--> Abstract: Hydrocarbon Potential of Nepal, by O. R. Friedenreich, O. L. Slind, and N. B. Kayastha; #91012 (1992).

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ABSTRACT: Hydrocarbon Potential of Nepal

FRIEDENREICH, OTTO R., 0. L. SLIND, and N. B. KAYASTHA, Alconsult International Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The Department of Mines and Geology of Nepal and Petro-Canada International Assistance Corporation conducted a two-year geophysical program in the Terai plain and the Siwalik fold belt of Nepal to ascertain the petroleum potential of the country.

The Terai, at the northern edge of the Ganges basin, lies 60 to 200 m above sea level and is 25 to 40 km wide. It is underlain by 3000 to 4000 m of essentially flat-lying molasse sediments of Late Tertiary age (Siwalik Formation). The molasse unconformably overlies rocks of the Indian Plate that include Precambrian crystalline basement and basins of Proterozoic to middle Tertiary sediments.

The Siwalik fold belt is a series of 750 to 1500 m high hills that rise above the Terai and are formed of up to 6000 m of north-dipping, folded and thrust repeated Siwalik molasse. The fold belt is bounded on the north by the faulted and folded massive rocks of the Himalayas.

A total of 1650 km of reflection seismic and gravity data were obtained mainly in the Terai, and five Siwalik fold belt crossings were recorded under operationally difficult conditions.

The data indicate two broad categories of hydrocarbon plays, those associated with Siwalik clastics and those that involve older sediments below the base Siwalik unconformity.

Mapped structures include thrust faults, gentle folds, drape over basement highs, major subcrop leads, and anomalies associated with inferred wrench faults.

Only one well has been drilled in Nepal. It did not penetrate the more favorable parts of the objective section.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91012©1992 AAPG Annual Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 22-25, 1992 (2009)