeast, it attains a huge thickness of about 2300m (Fig. 48) and is oil-bearing. In the
Nazira Low, the Girujan Clay Formation is overlain by 20 to 500m thick sandstone which is
known as the Nazira Sandstone and is included within the Tipam Group. From Rudrasagar
– Amguri area towards northwest, (i.e., towards the Brahmaputra river) and towards
southeast, (i.e., towards Teok to Khoraghat area), the Girujan Clay changes over to
sandstone, and so the Tipam Group becomes undifferentiated.
The Nazira Sandstone: This stratigraphic unit is similar to the Tipam Sandstone, but overlies
the Girujan Clay in the area north of the Rudrasagar-Amguri oil fields.
In the North Cachar, and Mikir hills and Naga Schuppen belt, the Tipam Group (2300m) is
undifferentiated and consists of mostly sandstones.
The Namsang Formation (Plio-Pleistocene) unconformity overlies Girujan Clay and
consists of clays, sands, pebbles, coal fragments and carbonaceous matter. It varies in
thickness from 250m to 550m.
The overlying Dhekiajuli Formation lies over a pronounced unconformity and consists of
friable sandstones with impersistent bands of clays and silt. It is a Himalayan foredeep
(Figs.5, 6 and 49 ) deposit which along with alluvium (600m–1000m) attains a huge
thickness of more than 2200m north of the Brahmaputra River. South of the Brahmaputra
River in the northeast, the thickness varies from about 1300m in front of the Naga thrust to
about 1560m near Tengakhat field. Northeast of Tinsukia, the thickness increases to more
than 2500m.
The Dihing Formation is, primarily, represented by boulder conglomerates with some
intervening sands and clays. Dihing sediments are mountain-front deposits which, at several
places in the northeast, near the Naga thrust, laterally pass into the Dhekiajuli Formation,
made up of mostly soft sandstones.(Fig: 51 )
The arenaceous Lower Dupitila and the argillaceous Upper Dupitila formations (Pliocene)
are extensively developed in the Surma valley.
In Assam-Arakan Fold belt, the exposed sequence in Mizoram comprises of 5285m Surma
overlain by 1200m of Tipam Group of Miocene age. The Surma Group consists of +975 m of
alternation of sandstone and shale of Lower Bhuban Formation, 1800m of dominant shale
with thin intercalations of sandstone of Middle Bhuban formation, 1300m of alternating shale
and sandstone in equal proportion of Upper Bhuban Formation an 1200m of dominant shale
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Assam-Arakan
with alternating shale and sandstone of Bokabil Formation This is overlain by 1200m of
sandstone with thin shale of Tipam sandstone Formation.
The basinal facies identified in Assam- Arakan Fold Belt are as under (Fig. 52)
The Disang Shale Formation is inferred to have been deposited on Basalt. The base of this
formation has not yet been drilled. The sedimentary sequence about 3000m thick comprise of
dark grey shale with thin sandstone deposited under deep marine conditions during Upper
Cretaceous and Eocene.
The conformably overlying Barail Group of Oligocene has three units, oldest being Laisang
unit, 2400m of sandstone and shale deposited under deltaic environment, it is conformably
overlain by 1200m of carbonaceous shales of Permian age deposited under lagoonal
conditions and conformably overlying Jenam unit, 1000m thick is dominantly sandstone
deposited under shallow marine to fresh water conditions.
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Assam-Arakan
This is conformably overlain by Surma group of Lower Miocene age is divided into 3
formations. The oldest Early Bhuban Formation, 1400m thick sandstone and shale is
deposited under shallow marine condition; this is conformably overlain by 600m of marine
shales of Middle Bhuban Formation. This formation is conformably overlain by 1100m of
sandstone of Upper Bhuban Formation deposited under Shallow marine environment. This is
conformably overlain by 1500m of shale and sandstone of Bokabil Formation deposited
under shallow marine conditions.
The conformably overlying Middle Miocene Tipam Group comprises of Tipam sandstone
formation succeeded by Girujan Clay Formation. The Tipam sandstone formation is 1600m
thick sandstone deposited under fluvial conditions. The overlying Girujan Clay Formation
consists of 1500m of mottled clay and argillaceous sandstone deposited under fluvial
environment.
The unconformably overlying Dupitila Group of Late Miocene to Middle Pliocene comprises
of Lower and Upper Dupitila Formation. Lower Dupitala Formation is 500m thick
ferruginous sandstone and overlying Upper Dupitila Formation is 2800m thick mottled clay.
Both are deposited under fluvial conditions.
The unconformably overlying Early to Late Pliocene Dihing Formation consists of 600m of
conglomerate deposited under fluvial environment. The unconformably overlying Middle
Pliocene to Recent alluvium comprises of 500m of sands and pebbles deposited under fluvial
conditions.
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Assam-Arakan
GEOLOGICAL HISTORY
The Assam-Arakan Basin is a polyhistory basin which witnessed two major phases of
development. It developed as a composite shelf-slope-basinal system under a passive margin
setup during the period from Early Cretaceous to the close of Oligocene. During the Post-
Oligocene time, however, different parts of the mega basin witnessed different evolutionary
trends, mostly under compressive tectonic forces.
During Middle to Late Cretaceous, when the Indian plate was moving northward, a number
of horst and graben features developed on the granitic crust in the southern slope of the
Shillong Plateau and Dhansiri valley. In these grabens, a sequence of sandstones, shales and
subordinate limestone towards top, assigned to the Khasi Group, was deposited in the
southern slope of the Shillong Plateau, and a sequence of sandstone and shale, assigned to the
Dergaon Formation, was deposited in the Dhansiri valley. Presence of pelagic fauna indicates
that these sediments were deposited in shallow shelf to open marine conditions during
Maastrichtian to Early Paleocene time. During this time, the basinal area to the east and
southeast witnessed deposition of shales, radiolarian cherts and subordinate limestones (in
Manipur) of Lower Disang in the distal deeper part of a marginal downwarp, i.e., tilted broad
shelf adjacent to ocean basin. The limestones with negligible impurities were, perhaps,
deposited on sea mounds.
The Indo-Burmese trench system that developed during the oblique subduction of the Indian
plate below the Burmese plate became the locus of deposition of Upper Disang shales under
deep marine conditions. The formation of the trench system was, possibly, initiated in the
northeastern part and gradually progressed southward. The closing of the trench system was
also initiated in the northeast and then gradually progressed southward. The Andaman trench
(Fig. 45), which has been receiving mostly argillaceous sediments since, possibly, Upper
Cretaceous-Paleocene, is the southward extension of the Indo – Burmese trench system.
During Paleocene, there was a marine transgression on the southern edge of the Shillong
Plateau, depositing sediments of the TherriaFormation consisting of limestone, sandstone
and shale. The Lakadang Formation (Early Eocene) comprising limestone and coal bearing
sandstones was deposited in shallow marine to lagoonal conditions, while the overlying Tura
SandstoneFormation (Early Eocene) was deposited under fluvio-deltaic environment. The
Tura Formation is extensively developed in the Upper Assam Shelf and is oil-bearing in
Borholla, Champang and Nahorkatiya oil fields.
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Assam-Arakan
During Eocene to Oligocene, due to the rise of the peripheral arc system (rise of the basement
ridge) consequent upon the active oblique subduction of the Indian plate, the intervening sea
became progressively narrower southward. During this period, the Assam Shelf was being
evolved in a passive margin tectonic setting and under shallow marine to brackish water
sedimentation conditions.
Following the deposition of the Tura Sandstone, there was a wide spread marine
transgression in which the Sylhet Limestone (Middle Eocene) was deposited almost all over
the Upper Assam Shelf. Towards the close of Middle Eocene, limestone deposition ceased
because of an increase in the influx of finer clastics in the shelf. These clastics, making the
lower part of the Kopili Formation, were deposited in open marine conditions during Late
Eocene, when marine transgression was waning out. Further increase in the clastic influx in
the stable shelf during Late Eocene to Early Oligocene resulted in marine regression with the
deposition of the upper part of the Kopili Formation, consisting of shales, siltstone and
subordinate sandstones, in shallow marine to pro-delta environments. In the North Bank of
the Brahmaputra river, however, environmental conditions were deltaic with the deposition of
sandstones with minor shales and siltstones.
East of the hinge zone, i.e., in the basinal area, Upper Disang shales, which are lateral facies
equivalent of the Sylhet and Kopili formations, were deposited in deep water basinal
conditions. During shallowing of the sea in the basinal area, the succeeding sediments of the
Barail Group were deposited under environments ranging from moderately deep marine to
deltaic.
Following completion of collision and subduction of the oceanic part of the Indian plate
during Late Oligocene to Early Miocene when the continental part of the Indian plate seems
to have come close to Tibetan and Myanmar (Burmese) plates while moving northwards with
a anticlockwise rotation by 30°, there was upliftment. This event was followed by a
pronounced south to southeastward tilt of the basin, mostly the geosynclinal part, which was,
perhaps, caused by subduction related tectonic loading. This foredeep was the site of
deposition of the Surma Group of sediments under shallow marine (lower part) to brackish
water (upper part) environments. Continued indentation by the Indian plate caused westward
propagation of tectonic forces, which in turn caused development of a decollement thrust at
the base of the Upper Disang shales, and a number of synthetic thrust faults. These lateral
tectonic movements were accompanied by upliftment and total withdrawal of the sea,
heralding the onset of continental sedimentation (the Tipam Sandstone Formation) on the
Assam Shelf as well as on the earlier basinal area. Presence of radiolarian chert and ophiolite
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Assam-Arakan
fragments in the lower part of the Tipam Sandstone in many of the Dhansiri Valley and
Upper Assam wells suggest that a certain fraction of the sediments making the lower part of
the Tipam Formation came from the rising Barail Range towards east (Barail sediments in the
Barail Range are reported to contain volcanogenic particles) or from the Ophiolite belt.
Towards the end of the Tipam Sandstone deposition, there developed a series of N-S to NE-
SW trending compressive structures in the basinal area. During the growth of these
structures, the Girujan Clay Formation was deposited in the synclinal lows (structural
basins) in Cachar area as indicated by seismic and well data from the Katakhal syncline of
Cachar area where the Girujan Clay Formation is named as the Govindpur Formation. The
Girujan Clay Formation in the eastern & northeastern parts of the shelf also was deposited in
structural lows. The most prominent structural depression was formed in Kumchai –
Manabhum area in front of the Mishmi uplift, where the Girujan Clay Formation attains a
thickness of about 2300m (Fig. 51).
The development of the frontal foredeep in front of the rising Himalayas, during Mio-
Pliocene and later times, due to tectonic loading by thrust slices was filled with coarser
sediments. During this time, sedimentation in the Surma basin (including Sylhet trough) and
the Kohima synclinorium took place in intermontane basins, depositing the arenaceous Lower
Dupitila sediments over a post–Girujan unconformity and the argillaceous Upper Dupitilas
over a post-Lower Dupitila unconformity. During Pleistocene time, the last major folding
movement and further upliftment of the Barail Range, the Central Disang uplift, the Mishmi
Hills and the Himalaya. The Dihing boulder conglomerates, shed by the rising mountains
were deposited at the feet/toes of the rising mountains. The Dhekiajuli Formation,
consisting of mostly soft sandstones, was deposited at the mountain fronts in the Upper
Assam Shelf and in areas now overridden by younger Naga thrust.
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Assam-Arakan
OIL AND GAS HABITAT

All the oil and gas fields, discovered to date in the Upper Assam- Shelf, are situated mostly
on the southeastern slope of the Brahmaputra arch, and almost all the major oil fields like
Lakwa, Lakhmani, Geleki, and Nahorkatiya are located in a NE belt bordering the Naga
thrust. In the Dhansiri valley also, oil fields like the Borholla, Changpang, Khoraghat and
Nambar (Fig.3) lie in the same belt. In the Naga Schuppen belt, oil accumulations in the
Lakshmijan oil field occur in the sub thrust block of the Naga thrust. In Digboi and Kharsang
oil fields, oil occurs in Tipam Sandstone and Girujan Clay Formations, respectively, in the
upthrust block of the Naga thrust. The Assam-Arakan Fold Belt, comprises of a series of N-S
trending anticlinal structures with intervening synclines is oil and gas bearing in east
(Badarpur Oil Field) and gas- bearing in western Tripura with a number of gas fields such as
Baramura, Tichna and Gojalia. New gas discovery (Hortoky-1 well) in Mizoram,Khubal-4
and Agartala Dome (AD#30)is found in Barail Coal Shale unit in a new anticline structure,
Lower Bhuban and in Upper and Middle Bhuban respectively in Assam- Arakan Fold Belt.
Source Rock and Hydrocarbon Generation

The sediments within Tura and Sylhet possess fair to good mature source rock characteristics.
Maturity is expected to increase with depth to the southeast towards the Naga thrust fault and
be even higher in the sub thrust. Barails have excellent source rocks and are not mature in
shelf area but likely to be matured in Schuppen Belt. Excellent reservoir rocks include the
Barail main pay sands and Tipam Group massive sandstones beside the Sylhet limestones,
Kopili interbedded sandstones, Tura and Langpar(basal) marine sandstones. There are mainly
two established Petroleum System. The Barail Bokabil/Tipam Petroleum System (upper
petroleum system) and the Tura/Sylhet Kopili Petroleum System (lower petroleum
system).The important source rock sequences occur within the argillaceous Kopili Formation
of Eocene age and in the Coal-Shale Unit of the Barail Group of Oligocene age. Mature and
organic rich source beds occur in local depressions like Nazira Low, Safrai Low, Charaideo
Low, Dimapur Low etc., all lying close to the Naga thrust. Occurrence ofmature source beds
in the Kopili shales lying under the Naga thrust in Changpang wells suggests that the Kopili –
Barail section lying below the entire stretch of the Naga thrust is likely to contain mature
source sequences. Disang shales of the Naga belt also possess excellent source rock
characteristics.
In Assam-Arakan Fold Belt, the thick Disang shales of Eocene age, Jenam Formation
(dominantly shale)of Oligocene age and Middle Bhuban shales of Early Miocene age are the
major source and cap rocks while the overlying sands occurring in associated traps are the
reservoir rocks.
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Assam-Arakan
The source, reservoir and cap rock characteristics of the 3 tectonic zones are given here
under:
1. UPPER ASSAM SHELF:
The Shelfal part of the basin has the distinction of being most favored destination for
hydrocarbon accumulation in the basin. Presently known, major Oil/Gas fields occur in this
part. The major features that distinguish this part, of course, are appropriate source rocks, cap
and reservoir rocks (both regional and local) and existence of traps before/at the time of
migration and relatively low tectonics after accumulation.
There are three distinct distribution patterns of oil occurrences in the Assam Shelf (Fig.5A).
a) Eocene/Paleocene oil accumulations in the northern part of Upper Assam Shelf. Some
of these fields are Dikom-Kathaloni-Chabua group mainly with oil accumulations in
Eocene/Paleocene reservoirs. These oil reservoirs also occur in Lakwa and Geleki
Fields.
b) A parallel Oligocene accumulations in central part such as Rudrasagar, Moran,
Nahorkatiya and Jorajan fields with reservoirs in Barail Group of rocks of Oligocene
age.
c) Miocene accumulations in southern part of Assam-Arakan such as Geleki, Lakwa,
Jorajan fields with reservoirs in Tipams of Miocene age.
Source Rock and Hydrocarbon Generation

The significant source rocks sequences occur within the argillaceous Kopili Formation of
Eocene age and in the coal-shale unit of the Barail Group of Oligocene age. Mature and
organic source rocks also occur in local depressions like Nazira low, Safrai low, Charaideo
low, Dimapur low etc. These depressions are located closer to the Naga Thrust.
The various source rock parameters viz. top of oil window, geothermal gradient, vitrinite
reflectance and temperature for oil generation for wells in different structures situated close
to the Naga thrust are given in Table-2. Fig. 54 shows the correlation of “oil window” tops in
the wells mentioned in the Table-2 and location of wells sampled for geochemical studies are
given in Fig. 53 Cross plot of T-Max Vs HI for the wells in and around Nazira Low is given
in Fig. 55.
The average TOC of shales within the Sylhet Formation is about 0.60%, in the Kopili
Formation, about 2.5% and in the Barail Coal-Shale Unit, about 3.8% (Tables-3 and Table-
4).
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From the study of Table–3, the average TOC ranges of different formations (shale samples)
are as follows:
Formation Average TOC Range Remarks
Barail (shales) 2.5% to 4.5% (except Geleki wells) • Excellent source

potential
Kopili (shales) 1% to 3% (except Geleki wells) • Excellent source

potential
Sylhet Limestone ~ 0.61% (except Geleki wells) Poor source

potential
Basal Sandstone ~ 0.62% Poor source potential
Again, from a perusal of Table–4, it is clear that Upper Kopili shales are organically richer
than Lower Kopili shales.
Organic matter richness of shales increases towards the Naga thrust. In both Kopilis and
Barails, the organic matter is terrestrial type-III with varying contributions of Type-II. Thus
acting as source for generating oil and gas accumulated in the shelfal reservoirs.
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Assam-Arakan
As in the hydrocarbon generating kitchens and oil fields of the Upper Assam Shelf, shales of
the Kopili Formation and of the Barail Coal-Shale Unit, form important source rock
sequences in the Schuppen belt also. In the Naga fold belt, in addition to above, Disang
shales occurring southof hinge zone thickness to over 10000m also possess excellent source
rock characteristics with TOC around 7.4% and VRo varying from 0.69% to 1.94% (for
outcrop samples).
Reservoir Rock
In Upper Assam Shelf, the oil is reservoired in sandstones ranging in age from Upper
Paleocene/ Lower Eocene to Miocene. The oil accumulation occurs in Paleocene / Eocene
arenaceous rocks in fields such as Tengakhat, Dakom-Kathaloni group of fields and Geleki
field. The arenaceous rocks of Oligocene age (Barail Formation) hold oil pools in
Nahorkatiya, Geleki, Lakwa, Rudrasagar and many others. The sandstones of Miocene age
hold oil pools in Lakwa-Lakhmani, and Geleki in Tipam Formation and in sands within
Girujan Clay Formation in Khumchai field.
Cap Rock and Entrapment

There are three well developed regional cap rocks within the Tertiary sedimentary
succession, the lower one, occurring in the Upper Eocene is the argillaceous Kopili
Formation, the middle one is the Barail Coal-Shale Unit and the upper one, overlying the
Tipam Sandstone is the Girujan Clay. The Kopili Formation and Barail Coal-Shale Unit,
retaining their regional cap rock properties, are spread over a wide area south and southeast
of the Brahmaputra river, but the Barail Coal-Shale unit is best developed in areas northeast
of the Amguri structure. The Girujan Clay, possessing regional cap rock properties, occurs
northeast of Teok – Amguri area and is best developed in and around Nazira depression. The
Girujan Clay is also well developed in the Naga foothills area, southeast of Khoraghat field.
The Kopili Formation being dominantly an argillaceous unit, there is no dearth of good
quality local cap rocks. Within the Paleogene sequence, a number of impersistent shale
layers occur which act as excellent local caps. The middle part of the Bokabil Formation is
made up of shales and silts which act as good local cap for oil reservoirs within the sequence
in Khoraghat field. For oil accumulation within the Girujan Clay, there is, obviously, no
paucity of local caps.
The entrapment of oil, in the fields discovered so far in the Upper Palaeocene – Lower
Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene reservoirs can be ascribed to structural / combination traps.
Most of these hydrocarbon traps, particularly those developed in post- Barail sediments are
oriented parallel to the Naga thrust. Faults associated with these traps in the southeasterly
sloping shelf zone in the Brahmaputra and Dhansiri valleys have NE-SW to NNE-SSW
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Assam-Arakan
orientation. Most of the prominent faults continue upward into post-Tipam sediments, and the
rest die out in the lower part of the Tipam Formation. Some of the prominent faults,
particularly those near the Naga thrust, are reverse faults, e.g., one at the northeastern flank of
the Geleki structure, another at the northern flank of the Rudrasagar structure. It may be
mentioned that oil, generated in the Kopili and Barail source beds, might have accumulated in
post-Barail sediments by vertical migration through such prominent faults. Oil within the
Kopili Formation (composed predominantly of shales with subordinate sandstone) occurs in
strati-structural combination traps, as in the Geleki field. Oil accumulated within Barail
Formation in structural and stratigraphic traps in fields such as Lakwa, Lakhmani,
Rudrasagar, Naharkatiya and Moran fields. Oil within the Girujan Clay Formation as in the
Kumchai and Kharsang fields also occurs in combination traps, but here the control of
lithology on accumulation is more than that of structure. In the Borholla field of the Dhansiri
valley and Champang field of the neighbouring schuppen belt, oil reserves occur in
structurally controlled subtle trap in fractured basement rocks. Oil accumulations within the
Bokabil Formation (Middle Miocene) in the Khoraghat and Nambar fields of the Dhansiri
valley occur in structural combination traps.
2. NAGA SCHUPPEN BELT :

The Belt is a highly complex tectonic zone between Naga Thrust, constituting the northern
boundary and Disang Thrust, limiting the southern boundary of the belt (Fig- 5A). In this
shelf slope basinal configuration, the Upper Cretaceous/Eocene shelf facies change over to
basinal facies. It is envisaged that the shelfal and basinal facies underlie the Naga Schuppen
Belt. There are oil fields in NE part of the Belt such as Kharsang and Digboi and in the
western part the Changpang field, is seen to contain hydrocarbons in Eocene limestones and
basement.
Source rock and HC generation:

The argillaceous Kopili Formation and Barail Coal Shale Unit are organic rich mature source
beds with regional presence as well as in local depressions such as Nazira low, Safrai low etc.
All such lows lie close to the Naga Thrust. The Geochemical study of samples from
Changpang well suggest that the Kopilli-Barail section lying below the Naga thrust and
beyond hinge line towards basinal part contain mature source sequences. The Disang Shales
attain a maximum thickness of over 10,000 m east of Mizoram and posseses excellent source
rock characteristics. The Outcrop sample analysis shows a TOC upto 7.4% and VR 0 varying
from 0.69 to 1.94 % (Table-7).
Geochemical analysis of exposed sediments from the Schuppen Belt (Lat. 25˚ 58' 45"-26˚ 37'
30") show a TOC range of 0.64-1.20% for Barail shales. The dominant organic matter type is
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Assam-Arakan
structured terrestrial. Presence of amorphous (upto 60%) and extractable organic matter (upto
55%) indicates a fairly good liquid hydrocarbon generating potential. Organic matter is
mainly humic and sapropelic. TAI of 2.60 to 2.75 and VRo of 0.57 to 0.67%, show that the
sediments are thermally mature and within oil window.
The source rock studies carried out in Sylhet, Kopili and Barail formation from well
Tenyiphe-1 and Chumukedema-1 indicate fair to good source rock potential (Table-8). In the
subthrust, the source sequences occur at greater depths and, therefore, should be in a higher
state of thermal maturity. It is expected that the source sequences within the Kopili and Barail
formations in the subthrust would be at peak oil generating state.
Reservoir Rock
The Kharsang and Digboi fields, located in NE part are excellent examples of oil
accumulation in Miocene sandstones occurring in upthrust block of Naga thrust within Naga
Schuppen Belt, while in SW part of the Belt, oil occurs in subthrust block in fractured
basement gneisses (Pre-Cambrian) and Tura sandstone (U. Paleocene / Lower Eocene). In the
Assam Shelf the oil occurs in
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Assam-Arakan
sandstone-shale sequences of Upper Paleocene/ Lower Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene ages.
These sequences are seen to continue in the sub thrust block of Naga thrust. The presence of
sandstone reservoirs in both upthrust and subthrust block can be expected to possess reservoir
rock properties all along the Naga-Schuppen Belt from NE to SW and West. Thus
constituting good reservoir rocks in different sequences occur in the belt.
Cap Rock & Entrapment

The three well developed cap rocks within Tertiary succession in the Assam Shelf are
argillaceous Kopili Formation (U-Eocene), Barail Coal-Shale unit (Oligocene) and the
Girujan Clay (Miocene) overlying Tipam Sandstone Formation. The Kopili Formation and
Barail Coal-Shale Unit retain their cap rock characteristics over a wide area south and south
east of Brahamputra river. The Girujan Clay is seen as good regional cap in area NE of Teok-
Amguri and is best developed around Nazira depression. It is also well developed in Naga
foothill area, southeast of Khoraghat field. The cap rocks as seen in Assam Shelf are expected
to thicken basinwards. Thus, there will be adequate cap rocks, present in the Naga-Schuppen
Belt all along its stretch from NE-SW and west to act as Cap rock of consequence.
The oil accumulations discovered so far in Tertiary sequences are related to anticlinal
structures and/or associated with faults which are the results of compressive forces during
Mio-Pliocene and later times. The traps that have developed in post-Barail period are oriented
almost parallel to Naga Thrust surface trace. Most of the faults have NE-SW orientation and
some major ones continue upwards into post Tipam sediments. These faults might have, as
well, acted as conduits for vertical migration to form suitable accumulations in Post-Barail
sediments. It is seen that oil has accumulated in Kumchai and Kharsang fields in structural
combination traps. The deepest accumulation in gneissic basement (pre-combrain) happens to
be in fractures in Borholla-Changpang fields. Similarly, the accumulation in Khoraghat and
Nambar fields (Miocene) again occurs in structural combination traps. Thus, in the Naga
Schuppen Belt the accumulation can be expected in structural combination traps such as
Kharsang field as well as mapped structures like Jaipur anticline, Barsilla, etc all in the
upthrust block. The possibilities of fault controlled traps in the sub thrust block can also be
expected in Tipam, Barail and Pre-Barail sequences (Fig. 56)
3. ASSAM ARAKAN FOLD BELT (AAFB)

The Assam-Arankan Fold Belt, covering (from east to west) the states of Assam, Nagaland,
Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura comprise of tight, folded and faulted, N-S trending anticlines
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Assam-Arakan
in Manipur-Mizoram and Silchar areas and elongated, faulted, N-S trending anticlines with
broad and flat synclines in Tripura-Cachar area in the west. The Miocene gas fields of
Bangladesh are located towards North and West of Tripura (Fig. 57)
In the western part of the Belt, the gas accumulations are known mainly in Tripura area in
Upper and Middle Bhuban Formations of Surma Group of Miocene age. Some of the major
gas fields are Manikya Nagar, Konaban, Baramura, Gojalia and Agartala dome as well as the
newdiscovery of gas in Khubal anticline, Sundabari and Kunjaban structure. The gases in
these fields,mainly, contain methane (95-97%) and remaining are ethane, propane, butane in
small percentages and pentane in traces. Small amounts of condensate of 42 0 – 44.70 API
gravity are also reported from a few fields such as Baramura and Agartala dome (Table-9).
In the adjacent country, Bangladesh, there are several gas fields, mainly located in the north
of Tripura area. The structures, holding the gas reservoired in Upper Bhuban and Bokabil
formations are N-S aligned and similar to those in India. Some of these fields are Rashidpur,
Fenchuganj, Sylhet, Kailash Tila and Titas. The distribution of oil and gas fields in different
formations in Tripura-Cachar area and Bangladesh are given in Fig. 58.
Eastwards of Tripura gas fields, several gas and oil seepage are reported in exposed Barail
and younger sequences. The oil occurs in Lower Bhuban and Renji formations in Badarpur,
HIlara and Masimpur fields in Cachar (Fig. 35).
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Assam-Arakan
Source rock and HC Generation

The Eocene shales are considered to be mature and regional source rocks in Assam-Arakan
Basin. Besides the Eocene shales, the shale Layers present in the Barail and Surma sequences
are the potential source rocks in Assam-Arakan Fold Belt. The source rock data for Disang
shales (Eocene) from outcrop samples from Nagaland indicate TOC upto 7.6%, FOM 20-
80%, TAI 2.5-3.25, VRo 0.69-1.94%,Kerogen Type-III. Studies on outcrop samples for Renji
Formation of Oligocene age indicate TOC 0.64-1.20%, FOM 25-55%, TAI 2.6-2.75%, VRo
0.57- 0.62% and Kerogen Type-III. Both these indicate very good and mature source
potential with possibilities of dominant gas generation (Table-7). Another geochemical
analysis of the Barail shales (Oligocene) indicates the TOC of 0.6-1.5% HI: 196-253 mg/g of
TOC. The kerogenes have vitrinite 65%, Exinite 16% and amorphous 19% and VRo: 0.63-
0.74%. These characteristics are interpreted to have potential to generate Oil & Gas. The
geochemical analysis of the overlying shales within Bhuban Formation (Early Miocene)
shows that TOC – 0.31-1.36, HI 26-242 mg/g of TOC, kerogen of type-III,vitrinite content
>75%, VRo 0.56-0.63% and TAI 2.25-3.0. These characteristics are interpreted to generate
gas and condensate (Table-5).
The geochemical analysis of shales from adjacent fields in Bangladesh (North and West of
Tripura) shows that shales in Barail indicate TOC 0.6-1.59, HI 196-255 mg/g of TOC
vitrinite in kerogen >65%, Ro 0.63-0.74%. These are interpreted to have potential to oil and
gas. The analysis of shales from Bhuban Formation shows TOC 0.31- 0.78%, HI 26-188
mg/g of TOC, vitrinite in kerogen >75% and Ro 0.55-0.63%. These characteristics are
interpreted to indicate the potential to generate oil and gas (Table-6).
These findings are supported by existence of gas pools in 13 fields in Bokabil Formation and
9 fields in Upper Bhuban Formation and oil in 2 fields in Bokabil and U. Bhuban Formations
in Bangladesh. In Tripura - Cachar area in India, gas pool exist in 5 fields in Bokabil
Formations, 7 fields in Upper Bhuban Formation, 8 fields in Middle Bhuban Formations and
one field each in lower Bhuban and Renji (Barail) Formation. In Silchar oil has been found in
commercial quantities in Renji and Lower Bhuban Formation in Badarpur field and an oil
pool in Upper Bhuban Formation in Hilara structure in Silchar area.
These data provide convincing source rock potential in Assam-Arakan Fold Belt.
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Assam-Arakan
Reservoir Rock
The Renji, Bhuban and Bokabil Formations are dominantly sandstones with subordinate
Shales/Claystone. The Renji Formation has a maximum thickness of about 1000 m, while the
overlying Bhuban and Bokabil Formations put together have a maximum thickness of 4500
m. These litho-units are extensive and present throughout the Assam-Arakan Fold Belt (Fig.
52). Adequate reservoir rocks are seen to be present for hydrocarbon accumulation.
Cap Rock& Entrapment

The Stratigraphic sequence drilled in exploratory wells of Tripura-Cachar area shows that
widespread and localized shales and claystones alternating with sandstone reservoirs within
Renji, Bhuban and Bokabil formations do act as the cap rocks for oil and gas accumulations.
The entrapment of oil/gas has taken place in structural and combination traps. There are a
series of sub-parallel, arcuate, elongated and doubly plunging anticlines arranged in en-
echelon and trending almost N-S constitutes the traps. The intensity of deformation decreases
from east to west. The anticlines are box like separated by wide synclines and cut by axial
faults. The cross-faults with NW-SE and NE-SW strikes with component offset the crest.
All the known gas fields such as Konaban and Manikyanagar, Baramura, Adamtila, Gojalia
in Tripura and oil in Badarpur and Masimpur are reservoired in such structural
configurations.
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Assam-Arakan
HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL
The Upper Assam Shelf, Naga-Schuppen Belt and the Assam-Arakan Fold Belt constituting
the Assam-Arakan basin, have under gone various degrees of exploration efforts since 19th
Century. The relatively maximum effort is noted in Assam Shelf and minimum in Naga-
Schuppen Belt in which oil was discovered in the year 1889. The likely hydrocarbon
potential assessment is the outcome of these efforts.
UPPER ASSAM SHELF

The Upper Assam Shelf attracted maximum exploratory effort resulting into discovery of oil
and gas in Basement, Paleocene/Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene sequences. The presently
known oil/gas fields in Paleocene/ Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene sequences indicate some
sort of zonation in oil distribution in the Belt. The Paleocene /Eocene are known to produce
oil @ 8000-10000 TPD from Dikom Group of fields in NE and further Southwards upto
Geleki-Lakwa-Rudrasagar area which produce oil about 1000 TPD excepting small
production of oil fromKhoraghat and Barholla area in SW. Thus, the prospects SW of Lakwa-
Geleki-Rudrasagar area becomes of interest for exploration of Paleocene/ Eocene oil in view
of existence of suitable entrapment conditions all along the belt
The Oligocene oil pools have reasonable presence in the entire Upper Assam Shelf area
almost south and south west of Eocene pools and even in areas overlapping Eocene pools.
The Oligocene sequences (Barails) continue to be an object of exploration in area east of
Teok field.
The Miocene sequences contain oil pools closer to Naga thrust such as Geleki, Lakwa field in
NE to Khoraghat /Uriamghat in NW. These may continue further in Dhansiri Valley, so the
entire Upper Assam Belt adjacent to Naga-Schuppen belt continues to be of exploratory
interest for exploration.
The Upper Assam Shelf had been the choice area of explorationist, may be due to
prospectivity coupled with logistics. The basin in this part is gradually progressing towards
mature stage of exploration. Still the Paleocene/Eocene prospects are of continued interest
and at the the same time, Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene sequences in Dhansiri Valley (SW
part of the shelf) continue to evoke interest.
THE NAGA-SCHUPPEN BELT
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Assam-Arakan
The belt is sandwiched between two prospective and petroliferous zones viz the Upper
Assam Shelf and the geoanticlinal belt (Assam-Arakan Fold Belt).So far Commercial
quantity of oil was found mainly at Digboi. Structures that are likely to be present below the
Naga thrust can only be located by suitable seismic investigations, as these are not likely to
have any genetic relationship with the structures present in the Schuppen belt for inferring
their locations from surface mapping. The folds in the Schuppen belt are very tight formed
due to compression that occurred when the thrust sheets of the Belt moved forward and
therefore are of different origin from these that are likely to be present in the concealed part
of the shelf. Producible hydrocarbons have been found in Girujan and Namsang Formations
in the Schuppen Belt near Kharsang. The accumulation lies at a very shallow depth and
Girujan and Namsang separated by an angular unconformity. The accumulation took place in
the subthrust block of Margherita thrust and the structural position of the hydrocarbon deposit
is such that it could be interpreted as fault cum lithology controlled. Recent Dirok discovery
has confirmed the presence of multiple Gas sands in Girujan. The three tested zones also
produced an initial flow rate of condensate at around 75 barrels per day. The estimated
O+OEG is about 555 MMT of which around 20 MMT i.e. 3% of the reserves only are
established in this area. Therefore, there is huge potential for exploration in this area. The
occurrence of commercial hydrocarbon pools in both these zones speaks of the potentiality of
the Naga Schuppen belt.
This belt is densely forested with complex geological framework and logistic limitations.
There are oil fields such as Kharsang, Manbhum and Digboi in the NE part of the belt in
upthrust block and Geleki, Kumchai and Changpang fields in the sub-thrust block. This
provides an indicative prospectivity of the block from NE-SW-W part of the belt. Geological
Section (Fig.3) exhibits the presence of Tipam and Girujan sequences in the up thrust block
and sylhet (Eocene) to Neogene sequences below the Naga thrust in the Naga-Schuppen belt.
Some of these sequences hold oil pools in the northern part of the belt. Therefore, this
inadequately explored prospective belt is of great interest for finding good sized pools in the
south-western part of belt in fault controlled traps.
ASSAM-ARAKAN FOLD BELT (AAFB)

This is the southern constituent of the prospective Assam-Arakan basin. The belt covering
Tripura-Cachar areas consists of elongated anticlines separated by wide, flat synclines and
inner mobile sub-belt of Mizoram and West Masimpur comprises of tight linear folds. The
younger beds are exposed in the anticlines in Tripura folds and old beds (Barails) are seen
towards Cachar. The Miocene gas fields of Bangladesh are located in Surma Valley to the
north and northwest of Tripura-Cachar area (Fig. 56)
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Assam-Arakan
In AAFB gas fields are in Miocene sequences (Bokabil, Upper and Middle Bhuban
Formations) of Tripura area. The oil pools in Masimpur, Hilara and Badarpur field in eastern
part of the AAFB are in Bhuban and Renji formations. Several oil seepages are also reported
as in Hararganj and Patheria structures. The gas seepages are reported from western part of
AAFB, oil and gas seepages in central part and oil seepages in eastern part.
Due to logistic reasons, exploration had been mostly confined to western part of Tripura
discovering several gas fields such as Tichna, Konaban, Manikya Nagar, Baramura and
Gojalia. As well as in NE part of Cachar, the depleted oil field Badarpur and oil present in
Hilara and Masimpur structures and several oil shows in its south are adequate indicators to
look for oil in eastern part, oil and gas in central part and gas in western part.
The existence of gas fields in Bangladesh and in Western part of AAFB and oil fields in
eastern part of AAFB and presence of gas and oil shows in the intervening area, are more
than adequate to convincingly prove the prospectivity of the basin both for oil and gas in this
zone. Appropriate solution to logistics limitation can certainly lead to discovery of large
oil/gas fields.
Prospectivity of Assam-Arakan Basin

The Brahmaputra Valley part of the Upper Assam Shelf south of latitude 27° 30', where
active exploration for hydrocarbons has been continuing for over 100 years, seems to have
reached the middle stage of exploration maturity. But, the Dhansiri Valley, SW part of the
shelf, areas north of Lat. 27° 30’ and the Naga Schuppen belt is still in the early stage of
exploration maturity. Whatsoever, in view of what has been narrated on Upper Assam and
Nagaland oil fields, and source, reservoir and cap rocks, and entrapment mechanism, the
Brahmaputra valley still holds a large quantity of ‘yet-to-find’ oil, and Tinsukia – Sadiya area
which partly falls in the Mishmi Depression; the Dhansiri valley and the Schuppen belt
possess high hydrocarbon potential worth pursuing intensive exploration. The Assam-Arakan
fold belt has a large unexplored area, both in its central part and area south of Badarpur-
Masimpur fields. The belt has established its hydrocarbon potential and needs more
exploratory effort to discover both gas and oil. The prognosticated resource base of the Upper
Assam Shelf, the Naga Schuppen Belt and Assam Arakan Fold Belt is around 5040 MMt. It
is envisaged that the undiscovered oil and gas would continue to be found in all the tectonic
units and subtle traps in areas mostly bordering the Naga thrust and in the Naga Schuppen
belt as well as in Assam- Arakan Fold Belt.
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Assam-Arakan
UNCONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON RESOURCES

Apart from Conventional Oil and Gas resources the basin also possess Unconventional
hydrocarbon resources making this basin more interesting from investment point of view.
Details of the different Hydrocarbon resources are as follows
A. Coal Bed Methane
The term refers to methane adsorbed into the solid matrix of the coal. It is called 'sweet gas'
because of its lack of hydrogen sulfide. The presence of this gas is well known from its
occurrence in underground coal mining, where it presents a serious safety risk. Coalbed
methane is distinct from a typical sandstone or other conventional gas reservoir, as the
methane is stored within the coal by a process called adsorption. The methane is in a near-
liquid state, lining the inside of pores within the coal (called the matrix). The open fractures
in the coal (called the cleats) are also known to contain free gas or can be saturated with
water.
Coal Fields in Assam
The coalfields of Nagaland, Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India (Fig.
59) are the prominent storehouse of Tertiary coals of India. The coal seams of this region
are characterised by very low ash, high sulphur, structurally disturbed high rank coals,
which due to its high gassiness qualifies well for its CBM prospect. Sedimentary pile of this
belt along with its treasure of complete window of fossil fuel from conventional oil and gas
as well as coal are aligned along an active mobile belt, which witnessed intense tectonic
deformation resulting in a series of imbricate thrusting which is described as a belt of
Schuppen.
The Gondwana rocks exposed at the western tip of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, bordering
Dhubri district of Assam within 4 Km. from the Indo-Bangla Desh border contain a few
coal seams. While the Talchirs and coal bearing Karharbari Formations of Permo-
Carboniferous age are exposed in the
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Assam-Arakan
area, the overlying Barakars possibly are concealed below the Brahmaputra alluvium in the
west.
Small isolated deposits of coal of Eocene age are reported from the Lower Sylhet
Sandstone Formation of Jaintia Group occurring in the southern part of the Mikir Hills in
the Karbi-Anglong and North Cachar Hill districts. These coal seams are very thin, lensoid
and impersistent.
The important coal occurrences are reported from the Barail Group of rocks of Oligocene
age in the Dibrugarh and Sibsagar districts. The coalfields occur in a narrow linear ‘belt of
Schuppen’ flanking Naga-Patkai hills between two major thrusts namely the Naga thrust in
the west and Haflong-Disang thrust in the east. Between these two thrusts, there are several
other thrusts arranged imbricately in a complex tectonic setting.
Out of the country’s coal reserves of 264 Billion tonnes, only 0.942 Billion tonnes occur in
the North Eastern part of India. Although quantitatively the reserves are rather insignificant
compared to the total reserves of the country, these deposits have gained importance by
virtue of their geographical location.
The coals of these fields show dual character of both low and high rank coal and are rich in
organic sulphur and have been described as “Unique coal in the world”. The Makum
coalfield is under active exploitation. The Tertiary coals of Makum are considered to be
significantly gassy and collieries are classified as highly gassy Degree-III mines.
Since Makum coalfield, located in Assam state, is most important from coal exploitation and
exploration point of view, the Information Docket mainly deals with this coalfield and the
adjoining areas.
Coal Mining Activity:

Although the coal was first quarried in 1828 near Saffrai, systematic mining was initiated
by Assam Railway and Trading Company (AR&T Co.) at Ledo in 1882. Subsequently,
many collieries namely Tikak, Namdang, Ledo New West, Tirap, Ledo New East,
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Assam-Arakan
Baragolai, Tipong and Namdang deep were opened by the AR&T Co. All these Collieries
were taken over by Government at the time of nationalization of coal mines in 1973.
However, except Makum coalfield, the other coalfields did not attract much attention due to
inaccessibility, complex geological setting and lack of demand of coal.
The mining activity at a limited scale is confined only in the Makum coalfield. The existing
methods of underground extractions of coal are by “Bhaska” method,”Tipong“method and
“Descending Shield” method. The “Bhaska” method is development on Board and Pillar
pattern along the floor of the seam, splitting the pillars by pick mining and finally
heightening and widening of junction to form a dome by drilling and blasting. The “Tipong
“ method is a modified version of “Bhaska” method applied in high dipping (50 0 to 800)
seams. The “Descending Shield” method has been introduced in Tipong colliery to obtain
high percentage of extraction with better safety standards.
Out of the 5 coal horizons in Makum coalfield, 60 ft and 20 ft. seams are the most
important and have been extensively developed by underground mining by driving adits in
the hills above the drainage level and recently by open cast mining. The mining activity has
also extended below the drainage level. The mining activity has also extended below the
drainage level. Apart from mining of 60 ft and 20 ft. seams, the 7 ft. New seam has also
been mined at places. The 5 ft and 8 ft. seams have been worked in patches.
REGIONAL GEOLOGY & STRUCTURE:

The stratigraphic sequence in the Makum Coalfield established by surface mapping,
geophysical exploration by the Geological Survey of India and the erstwhile Assam Oil
Company and mining activities is as follows:
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Assam-Arakan
Generalized stratigraphic sequence of Tertiary succession in,

Makum Coalfield, Northeastern Coalfield
Age Group Formation Lithology

1 2 3 4
Recent and - - Alluvium and high level terrace
Pleistocene deposits comprising clay, siltstone and
gravel beds of quartzitic sandstone.
Pliocene Dihing - Alternate coarse grained grey to
greenish grey friable feldpathic
sandstone and pebble beds with grey to
brown clays. The sandstones are
ferruginous at places.
------------------------------------------ Unconformity ---------------------------------------------
Miocene Tipam Girujan Clay Mottled clay with greyish soft
sandstone
Tipam Sandstone Ferruginous fine to coarse grained
micaceous to feldspathic sandstone.
------------------------------------------ Unconformity ---------------------------------------------
Barail Tikak Parbat Yellowish white to light grey fine
grained well bedded or massive
sandstone, sandy shale, shale,
mudstone, grey to carbonaceous clay
with several coal seams in the lower
horizon.
Baragolai Grey to micaceous or ferruginous well
bedded or massive sandstone, shaly
Oligocene
sandstone alternating with mottled
sandy clay and grey shale, occasional
thin coal seams.
Naogaon Dark grey to grey, thin bedded
compact fine grained quartzitic
sandstone with grey splintery shales
stained with iron at places and sandy
shale.
Eocene Disang - Grey to dark grey splintery shale,
sandy shale with thin beds of fine
grained quartzitic sandstone.
Disang Group
Disang Group is the oldest formation in the field represented by a thick group of alternating
splintery shales with thin parting of hard, greyish flaggy sandstone and sandy shales. They
are generally iron stained grayish to dark grey coloured and occasionally carry fine streaks of
carbonaceous material.
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Assam-Arakan
Barail Group
Naogaon Formation:
The lowermost stage of Barail Group, the Naogaon Formation is hard and compact, thin
bedded light grey to grey coloured flaggy sandstones with partings of splintery shales and
thinly bedded sandy shales.
Baragolai Formation:
This and the overlying Tikak Parbat Formation were originally grouped into “Coal Measures
Sub-series” by Mallet and these are the only coal bearing horizon within the entire Tertiary
formation of this part of Assam.
The thickness of the Baragolai Formation varies between 900 m and 2500 m. In the Namdang
river section nearly 1000 m thick strata of this stage are well exposed and in Tipong river
section, about 800m strata are well exposed. This stage represents several alternating facies
of sandstones, clays, clayey sandstones, sandy clays, carbonaceous shales and thin coal seam
of 0.5 to 0.8m thickness.
The lower part of this stage is represented by hard sandstones, micaceous sandstones and
alternating bluish clays and carbonaceous shales followed by a predominantly argillaceous
facies with thin seams of coal and minor oil seepages along fissures in sandstone. This is
followed by massive and bedded hard sandstone overlain by a thick alternating group of
clays, sandy clays, clayey sandstones, thin bedded ferruginous sandstones, carbonaceous
shales and a number of thin coal seams. The upper part of this stage is massive and
occasionally bedded sandstone with thin beds of clay and sandy clay with minor coal streaks.
The topmost part is typically hard sandstone.
The Baragolai Formation occurs over a fairly wide area on the south of the Tipong group of
mines, west of Namdang and north of the Baragolai and Ledo Collieries along the foothills.
The general trend of the beds in Namdang Valley is N70 0 E-S700 W with southerly dip
ranging from 250 to 650. At the western end of Namdang colliery, the strike swings abruptly
to N-S with easterly dips of 350 to 550 gradually changing again to ENE-WSW trend towards
south of Namdang hill with very high northerly dips, indicating a synclinal closure.
Tikak Parbat Formation:
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Assam-Arakan
This formation consists of medium to coarse grained hard sandstone, well bedded sandy
shale, clay, sandy clay and carbonaceous shale with at least five workable coal seams at the
basal part. There are several minor coal seams in the middle and upper part of this stage. The
base of the formation is defined by the presence of an 18 m thick coal seam exposed all along
from Namdang colliery in the west to Tirap River in the east and Jairampur in the far east.
The workable coal seams are present in basal 160 metres of strata. The minor seams of the
middle and upper part of this formation attain thickness up to 1.5 m but are inconsistent.
About 450 m thick strata of this formation are well exposed along the Ledopani river near the
Ledo colliery.
The Tikak Parbat Formation forms a broad fold, the northern limb of which trends generally
ENE-WSW with southerly dip of 250 to 350. The general trend swings sharply near the
Namdang synclinal closure where the strike is N-S with easterly dip of 35 0 to 450. Towards
South and East of Namdang hill, the southern limb trends almost E-W with northerly dip,
varying from 400 to 550. The southern limb, near the confluence of the Makanpani and
Lekhapani rivers shows very high northerly dips of 60 0 to 750 because of proximity of
Haflong-Disang thrust. The northern limb is again folded to a plunging anticline near Tirap,
known as Ledo anticline and again to a plunging syncline further north. At the nose of the
Ledo anticline dips are shallow being 100 to 200 towards east.
Along the southern flank of the hill, a narrow strip of this formation with the workable coal
seams at the basal part, occur between Lekhapani and Tipong and continues further east of
Tipong and has been traced up to Jairampur. The dips here are very high, from 55 0 to 800
towards north and become nearly vertical at Jairampur. A lithological variation is well
marked here by the predominant argillaceous facies represented by shales, clays, sandy clays
and occasional mottled clay beds especially towards the upper part.
In between Ledo and Lekhapani, the rocks of this formation are absent due to over thrusting
of rocks of Disang Group along a branch of the Haflong-Disang thrust.
TIPAM GROUP
Only the lower most part of the Tipam group is exposed in this area covering an extensive
area in the central part and south-eastern part of the coalfield. Pebbly sandstone, thin
conglomerate beds and coarse grained, feldspathic, light greyish to typically bluish green and
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Assam-Arakan
greenish sandstones constitute this sequence. The Girujan clays are often mottled in the upper
part. Along the northern Ledo-Lekhapani area, a light coloured hard clay bed observed in the
lowermost part of the formation is also exposed in the upper course of Lekhapani River.
DIHING GROUP:
The outcrops of Dihing group are small and isolated along the base of foothills in between the
eastern extremity of the abandoned Tirap quarry and Lekhapani to the west and Tirap River
in the north. Mostly the Dihings are concealed under alluvium and high level terrace deposit.
The Dihing group comprises alternate pebble beds and gritty to coarse grained loose
ferruginous, generally grey coloured sandstone.
The coal measure rocks of Tertiary sequence exposed in a narrow NE-SW belt of imbricate
thrusts flanking the Naga-Patkai hills and it extend from Haflong in the southwest to Miao
Bum in the northeast. This belt referred to as a 'Belt of Schuppen', closely follows the
boundary of the Assam Valley alluvium for over 300 Km. and continues south-westward for
another 50 Km up to Haflong.
The major resources of coal of north-eastern India are confined to this belt of complex
tectonic setting on which are located the most important coalfields like Namchik-Namphuk,
Makum, Dilli-Jeypore and Borjan. Considerable search for oil in Upper Assam has also been
carried out in parts of this belt during the last few decades. This mobile belt is characterised
by intense orogenic movements during Tertiary geotectonic cycle.
The Schuppen zone between Naga thrust and Disang thrust is constituted by a number of
thrusts, which diverge and unite so as to form an imbricate system of strips (Fig – 60) In the
shelf-slope-basin architecture of Arakan-Assam belt, the hinge zone across which the Upper
Cretaceous-Eocene shelf facies changes to basinal facies is envisaged to lie below the belt of
Schuppen. (Fig-61)
The geological structure of Makum Coalfield is represented by a well-defined asymmetric

syncline plunging towards north-east with a closure at the Namdang colliery and has been
often referred to as Namdang syncline by the geologists of the erstwhile Assam Oil
Company. The syncline is narrowest at Namdang but gradually widens out the north-east.
The plunge of the synclinal closure at Namdang varies from 25 0 to 300 and possibly the
amount of plunge is less at depth. The trend of the axis of the syncline at Namdang is
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Assam-Arakan
NNE-SSW but gradually changes to NE-SW eastwards and almost E-W further east. The
general dip varies from 300 to 350 towards south. The syncline is bounded on the north and
south by two large thrusts namely, the Margherita thrust in the north and Haflong-Disang
thrust in the south. In the southern part, due to the effect of Haflong-Disang thrust, the
Naogaon Formation overrides the younger rocks of the Barail Group. In the northern part, the
rocks of Barail and Tipam Groups override the younger Dihing Group due to the effect of the
Margherita thrust.
DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT:
During Eocene to Oligocene due to the rise of peripheral arc system consequent upon the
active oblique subduction of Indian plate, the intervening sea became progressively shallow.
During this phase, the Schuppen belt witnessed shallow marine condition. The wide spectrum
of lithofacies and their frequent lateral and vertical variation reflect a sequence of
depositional environment varying from shallow marine, swampy, lagoonal and fluviatile
condition. Back water bodies or lagoons paralleling the shoreline on the prograding delta
complex served as locales for peat accumulation. Presence of arenaceous formation and
formation water salinity (3000-5000 ppm in terms of NaCl) indicate that Tikak Parbat
Formation was deposited under brackish water milieu where current or wave action is
negligible.
Palaeomagnetic data indicates that during Oligocene period when Barail coal measures were
laid down, the area lay 30 -40 south and 20 to 30 east of the present position (27015’ to 27025’
N, 95040’ to 95035’E). In such tropical region angiospermous evergreen forest vegetation
consisting of coastal swampy and mangrove forests flourished under humid condition.
A study of mega and micro-floral remains from coal seams and associated strata indicates
pteridophytic and angiospermous herbs and shrubs grew as dense undergrowth. The bright,
unbanded vitrinite rich and sporinite poor coal seams with frequent presence of fungal
remains suggest the formation of coal from forest vegetation dominated by arborscent plants
and the vegetation experienced moderate to high degree of degradation.
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Assam-Arakan
Mangrove vegetation thrived in the tropical coastal belt on low energy prograding shoreline.
Further, low amount of clastic materials in these coals formed in-situ from degradation of
vegetal matter under alkaline milieu indicates a low energy regime protected from wave and
current action. Biogenic pyrite in Makum coals requires anaerobic (negative E h ) and alkaline
stagnant water body.
Tissue Preservation Index (TPI) and Gelification Index (GI) of Makum coals on the facies
diagram of Diessel (1981) revealed that the coals were formed in lower deltaic plain. The
vegetal accumulation took place in limno-telmatic swamp when the basin subsidence was
faster partly induced by compaction of peat and finer sediments; water table was raised
inundating the swamp. In consequence, channel encroached upon the basin of peat
accumulation depositing inter-seam partings. This sequence of event was repeated during
deposition of every peat unit.
In short, high desmocollinite, perhydrous vitrinite, liptodetrinite and bituminite contents, high
GI and low TPI, high contents of early diagenetic pyrite and organic sulphur are the
characteristic of the coals of this Schuppen belt which formed on lower delta plain in
brackish water bodies.
COAL DEPOSITS
The coal deposits of North-Eastern India occur along three distinct geo-tectonic provinces:
I. The Permian Gondwana belts of Arunachal Pradesh disposed as (a) thrust sheets at
the foot hills of the Himalayas (b) Gondwana outcrops in Meghalaya extending into
Assam.
II. The Eocene coal belts of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya and Mikir hills of
Assam formed on platform areas peripheral to the shield, and
III. The Oligocene coalfields of Upper Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh formed
in the pericratonic down-warps in a zone of Schuppen.
The coalfields of North-Eastern India can, therefore, be classified as follows:
Coalfields of Gondwana belt (Permo-Carboniferous)

Coal occurrences in the Gondwana belt along the thrust sheets of outer Himalayas, Arunachal
Pradesh and the Gondwana outcrops in Singrimari in Assam and Meghalaya.
The narrow belt of lower Gondwana sediments of Permo-Carboniferous age occurring along
the foot hills of Arunachal Pradesh in the Kameng, Subansiri and Siang districts is highly
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Assam-Arakan
folded and deformed. This linear belt is bounded by thrusts along the southern and northern
boundaries. Along the southern boundary, the Gondwana sediments are thrust over the
Siwalik Group. The thrust marking the northern boundary brings the metamorphics in
juxtaposition with the Gondwana sequence. The Gondwana sediments are disposed as
discontinuous patches in this zone of thrusts. These Gondwana sediments are strikingly
different from those of the peninsular counterpart and the coal seams are lenticular and
discontinuous. The Gondwana sediments have a regional trend of ENE-WSW and the
regional dip is towards north at steep angles.
A sequence of lower Gondwana rocks occurs in the Singrimari (Hallidayganj) area, at the
western tip of the Garo Hills, Meghalaya, within 4 km. of the Indo-Bangladesh border. The
lower Gondwana exposure comprises Talchir and Karharbari Formations of Permo-
Carboniferous age. The Karharbari Formation is coal bearing. The lower Gondwana
sediments strike N-S and dip at 100-200 towards west.
The presence of Brahmaputra alluvium in the west has probably concealed the occurrence of
Barakar Formation overlying the Karharbari sediments.
Coalfields of Stable Shelf Area (Tertiary-Eocene):

The coal bearing rocks of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya and Mikir Hills of
Assam are regarded to have been formed over platform areas under stable shelf conditions.
These coal measures are not only developed along the southern fringes of the Meghalaya
plateau, but also continue into the Bengal basin. The coalfields of the stable shelf area are
listed below:
i. Coalfields of Garo Hills

ii. Langrin Coalfields (West Khasi Hills)
iii. Small Coalfields of Eastern Khasi Hills
iv. Coalfields of Jaintia Hills
v. Coalfields of Mikir Hills.
The sediments, which are intimately associated with the coal measures, range from Upper
Cretaceous to Eocene and exhibit rapid lateral and vertical variation in lithofacies. The coals
seams are associated with the Jaintia Group of Eocene age.
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Assam-Arakan
The coalfields of the Garo Hills are located along the south-western extremity of the Shillong
plateau. The coal bearing formations, spread over a large area, occur as isolated patches
because of erosion. These areas are referred to as Karaibari, Siju, Rongrenggiri, Daranggiri,
Holwang-Nabru-Zigrik-Kailash, Baljong-Dogrengg-Hansapal and Balphakram-Pendengru
coalfields. All these areas, however, have the same stratigraphic and structural set up. The
coal measures in the Garo Hills region are found both to the north and south of the Tura
range. The strata trend in WNW-ESE direction.
The coal occurrences of Khasi and Jaintia Hills comprise a group of coalfields constituting
Langrin coalfield in the south-western extremity of Khasi Hills and Mawlong-Shella coalfield
forming a part of the Laitkynsew plateau which is again connected with the Cherrapunji
plateau. In Cherrapunji plateau and further to the east in Jaintia Hills, number of small coal
bearing outliers is found which are classified under coal occurrence of Jaintia Hills and those
of Eastern Khasi Hills. The coal occurrences are referred to by local names. In the Eastern
Khasi Hills, several coal bearing locations are noted in three dissected plateau around
Cherrapunji-Laitryngew, Mawsynram and Pynursla-Lynkyrdem-Thangjinath. The coalfields
of Jaintia Hills are located at Bapung, Malwar, Lumshnong, Mutang, Lakadong, Sutunga etc.
The Jaintia and Eastern Khasi Hills expose a well developed sequence of the lower Tertiary
sediments and constitute the type area for the Jaintia Group. In fact, the sub-division of
Jaintia Group is based on the excellent sections of the different litho-stratigraphic units
exposed in this area. The coal seams are associated with the Lakadong sandstone of the
Jaintia Group of Eocene age. Lakadong sandstone of Khasi Hills is considered equivalent to
the Tura Formation of Garo Hills. The beds exhibit a regional E-W trend with gentle (4 0-100)
southerly dips.
The Coal Measures in Mikir Hills are exposed at the foot of a plateau located south of the
Brahmaputra and are bounded by Jaintia Hills in the west and Naga ranges in the east. The
Mikir hills plateau is in fact a northeasterly continuity of the Shillong plateau and the coal
bearing Tertiary sediments are exposed along the southern and south eastern fringes of the
plateau.
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Assam-Arakan
The Mikir Hills represent a Pre-Cambrian inlier peeping out of the Brahmaputra alluvium.
The Tertiary sediments rest on a much denuded Pre-Cambrian basement, and in some places,
on weathered Sylhet Trap of Mesozoic age. The coal seams are confined to the Sylhet
Limestone Formation of the Jaintia Group of Eocene age. The beds generally show sub-
horizontal to low dips towards south except ear the contact with the underlying gneissic rocks
where the dips are steeper (up to 35 0). Coal exposures have been noted in Koilajan, Selvetta,
Khunbaman, etc. apart from several minor coal occurrences.
Coalfields in the zone of Schuppen (Tertiary-Oligocene):

The coal measure rocks of Tertiary sequence exposed in a narrow NE-SW belt of imbricate
thrusts, flanking the Naga-Patkai hills; extend from Haflong in the southwest to Miao Bum in
the northeast. This belt, referred to as a ‘belt of Schuppen, closely follows the boundary of
the Assam Valley alluvium for over 300 km. and continues south-west ward for another 50
km. up to Haflong. The important coalfields of the zone of Schuppen are listed below:
i. Makum Coalfield
ii. Dilli-Jeypore Coalfield
iii. Namchik-Namphuk Coalfield
iv. Borjan Coalfield
v. Small coal occurrences of Nagaland and Jhanzi-Disai Valley.
The major resources of coal of North-eastern Indian are confined to this belt of complex
tectonic setting. Considerable search for oil in Upper Assam has also been carried out in parts
of this belt for the last few decades. This mobile belt is characterized by intense orogenic
movements during Tertiary geotectonic cycle.
The Barail Group containing the coal measures is considered to be the most important
sequence in this ‘belt of Schuppen’.
The Tikak Parbat Formation of Barail Group of Oligocene age is the storehouse of the major
resources of coal in this belt.
In the Dilli-Jeypore coalfield, the coal bearing Tikak Parbat Formation forms a continuous
stretch over a length of 33 Km while its width hardly varies from 300 to 600 m. This is
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Assam-Arakan
flanked on the east by high hills formed of Tipam Sandstone. Thus, the linear distribution
pattern of the coal measures over a long stretch in a complex structural setting is the
peculiarity of this coalfield.
In the recent past, the Directorate of Geology and Mining, Govt. of Nagaland has recorded
the presence of coal seams in a thrust slice east of Tuensang town in Nagaland. This is the
first reported occurrence of coal much to the east of the Haflong-Disang thrust. Tectonically,
the area forms a part of the Patkai Synclinorium. The coal seams are confined to the Barail
Group. Regional strike of the strata is NE-SW to NNE-SSW with dip ranging from 250-650.
Regional correlation of the coal horizons are depicted in Fig. 62
Description of Coal Seams

The sequence of the coal seams in the Makum Coalfield has been established as a result off
geological mapping, investigations carried out by erstwhile Assam Oil Company and
extensive mining of the coal seams. The coal seams are confined to the basal 200 m section
of the Tikak Parbat Formation. There are five regionally correlatable persistent coal seams in
the Makum Coalfield.
In the Jairampur area, it has not been possible to establish any correlation of the coal seams
identified by mapping and drilling of 3 regional boreholes due to highly disturbed tectonic
setting. The outcrops of coal mapped in Jairampur area are exposed only along the nala
sections and tracing of extension of the same along the strike is difficult due to thick cover of
river terrace deposits.
The schematic Stratigraphic disposition of the coal seams in the Makum Coalfield as
established in the different colliery leaseholds is shown below
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Assam-Arakan
Coal Seam/ Namdang Baragolai Ledo Tipong All Collieries

Collieries Average Average Average Average Average
Thickness Thickness Thickness Thickness Thickness
(m) (m) (m) (m) (m)

8ft.seam 2.51 2.42 2.33 2.42
(Seam-V)
Parting 27-36 30-40 10-20 10-40
5ft.Seam 1.42 1.81 1.2-5.9 1.66
(Seam-IV)
Parting 9-30 3-23 20-48 3-18
Local Seam 0.76 0.76
20 ft. Seam 4.5-7.7 6.01 7.72 5.85 6.16
(Seam-III)
Parting 35-50 38-58 17-62 17-90 38-68
Local/7ft.(New) 1.5-2.6 2.29 2.6 1.5-2.26 2.27
Seam(Seam-II)
Parting 15-22 5-53 6-26 6-28 5-20
*60ft,Seam - 14.75 12.15 12-15
(Seam-I)
Top Coal - 6.25 6.55 8.52 7.39
Middle coal 4.34 - - 11.66 8.00
Bottom coal 8.46 11.08 6.95- 4.22 8.11
Parting 1.50 - -
Namdang 2.18 - - -
* occurs in one sector or in splits of three sections top, middle and bottom.
Out of the 5 coal horizons, 60 ft and 20 ft. seams are the most important and have been
extensively developed by underground mining. These seams occur in 2 to 3 sections
separated by thin inter-seam partings represented by clay, shale and sandstone. The seams
also contain a few dirt bands. The nomenclature of these seams has been made based on the
thickness of the seams established initially. Apart from the 5 regionally correlatable seams,
there are 2 local impersistent seams also namely, the Namdang and the thin seam.
Chemical characteristics of coal:

In contrast to the Permian coals (Gondwana) of Peninsular India, the Oligocene coals of
Makum Coalfield are soft and powdery in nature and it is extremely difficult to obtain coal
lumps during extraction.
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Assam-Arakan
The Makum coals are relatively of better quality having moisture content of 1-3%, a very
low ash content of 2-10% which, however, at places increases to about 20%, a high volatile
content of 40-48% and high calorific value of 7000-8500 K.Cal/Kg. The coals, however, are
very high in sulphur content from 1.5 to 6% with traces of phosphorous (0.01%). The coals
are strongly caking and the caking index varies from 17-24 BS. The Hardgrove Grindability
Index (HGI) of these coals varies from 46-59.
The coals exhibit dual properties of high and low rank. The ultimate analysis on Unit Coal
Basis depicts a carbon content from 78 to 82%, Hydrogen 5.9 to 6.5%, Nitrogen 1.2 to 1.6%
and Oxygen 7.6 to 11%. Thus from the maturity point of view these coals are sub-bituminous
to bituminous and are on the upper margin of the low rank coals. However, the caking Index
of around 20, coke type of G/G2, swelling Index of 5 to 5.5 indicates the characteristics of a
high rank coal. The petrographic analysis indicates a very high vitrinite content (80-90%) and
low exinite (5-10%) and inertinite (5-10%) content. The average reflectance in oil varies from
0.5 to 0.7.
The proximate analysis data of 20 ft seam and 60 ft seam of different collieries of Makum
coalfield are indicated below
Name of the M% Ash% VM% FC% Total
colliery Sulphur %
20 ft Seam
Baragolai 2.4 5.9 42.4 49.3 5.31
Tikak 2.1– 2.5 3.2– 4.9 42.5–43.6 50.4 – 50.8 5.37 – 5.43
Tipong 2.5 4.1 44.0 49.4 5.57
60 ft Seam
Baragolai 2.0 3.6 41.8 53.2 2.3
Tikak 2.3 2.7 42.5 52.5 2.76
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Assam-Arakan
Tipong 2.5 3.0– 3.8 43.7 -45.1 48.9 – 50.8 2.52 – 3.42
Namdang 2.2– 2.3 3.2– 3.3 42.1– 4.6 51.8 – 52.5 2.7 – 2.8
Tikak 1.9– 2.4 1.9– 4.8 41.9– 4.5 50.4 – 53.6 2.35 – 2.5
Tipong 2.0– 2.7 2.6– 3.1 42.4– 4.0 50.6 – 52.8 --
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Assam-Arakan
The qualitative attributes of different coal seams of Makum coalfield are summarized below
Sea Proximate analysis Total Cakin Cok C% H%
m Sulphur g e
(Air Dried)
M A% VM CV (Organic Index Typ (dmf basis)
Sulphur) e
% % K.Cal/Kg
8 ft. 2.7- 5.1- 41.6- 6900-7045 3.8-5.8 18-20 F 78.3- 5.5-6.0
3.5 7.6 42.0 80.2

(2.7-3.3)
5 ft. 1.8- 1.9- 38.6- 6700-7700 3.5-5.3 16-24 F-G 78.6- 5.3-6.0
3.7 11.5 45.2 82.2

(2.5-4.3)
Thin 2.4- 12.2- 37.6- 7195-7665 6.5-7.0 28-36 F-G 78.0- 5.7
2.8 19.6 42.2 79.2

(Loc (4.3-5.7)
al)
20 2.1- 3.3- 41.9- 7195-7665 4.0-6.3 20-33 G1- 79.1- 5.5-6.1
ft. 2.6 6.1 44.0 G3 80.0

(3.5-5.2)
New 2.5- 4.9- 38.7- 6980-7480 2.6-3.9 18 C- 79.2- 5.5-5.8
/7 ft. 3.5 7.3 42.3 G1 80.4

(1.9-2.6)
60 1.8- 3.8- 36.7- 6330-7865 1.9-4.0 15-37 F- 80.3- 5.4-6.5
ft. 2.7 19.8 43.2 G3 83.3

(1.3-3.2)
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Assam-Arakan
Petrological Character of Coal
The Petrological character of coal of Schuppen belt has been analysed based on limited data
from Makum Coal. Megascopically, the coals are jet black in colour with vitreous lustre,
devoid of any perceptional litho type banding and almost entirely made up of vitrain. The
coal is blocky in nature because of prominent two sets of cleats .The coal brakes with sub-
conchoidal fracture. The pyrite specks are very frequent within coal. The coals of Baragolai
and Lekhapani blocks have the vitrinite reflectance ranging from 0.60% to 0.65%. The coals
are characterized by dominance of vitrinite (60-79%) followed by macerals of exinite group
(5.0 -16.0%). Inertinite portion is very low. The mineral matter content is also relatively low
(6.4-12.6%). The range of the maceral group composition and mean random vitrinite
reflectance of different coal blocks of Makum coalfield are shown below.
Blocks Range of Rr %
Maceral Composition vol %
( on mmf basis)
Vitrinite Liptinite Inertinite VMM
Baragolai 60.8 –91.8 2.2 –9.1 1.8 –10.6 4.2-19.8 0.61-0.65
(75.8)-(95.8) (2.3)-(9.7) (1.9)-(13.2)
Lekhapani 62.2 –82.3 4.2-16.1 2.2-16.6 3.2-10.5 0.60-0.64
(67.5)-(90.3) (4.7)-(17.5) (2.3)-(17.1)
The 60 ft and 20 ft seams of Makum coalfield are rich in desmocollinite (30-47%) and
telocollinite along with minor amount of tellinite. Desmocollinite and telocollinite are highly
gelified. Desmocollinite and a fraction of telocollinite show spongy or granular texture.
Shattering and crushing effects are common in coal samples. Common presence of fungal
remains and embedded inertodetrinite in the vitrinite indicate its highly degraded nature.
Minute specks, granules and framboids of pyrite are common in the desmocollinite fraction.
The liptinite macerals are in subordinate amount (5.0-9.5%) mainly consisting of resinite
(2.5-6.3%) and sporinite (0.9-2.4%). Exsudatinite is persistently percent in low amounts.
Sporinite is distributed in densely packed patches. Resinite occurs as discrete oval, elliptical,
globular bodies filling cell lumens.
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Assam-Arakan
Low to moderate proportion of inertinite matters (9.1-17.0%) are mainly formed of

scelerotinites (2.6-9.8%) inertodetrinite (1.5-9.6%) and semifusinite/fusinite (0.9-6.0%).
Micrinite and macrinite are only sporadic in occurrence.
Main minerals in the coals are syngenetic pyrite and calcite. Argillaceous matter is in low
amount.
Under blue light, 60ft and 20ft seam are have proportion of fluorescing macerals (78-88%) of
which 41-63% which is formed of per hydrous Vitrinite. Non-fluorescing vitrinite and
inertinite macerals are low to moderate.
Rank Parameter:
Mean maximum reflectance values of the samples ranging from 0.60 to 0.65% indicate High
volatile Bituminous ‘B’ rank.
The same assessment by chemical parameters (volatile matter content and calorific value) and
reflectivity measurement (Ro max) does not correspond. On the basis of calorific value the
coal seems show a rank of high volatile Bituminous “ A” rank with expected Ro max
>0.8% . Instead the very high volatile matter contents show high volatile Bituminous ‘C’ to
even sub-bituminous rank.
This discrepancy in rank evaluated by chemical parameters and Ro max% may be related to
genesis of these coals and also their high liptinite and per hydrous desmocollinite fractions.
Cecil (1979) opines that the partial presence of volatile products of coalification influenced
by a variable pressure condition in the coal seams can cause such anomalies in coal rank and
organic maturation indices.
CBM RESERVOIR PARAMETER
STRESS FIELD AND PERMEABILITY:

Coal is relatively compressible as compared to other reservoir rocks. Thus, permeability of
coal is more stress dependent than reservoir facies.
The natural fractures present in coal have important control in creating permeable conduits in
153
Assam-Arakan
coal seams for movements of fluid and gas.
Cleats are opening mode fractures in coal beds, which account for most of the permeability
and much of the porosity of coal bed gas reservoirs. No data are available on orientation,
aperture and spacing information of cleat from mines of North east coalfield.
The upper Assam Schuppen belt is thought to be sculptured by westward directed

compressive forces resulting from the subduction of the Indian plate beneath Burmese plate
along an Eocene arc-trench margin. It is further inferred that there is an oblique convergence
of plates at the Indo- Burmese front. The deformations appear to have taken place in a
transgressional tectonic environment, which is generally found at the plate margin with
oblique convergence.
The northward movement of India and the strike slip motion at the Indo- Burmese margin
continued with vigor till Eocene, when continental India collided with Eurasia, after which
northward movement and wrench motion at Indo-Burmese front slow down considerably.
During Eocene, the direction of movement of Indian Plate was modified causing
anticlockwise rotation due to the change in the spreading vector in the Indian Ocean, which
further increased the compression at the Indo-Burmese front. Because of this increased
compression the strata were thrown into folds which were later deformed into imbricate
thrust sheets.
In this tectonic setting the direction of maximum horizontal stress is parallel to direction of
closure between the Indian and Burmese plates. Evidently, the face cleats are aligned parallel
to the direction of suture (NE-SW) or maximum horizontal stress. The minimum horizontal
stress is directed in NW-SE direction right angle to face cleat direction.
In this strong compressive regime of Schuppen belt the coal units become compressed than
the bulk coal matrix material. In this tectonically deformed coal belt cleat compressibility is
an important reservoir property since it affects the cleat aperture width and effective porosity
which in turn affect the bulk reservoir permeability. Evidently, the coal cleats are
compressed to varying degree, which affect to some extent coal seam permeability. But in the
Schuppen belt shear fractures and faults constitute fundamental discontinuities in coalbed
154
Assam-Arakan
methane reservoirs and the abundance of fractures and crushed and pulverized coal seams
point to significant fracture related permeability. It is, therefore, likely that the secondary
permeability due to high degree of tectonic disturbances may lead to comparatively higher
recovery of transported methane.
GASSINESS OF COAL SEAMS:

Humic coals and organic matter in the sediments derived from higher terrestrial plants under
favourable condition have generated large quantities of hydrocarbons in upper Assam coal.
The close geographical and geological contiguity of coal and conventional oil and gas,
transition between coal and hydrocarbon bearing facies, distribution of n-alkanes in crudes
suggest a plant derived organic matter for hydrocarbons source The Oligocene Barail group
with its brackish water mudstones and shales rich in primary organic matter are considered
to be the source of hydrocarbon.
Mukhopadhyay et al (1985) assessed hydrocarbon potential of various natural associations in

terms of Kerogen type. The coals of Makum coalfield having good rank (Ro max 0.60 –
0.65%), have Hydrogen Index (HI) ranging from 250 to 430. Dynamic folding and heating
during the Himalayan orogeny and plate movement enriched the rank of Assam coal. Most of
the coal samples are characterized by Kerogen type IIB and IIA association based on their
dominant liptinite maceral association and Hydrogen Index. OIL has shown that the
Hydrogen Index of Oligocene coal varies between 360-470 mg. Evidently, hydrocarbon yield
from Makum coal appears to be significant.
H/C and O/C ratio diagram reveals that most of Makum coals fall in the mature zone of
hydrocarbon generation. The predominant Kerogen type II association together with high
organic sulphur content favour hydrocarbon generation in coals of Schuppen belt.
The petrographic character and other rank parameters (UVM, R o max Ultimate carbon etc.)
show that the coals, by and large, fall in high volatile bituminous ‘B’ rank and coal seems to
some extent fall within window of thermogenic methane generation as well. The Barails
show high reflectivity gradient of 0.024/100 m. Thus at 800-1500 m depths, the coal has to be
mature.
155
Assam-Arakan
Thus, it seems that there is a mixture of thermogenic methane and hydrocarbon (wet
type) secured from Kerogen II and IIA types in Makum coal and adjoining area in the belt of
Schuppen. This inference is to be confirmed by isotopic study.
The coals of ‘Schuppen belt’ are significantly gassy, which is evident from the amount of
emissions of methane in the underground mines of Makum coalfield. The mines in view of
high emissions of methane have been categorized as Degree-III mines, where gas emission in
more than 10 cum per tonne of coal mined.
Limited desorption data are available from Tirap mine of Makum coalfield. Dhar et al (1993)
has indicated the following gas content of seams in Tirap mine of Makum coalfield.
Seam Methane content

cum/t
60 ft seam - 2.70
20 ft seam - 5.52
As the data have been generated from working mines at shallow depths, this gives only a
picture of party degassed seam. In the absence of systematic desorption data, the rank of
Makum coal is taken into consideration to work out approximate gas content. It is observed
from the scrutiny of the data that the seams mainly have vitrinite reflectance of 0.60-0.65%.
At the same time the seams have carbon content (dmmf) of 77 to 80%, the unit volatile matter
of ranges from 35 to 41% in the coal mining areas. It emanates from the above synthesis that
all the coal seams in the already offered CBM block have attained the rank of high volatile
bituminous ‘B’ rank within 400 m depth. Beyond the depth of 400 m, seams may as well
attain the rank of medium volatile bituminous coal. In short, all the coal seams fall in the
thermogenic gas generation window.
The rank depth relationship of coal seams provides an insight into the gas generation
potential of seams. Based on the standard curve developed by Rayon (1992), depicting the
correlation of rank and depth of coal with gas content of seams, it is observed that the seams,
on an average, may contain 7-9 cu.m/t of gas up to a depth of 1500 m. Further, an exercise to
assess the gas contents in coal seams has been carried out by application of Kim’s equation
using analytical data of coal seams in Toklong well. Based on this exercise the expected gas
156
Assam-Arakan
stored in coal is likely to 7 to 9 cu.m/t. Because of unique chemical composition of coal of

this Schuppen belt coupled with the thermo- tectonic evolution of this belt the average gas
content can be about 8 cu.m/t.
Hydrogeology:
Two aquifer systems belonging to Baragolai and Tikak Parbat formations could be identified
in the area. One lies above 60 ft. seam in the Tikak Parbat Formation and the other below 60
ft. seam in the Baragolai Formation. The aquifer below the 60 ft seam is under confined
condition and at places becomes free flowing. The aquifer above the 60 ft. seam is normally
under unconfined condition although the 20 ft. seam occurring above the 60ft. seam generates
localized confined condition in patches.
The mine water in the area is highly acidic as revealed by low pH and high sulphate content.
Resource of Coal:
The Geological Survey of India has estimated resources of coal of the North East Coalfields
taking into consideration the data of regional and detailed exploration. These resources have
been estimated upto a maximum depth of 600 m though the coal seams are likely to continue
beyond this depth. The reserves estimated by the G.S.I. in North East Coalfield upto 600 m
depth is shown below
157
Assam-Arakan
State Coalfield Depth (m) Proved Indicated Inferred Tota

l
Sikkim Rangit Valley 0-300 - 58.25 42.98 101.23
Sigrimari 0-300 - 2.79 - 2.79
Makum 0-600 304.87 9.85 1.19 315.91
Assam
Dilli-Jeypore 0-300 9.03 14.19 30.80 54.02
Mikir Hills 0-300 0.69 - 2.02 2.71
Arunachal Namchik 0-300 31.23 40.11 18.89 90.23
Pradesh
West 0-300 64.47 62.53 - 127.00
Darranggiri
Balphakram- 0-300 - - 107.03 107.03
Pendengru
Siju 0-300 - - 125.00 125.00
Meghalaya
Langrin 0-300 11.34 7.20 31.46 50.00
Mawlong- Shella 0-300 2.17 - 3.83 6.00
Khasi Hills 0-300 - - 7.09 7.09
Bapung 0-300 11.01 - 22.65 33.66
Jayanti Hills 0-300 - - 3.65 3.65
Borjan 0-300 3.43 1.35 5.22 10.00
Jhanzi-Disai 0-300 - - 2.08 2.08
Nagaland
Tuen Sang 0-300 - - 1.26 1.26
Tiru valley 0-300 - - 6.60 6.60
Total 438.24 135.23 368.77 942.24
158
Assam-Arakan
Geophysical Surveys
Surface Geophysics
The study of the Bouguer gravity anomaly map of Assam – Arakan Basin (Fig.63) indicates
that the whole area is associated with, in general, negative anomaly starting from (–) 220
mgal to positive anomaly of (+) 30 mgal over Shillong plateau. The regional trend of gravity
is defined by NE – SW and ENE – WSW trending lows separated by a medium high over
Shillong Plateau. On the northeastern side, the major gradient of gravity anomaly is from
SW towards NE, while on the southwestern side the prominent gradient is from W to E. The
contours of Bouguer anomaly map match with the basin outline.
The Bouguer gravity anomaly map clearly indicates the areas associated with gravity lows
and highs. The maximum thickness of sediments is expected near the area of gravity low and
the thickness gradually reduces towards contours of high gravity values.
The depth of basement from mean sea level (MSL) and thrust as well as anticlinal and
synclinal axis have been inferred from the interpretation of gravity data and substantiated
with geological inputs. A depth of about 6 Km has been projected near Jagun in present well
study. The basin has been characterised by number of sub parallel thrusts. Most of these
thrusts trend in ENE – WSW direction and the major ones are marked by their names
Seismic Coverage
In course of exploration for conventional oil and gas, Oil India Limited conducted large-scale
2D seismic survey over large part of Schuppen Belt.
Subsurface Geophysics of Borehole Geophysical Logging

Geophysical logs of two boreholes Toklong – 1 and Jagun were studied to represent the
response of logging parameters against different formations including coal seam. The
logging of these boreholes was carried out by Oil
159
Assam-Arakan
India Limited WIDCO logging unit using spontaneous potential (SP), Resistance and
Resistivity, induction, neutron, density and sonic probes.
A summary of electrical and radioactive logging parameter response against different

lithologies especially in coal bearing horizon of Toklong well is presented beloew for
identifying and demarcating sub-surface strata. Owing to low density of coal vis-à-vis other
formations, the Gamma-Gamma (density) log is an ideal parameter for identifying coal seams
Coal Neutron Gas

Depth range Resistivity Density
Thickness(m) porosity reading
unit (in mts) (ohmm) (gm/cc)
(PU) (LEL %)
Unit I
722.5-728.0 5.5 18 1.25 60-80 <2
(722.5-
770.0m) 732.0-737.5 5.5 20-50 1.35 45-50 6-8.
739.5-743.0 3.5 20-70 1.27 60 6-8
760.0-763.5 3.5 20-40 1.60-1.65 60 16
764.5-766.5 2.0 15 1.60 50 6-8
768.5-770.0 1.5 15-17 1.65 50-55 6-8
Unit II 829.5-834.0 4.5 20-40 1.35-1.38' 60-65 70
(829.5- 838.0-840.5 2.5 40 1.27 60 70
900.5m) 866.5-870.0 3.5 140 1.25 55-70 70
895.0-900.5 5.5 50-100 1.25 60-70 100
Unit III 940.5-945.5 5.0 25-45 1.25-1.40 55-75 60-66
(940.5- 969.0-974.5 5.5 120-170 1.26-1.30 55-70 80-84
1017.0m) 987.5-996.$ 9.0 80-1800 1.22-1.24 55-70 56-1 00
1013.0-1017.0 4.0 70-120 1.32-1.35 55-60 50-60
Unit IV 1036.0;1042.0 . 6.0 300-400 1.26-1.30 50-60 30-40
(1036.0- 1045.0-1061.0 16.0 400-700 1.22-1.25 50-60 40-55
1067.0m) I 1064.5-1067.5 3.0 170-210 1.20-1.25 60 74
The average resistivity of the lowermost units (Unit-III and IV) is in the range of 170- 700
ohm-m, density 1.20 - 1.30gm/cc and porosity 50-60%. Maximum gas reading observed in
the well while drilling through the coal section were 80-100% LEL against a background of
6-8% LEL. The separation between deep and medium resistivity logs against the coal unit -
IV indicates invasion of drilling fluid and hence possibility of presence of permeability
pathways below it as passage of thrust.
162
Assam-Arakan
Present CBM exploration status

One CBM block was offered to a consortium of Dart Energy and Oil india during Fourth
CBM round. Presenlty the block is under phase-1 of exploration. Coal and lignite seams with
in Tipam Formation , Tikak Parbat and Baragoloi formation are important for CBM
prospectivity. As on 31.05.2016 a total of 15 core holes and two test wells have been drilled.
B. Shale Gas :-
The organic rich source rock (mainly shale) on deep burial with geological time,
results in conversion of organic matter into oil and natural gas. The quantities, that are
retained in-situ within source rock, constitute the unconventional shale gas/oil. The
important features of shale Oil/Gas mentioned below
• In case of shale oil/gas, shale acts as source, reservoir as well as cap rock.
• Based on the type of organic matter and maturation level (either oil or gas window),
the unconventional hydrocarbons could be shale oil or shale gas or a combination of
both.
• The gas in shale are held as free gas within natural fractures, pore spaces and some
are stored as adsorbed gas on the organic matter.
• The shale is characterized by low matrix permeability and it requires hydraulic
fracturing for shale gas / oil production.
• Shale gas and oil reservoir is characterized by moderate to high TOC, low clay, high
Gamma, high resistivity, low bulk density, low sonic velocity, low water saturation,
high Young’s Modulus and low Poisson’s Ratio generally termed as ‘Sweet Spots’.
Assam basin is one of the six basin identified as prospective from Shale gas and Oil point
view. ONGC have estimated total shale gas resource of 187.5 TCF in five Basins Assam &
Assam Arakan Basin , Cambay(onland) , KG (onland) , Cauvery (onland), , Ganga Valley).
At present ONGC is exploring total three blocks of the Assam shelf and Oil India is exploring
total five blocks for shale gas and Oil. In the Assam shelf area two formations Kopili Shale
& Barail Coal-Shale Unit of Upper Eocene-Oligocene age is interesting from shale gas point
of view. ONGC had cut conventional cores in two wells at Kopili shale formation in Namti
and Lakwa area. In the well of Lakwa area TOC wt% ranges from 0.53-1.92 observed with
VRo: 0.35-0.82% and in the Namti area TOC ranges from 0.44-1.98 was observed with VRo
ranges: 0.45-0.5 .
163
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Ahmed, A.E., Murthy, R.V.S. and Bhattacharya, D.K. (1993) – Depositional
environment, structural style and hydrocarbon habitat in Upper Assam Basin, Proceed.
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458.
2. Bastia, R., Naik, G.C. and Mahapatra, P. (1993): Hydrocarbon prospects in Schuppen
Belt, Assam –Arakan Basin, Proceedings 2 nd Seminar on Petrol. Basin of India, KDM –
IPE ONGC, Dehradun.
3. Bhandari. L.L., Fuloria, R.C. and Sastry, V.V., 1973: Stratigraphy of Assam Valley,
India; Bull. AAPG, 57 (4), 642 – 650.
4. Brunnschweiler, R.O., 1966: On the Geology of the Indo – Burman Ranges; Jour. Geol.
Soc., Australia, 13 (1) 137 – 194.
5. Das Gupta, A.B., 1977: Geology of Assam – Arakan Region, Quart. Journ., Geol. Min.
Soc, India, 49.
6. Das Gupta, A.B., Biswas, A.K., 2000: Geology of Assam, Geol. Soc. India, Bangalore.
7. Desikachar, S.V., 1974: A review of the tectonic history of Eastern India in terms of plate
tectonics theory; Journ. Geol. Soc. India, 15 (2), 137 – 149.
8. Dhar, P.C. and Das, Debashish (1997) – Stratigraphy &Petroleum potential of the
Bokabil Formation of the Dhansiri Valley, Assam, Proceed 2 nd Intl Conf. & Exbn
PETROTECH-97, New Delhi, Vol. I, p 373-389.
9. Ganguly, S. (1983): Geology and hydrocarbon prospects of Tripura – Cachar – Mizoram
Region, Petrol. Asia Jour., V. VI, no.4, pp. 105 – 110.
10. Ganju, J.L. and Khar, B.M. (1985): structure, tectonics and hydrocarbon prospects of
Naga Hills based on integrated remotely sensed data, Petrol. Asia Jour., V. VIII, no.2, pp.
145 – 151.
11. Gogoi, Daijee and Srivastava D.K. (1990): An appraisal of hydrocarbon source potential
of Tertiary sediments in a part of Schuppen Belt, Nagaland, Int. Expl. Research
achievements and perspective.
12. Gupta, Soumitra, R. Shyam and J.K. Samal: Assam Arakan Fold Belt: Khubal, AAFB,
A&AA Basin, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., Jorhat. ONGC Bulletin, Vol.48 (2),
pp- 203-218.
164
13. Handique, G.K. and Bharali, P. (1984) – Hydrocarbon accumulation in Mio/Pliocene
Formation in Kharsang Oil Field, Petroleum Asia Journal, Dehradun, April, p 45-59.
14. Jain, PC; S Kar and Saikia (1996)-Analogy and Hydrocarbon prospects- A case of
Schuppen belt, Assam, Bull. ONGC, 33(2), p 35- 44.
15. Jain, S.K : Exploration strategy in mature sectors of Assam Shelf.A&AA Basin, Oil &
Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., Jorhat. ONGC Bulletin, Vol.48 (2), pp-173-196.
16. Khar, B.M. and Ganju, J.L. (1984): Tectonics of Tripura Folds, – probable mechanics of
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rock along the flanks of Nazira Low, proceedings 2 nd seminar on Petrol. Basins of India,
KDM–IPE, ONGC, Dehradun.
18. Mathur, L.P. and Evans, P. (1964): Oil in India, Int. Geol. Congress, 22 nd Session, New
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Advances and present Status, Petroleum Asia Journal, V6 (4) p-1-14.
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of fractured basement, Borholla-Changpang field, Assam, Bull. ONGC, 28(1), p 145-158.
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Basin, India. A brief overview, Organic Geochemistry, Vol.23 NO.1, p.55-70.
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166

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Assam-Arakan

 Upper Assam Shelf

 Assam-Arakan Fold belt.

PHYSIOGRAPHY, CLIMATE AND COMMUNICATIONS

Perforated Bean FBHP Qg Ql SBHP

7 328.99 1,34, 240 2.48 402.65

8 312.55 1,54, 474 2.72 -- Extended FBHP

Perforated Choke Gas Rate Condensate FTHP

Zone Interval Bean Gas Condensate STHP SCHP

Zone Interval Sp.Gr. Density Mol. Net. C.V Gross C.V

Zones Interval Bean Oil FTHP CHP

(m) (mm) (m3/d) (KSC) (KSC

API at 600F is 30.8 and Pour Point of the oil is 360C.

Zone Interval Bean Gas Rate SBHP

(m) (mm) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2)

Zones Interval Bean Oil rate THP CHP

(m) (mm) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Tested Zone/Age Oil & Gas rate

Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-Va are given below:

Interval GO API Pour Point(oC) Sp.Gr. @60/60oF

Zone Interval Bean Gas rate Liquid THP CHP

(m) (mm) (m3/d) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Zone Interval Bean Oil FTHP FCH

Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-I are given below:

Zone Interval GOR API Gravity Pour Point Sp.Gr.

(m) (60oF) (oC) @60/60oF

Zones Interval Bean Gas Liquid THP BHP

Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-IIare given below:

(m) (%) (600F) (0C) @60/600F

(m) (mm) (m3/d) (gpl) (m3/d) (m3/d) (KSC)

- 21.6 with 11.934 - - -

Zones Interval Bean Gas Oil Liquid THP BHP

Zones(m) Formation Gas rate

1670.3 Lr. Tipam/Miocene 1.6 Cu.ft of gas recovered

Zone Interval API Pour Point Sp.Gr. Wax Resin (%)

Zones Interval Bean Gas rate Liquid Salinit FTH BHT

Zones Interval Bean Gas rate Liquid Flare FTHP

Zones Interval Bean Oil rate Gas rate THP CHP

(m) (mm) (m3/d) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-II are given below:

Zone Interval GOR API Gravity Pour Point Sp.Gr.

(m) (v/v) (60oF) (oC) @60/60oF

Zones Interval Bean Oil rate Gas rate THP BHP

(m) (mm) (m3/d) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Zones Interval Bean Oil rate Gas rate THP BHP

(m) (mm) (m3/d) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-I are given below:

(m) (mm) (m3/d) (m3/d) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Fluid properties of sample collected from Obj-IV are given below:

Zone Interval WC (%) API Pour Point Sp.Gr.

Zones Interval Bean Liquid Gas rate FTHP CHP

Zones Interval Bean Oil rate SITP FTHP

(m) (mm) (klpd) (Kg/cm2) (Kg/cm2)

Fluid properties of the sample collected from 3947-m is:

Zones Interval Bean Oil rate SITP FTHP Salinity

Lakadong + 3597.5- 5 66 60 49 3700

Fluid properties of the sample collected from 3597-m is:

API - 23.60C ; Pour Point - 240C

Zone Interval Bean Oil rate Water rate FTHP Salinity

(m) (mm) (klpd) (klpd) (Kg/cm2) (ppm)