ASEG Extended Abstracts
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Oil and gas Exploration Activities in Nepal
D. N. Subedi, S. P. Mahato, S. B. KC & J. R. Ghimire
To cite this article: D. N. Subedi, S. P. Mahato, S. B. KC & J. R. Ghimire (2012) Oil and gas
Exploration Activities in Nepal, ASEG Extended Abstracts, 2012:1, 1-4, DOI: 10.1071/
ASEG2012ab050
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Oil and gas Exploration Activities in Nepal
D. N. Subedi*, S. P. Mahato S. B. KC J. R. Ghimire
Petroleum Exploration Promotion Project(PEPP) Department of Mines and Geology, PEPP PEPP
Lainchaur, Kathmandu, Nepal Lainchaur, Kathmandu, Nepal Kathmandu, Nepal Kathmandu, Nepal
devi_subedi@hotmail.com j_ghimire99np@yahoo.com
SUMMARY Potwar basin in Pakistan and Assam basins in India have
similar geological condition to Nepal. The Ganga basin of
Systematic geological investigations in Nepal started late in Nepal is on a similar trend to the Potwar and Assam basins.
comparison with the start of such studies in other countries. These basins consist of hydrocarbon bearing with a long
The topographical feature of Nepal varies from 100 meters history of successful exploration, production and operation.
in south to 8848 meters in altitude in north. The Gandak depression, Sarda depression and Purnea basin
Physiographically, Nepal is separated into four zones observed in the south of Nepal border are in the process of
similar to the geological zones. They are Terai plain (Indo oil and gas exploration. The oil found from the drilled data
Gangetic plain), Siwalik range (Churia range), lesser of Purnea well and Purnpura well are correlated with the oil
Himalaya and higher Himalaya region. The Terai and bearing formation observed in Nepal. Based on these facts,
Siwalik region in the foreland of Nepal Himalaya are it leads us to believe the possibility of hydrocarbon
known for sedimentary basins with considerable thickness. occurrence in Nepal. The terrain region is divided into ten
These regions are targeted for hydrocarbon exploration. Exploration block each covering an area of 5,000 sq. km.
for hydrocarbon exploration.
In this paper, we describe the possibility of occurring oil
and gas in Siwalik, Surkhet, Gondwana and Lakharpata The southern flat land (Terai plain) is composed of fluvial
(Vindhyana) groups of rocks based on the results from field deposits. The youngest deposit is underlain by a thick flat-
investigation and geochemical analysis of collected lying sequence of middle Miocene to Pleistocene molasses
samples. (Siwalik group of rock). The Siwalik group of rock is
unconformably overlies sub-basins comprising of
The seismic interpretation of Terai region indicate the Proterozoic to early Tertiary sediments and rock of the
evidence of unconformities between Siwalik sediments and Indian shield. The subsurface study in Terai area has
the under lying meta sediments group of rock which are revealed favorable condition of oil and gas accumulation,
equivalent to the oil bearing formation of unnamed encouraging further exploration in the region [O.R.
formation in the northern India. This group contains Friedenrich et. al., 1989]. The geological map shown in
potential source and seal rocks. One exploration well Figure 1 illustrates the position of different formation and
drilled though dry gave valuable information to petroleum lineaments.
exploration.
INTRODUCTION
Nepal is a landlocked country situated in the central part of
Asia between India to the south and China to the north with
a dimension of 800 km length and 150 to 230 km width.
The evidence of regional hydrocarbon occurrence in
Bangladesh, Pakistan and India encouraged the oil and gas
exploration in Nepal. A systematic petroleum investigation
in Nepal began since 1979 with the evidence of oil and gas
seeps in the north of Main Boundary Thrust (MBT)
throughout the country. Active oil and gas seeps occur in
the western part of Nepal. The geochemical analysis of
these seep samples indicates that these oil and gas has
geological origin from a mature source rock [Source and Figure 1. Regional geological map of Nepal.
Seal study, 1993, Al Consult, Canada]. The presence of oil
and gas seeps in western Nepal is analogous to its presence The movement of Indian plate towards the north against the
in the basins of Potwar and Assam. Tibetan plate results uplifting of Himalaya. The southern
foot hill region of lesser Himalaya is known by thick
The seeps oil and gas was noted in the western part. The sedimentary sequence known as Siwalik sediments and the
geochemical analysis of the collected data from the western southern flat plain extending up to the India boarder is
region indicated the occurrence of oil and gas. This known as Terai plain (Indogangetic plain). The Terai and
encouraged the start of exploration activities in Nepal. Siwalik area are in the foreland of the Nepal Himalaya.
1
The schematic geological cross-section along north – south condensate which is discovered in the eastern Ganga plain.
direction cover through out the country, Figure 2 illustrates Gondwana beds are prospective for both oil and gas since
the position of different group of rocks and the role of the facies in Gondwana are favorable and these facies also
lineaments to bring the rock in present situation. subcrop over significant areas in the southeastern part of
Nepal. Analytical result of the sample collected from this
group contain up to 10% TOC. The Lakharpata equivalent
to Vindhyan in India is continuously exposed along the
Main Boundary Thrust and occurs in the subsurface
unconformabley beneath the Siwaliks with thickening in
the centre and thinning in the west. The Sangram formation
at the base of the Lakharpata group has good source rock
with 7% to 9 % TOC obtained from the analysis of
collected sample.
The stratigraphic correlation between lesser Himalaya
section with the Terai and Siwalik fold belt shows the
thinning and thickening of formation reflecting the surface
geology of the area.
Figure 2. Schematic geological cross section of Nepal.
FIELD INVESTIGATION
There are four groups of rock units interesting for
hydrocarbon exploration in Nepal. These are the Siwalik,
Surkhet, Gondwana and Lakharpata (Vindhyana) group.
The surface geology of Siwalik formation indicates thick
and multichannel sandstone of reservoir quality and the
lower part of Siwalik formation provides thick and good
quality of seals rocks. From the analysis of seismic and
Aero-magnetic data the structure and stratigraphy traps are
noted in the Siwalik region. However, the possible source
rock sample collected from the Siwalik group shows
immaturity for oil and gas exploration. Figure 3. Stratigraphic diagram of the central –
southern Nepal.
The Terai plain which is a part of the Ganga basin lies
between the southern margin of the Himalayan foothills EVIDENCE OF OIL AND GAS SEEPS
and the northern part of the Indian shield. This extensive
alluvial plain composed of recent fluviatile deposits. The There are two confirmed seeps lying north of the Main
Terai plain constitute with considerable thickness of Boundary Thrust in Nepal. They are the oil and gas seep in
sedimentary formation in the subsurface has revealed Dailekh region of western Nepal and the gas seep in
favorable condition of oil accumulation, encouraging Muktinath region of higher Himalaya.
further petroleum exploration in the region. Surkhet group
of rock that are exposed in the north of Main Boundary A series of oil and gas seeps is located at Paduka and Nabi
Thrust are correlated with the oil and gas formation in Khola in the Dailekh region of western Nepal. The seeps
Assam and Potwar basins. The outcrop of Surkhet group samples collected from this region were analyzed by Shell
and subsurface evidence are equivalent to the unnamed and Chinese petroleum investigation team (CPIT). The
formation in the northern India. This group contains analyzed result revealed the thermogenic gas migrating
potential source and seal rocks. Sample collected from this from the depth. The structural interpretation suggested that
group are subjected to geochemical analysis and the result the evidence of oil and gas seeps associated with faulted
shows 2 % to 20 % of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content anticline, which encourages exploring of oil and gas within
in the rock. Thus, Surkhet group is the most targeted group the sedimentary formation of Ganga basin. The flame 25 to
for exploration. 30cm high feed by gas coming from a pipe that goes into
the ground Figure 4. In the river, just below the temple, gas
The Gondwana group of rock is divided into two groups: bubbles were observed at many different sites.
the basal upper Paleozoic series containing both tillites and
coal, and the higher upper Paleozoic to lower Mesozoic Muktinath gas seep belonging to Tethys basin has been
marine sequence with significant development of shale and known since the beginning of historical time. The gas flame
limestones. It is believed that the Gondwana is both the in Muktinath is worship as Jwala Devi. The flaming area is
source and the reservoir for the Manihari Ghat gas- highly protected by the religious people and priest.
2
Dailekh gas seeps are also worship after the name of Jwala equivalent to the oil bearing formation of unnamed
Devi. In this region there are a number of spots where gas formation in the northern India. This group contains
seeps can be observed. Out of which at present only five (5) potential source and seal rocks. This evidence leads to
different spots the continue burning gas flame can be explore oil and gas in this region. The seismic reflection in
observed, such as two (2) in Sristhan two (2) in Nabisthan the lowermost formation (C) characterized the presents of
and one (1) in Lalat area as shown in fig 4. basement rock. Figure 6 shows the structure cross section
across Terai, Siwaliks and Lesser Himalaya of Nepal. The
trapping mechanism of oil and gas in these regions is the
structural trap that includes anticlines and thrust / fault
developed in the Siwalik fold belt. We can also expect the
structural closures associated with basement controlled
faults, graben edge folds and faults closures, draping over
pre-existing high and stratigraphic trap.
Figure 4. Flame of gas seeps at Lalat area close to
Sristhan
EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES
Petroleum Exploration Promotion Project (PEPP) has
conducted a series of Geological Geophysical and
geochemical survey in the southern part of Nepal with Figure 6. Structural cross section across Terai, Siwaliks
bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the last 30 years. and lesser Himalaya.
The southern part of country at about 48,000 sq. km is One exploration well of 3520 m was drilled in the eastern
covered by airborne magnetic survey by CGG. To Nepal in Block 10 by Shell Nepal. The exploratory well
understand the structure of the Siwalik fold belt 60,000 sq. was to test the hydrocarbon potential of a seismically
km Photo–geological study was completed by Hunting defined anticlinal closure. The formations penetrated
Geology and geophysics Ltd. Gravity survey has been consist of shales and sandstone. The well not penetrated up
conducted by ELS consulting and covered entire Terai to the basement.
region. Similarly to understand the sub-surface structure
5253 line km reflection seismic survey has been completed CONCLUSION
by CGG, petro-Canada and Shell Nepal.
The Siwalik, Surkhet, Gondwana and Lakharpata
(Vindhyana) group of rocks are potential for hydrocarbon
exploration. Field investigation, available data
interpretation and geochemical results of the collected
samples reveal the existence of source, seal and reservoir
rocks. Oil and gas seeps in the Western Nepal shows the
evidence of hydrocarbon potential in Nepal.
Petroleum exploration activities that have been carried out
by bilateral and multilateral cooperation are limited in the
Siwalik fold belt and Terai region and warrants for
additional exploration. The seismic results indicate the
possibility of finding oil and gas in Nepal. Recently the
Figure 5. Migrated Line 52 showing Pre-Tertiary detailed study of oil and gas seeps in Dailekh region
Unconformity (B) support the evidence of oil and gas occurrences in the
Terai and Siwalik that are in the foreland of the Nepal
The reflection seismic line Figure 5 shows the evidence of Himalaya.
unconformities (B), between Siwalik sediments (A) and the
under lying meta sediments group of rock which are
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors express their sincere gratitude to the Director
General of Department of Mines and Geology for providing
the opportunity to study the data available in DMG/PEPP
and permission to submit this paper to ASEG, 2012.
Australia. Sincere thanks to the Project Chief, Petroleum
Exploration Promotion Project / DMG, for providing all
facilities to prepare this paper.
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