Basin- KRISHNA GODAVARI (KG)

Introduction:

The Krishna Godavari basin is located at the East coast of India (Andhra Pradesh) and adjoining areas of Bay of
Bengal with an area of more than 50,000 sq. km. This basin has gained the importance due the presence of
hydrocarbons in commercial quantities in the first well drilled in this basin. It has one unique feature that the
reservoir rocks found here, range in geological age from Permo-Triassic to Piliocene. It came into existence after
rifting from Gondwanaland until the Early Jurassic. It became peri-cratonic basin after the breakup of Indian plate
from Gondwanaland. This basin is characterized by lagoonal to fluvial to brackish water sediments which have
been deposited (initiated) through rifting during Permo-Triassic period. Due to early subsidence by tectonic fault
system, results in deposition of early stage synrift sediments. This basin contains about 5 km thick sediments
layer having various cycles of deposition. From past 20 years, the exploratory efforts using seismic data
acquisition and deep drilling has resulted in identification of more than 40 oil and gas bearing prospects out of
170 structures drilled. Geomorphologic units of Krishna Godavari basin include Upland plains, Coastal plains,
recent flood and Delta plains. The climate of the basin is hot and humid with temperature upto 42 degree C.
Recent drilling in this basin has revealed the presence of gas hydrates which comprised of non fossil bearing rich
clays and also fractures/faults that are suitable zones for gas hydrate accumulation.
 Fig 1(Krishna Godavari Basin)

Petroleum System and its elements: A general petroleum system comprises of source rock and all genetically
related oil and gas accumulations. This concept is useful in understanding both practical and scientific exploration
of petroleum. The process of petroleum system is summarized in fig 2.
 Fig 2 (Petroleum System)

The six elements of petroleum are Source Rock, Migration and Charge Access, Reservoir Rock presence,
Reservoir Deliverability, Trap and Seal capacity. The relative timing of formation of these elements is important
for accumulation and preservation. The brief description of these elements according to KG basin are described
below

a) Source Rock Presence:

If in a rock there are significant amount of carbon content, then it can be a source rock for petroleum or
gas. In source rock the generation of hydrocarbons liquid takes place from organic matter with kerogen and
bitumen. Kommugudem Formation is the main source rock found in Krishna Godavari basin. This rock has
potential of rich organic matter having TOC ranging between 0.5 to 3% and Vitrinite reflectance lies in the
range of 1.0 to 1.3 and this source rock generated during early Jurassic and become over mature in
Cretaceous period. In this source rock coal shale unit is more than 900 m thick. The set of rock is Paleogene
Vadaparru with extensive distribution in deeper parts of basin and this rock is not mature in many parts.
This rock has potential to generate both oil and gas and major gas accumulations are found in both shallow
and deep offshore. And the set of source rock is Cretaceous Raghavapuram which is 800 m thick and
 generates oil dominantly and it is distributed in shallow sea areas of basin. The maturity level lies between
catagenetic to not very much mature in different parts of basin and average TOC is recorded 2.4 %.
b) Migration and Access of Charge: The movement of newly generated hydrocarbons out of the source rock is
called primary migration and their further movement in the reservoir rock is called secondary migration.
Kommugudem formation is having high organic content so due to high compaction hydrocarbons can easily
migrate into reservoir rock. Paleogene vadapura is having high permeability so the fluids can easily migrate
upwards easily in some parts of basin. In Raghavapuram , fracturing in source rock occur which can be very
useful in migration process. It is very well explained in Fig 3

Fig 3 (Representing Accumulation and Migration of Hydrocarbons)

c) Reservoir Rock Presence and Reservoir Deliverability:

It is a rock that is capable of storing a fluid or gas. Porosity and permeability are two important factors for
reservoir rock. Mandapeta Sandstone of Permo- Triassic age is the principal reservoir rock for the Krishna
Godavari basin. This rock is having porous and permeable patches but offers major exploration challenge.
Another reservoir rock found in this basin is Palakollu Shale whose source rocks are rich in sand layers
 through which very limited accumulations of oil and gas takes place because they are under high pressure
due to which they are not very attractive targets. The significant amount of hydrocarbon accumulations
and oil reserves are found in Matsyapuri and Ravva formation of KG basin. The rocks that are developed in
interactive rift stage is having low porosity and permeability includes Permian alluvial, fluvial sandstone
and Triassic fluvial. The reservoir rocks found in KG basin vary widely in thickness from 2 m to 1000 m. Also,
Upper Cretaceous- Neogene delta, and neritic –abyssal sandstone are the most important reservoir rocks
that are discovered in the basin and which are having high porosity and permeability. The below table 1
shows the porosity and permeability data of general types of reservoir rocks found in KG basin.

Reservoir type Avg. porosity Sorting Permeability

Siliciclastic 15% Good Medium
Carbonate 7% Poor Poor
Table 1

Drilling data of some wells show that abyssal turbidite has an average porosity of 23%.

d) Trap: A trap is usually formed by deformation of the reservoir rock which may occur by faulting, folding or
both either in single or several episodes. The accumulations in Raghavapuram Shale have strati-structural
element in their entrapment. The strati- structural (in which the chief trap making element is some
variation in stratigraphy or lithology and upper boundary layer is made concave) entrapment is present in
almost every formation of Krishna Godavari basin. The sediment induced tectonics and precise mapping
techniques in this basin can yield very rich dividends in younger sequences. This basin is endowed with
such effective petroleum system ranging from Permo- Triassic to Pleistocene and it offers challenges during
the exploration. Stratigraphic trap is shown in fig.4.
 Fig 4(Stratigraphic Trap)

e) Seal Capacity:

The main function of seal rock is to provide barrier to migration of fluid or gas out of intended trap due to
low permeability and high capillary pressure as shown in fig. 5. Shales within Matsyapuri and Ravva
formations act as perfect seals in Krishna Godavari basin for the accumulation of hydrocarbons. Palakollu
shale comprises occasional sands within formation which have a good seal capacity. Rozole formation acts
as a regional cap for the pre- trappean hydrocarbon accumulations and it also indicate reservoir potentials.
 Fig 5 (showing Seal Capacity)

Role of Sedimentology, Sequence Stratigraphy and Seismic stratigraphy in Petroleum System Analysis &
Hydrocarbon Exploration

Petroleum System Analysis is based on geophysical, geological and geochemical analytical results and
interpretations and it provide an overview of hydrocarbon potential of basin. The main aim of this analysis
is to make optimal solutions in exploration drilling and basin petroliferous prospectivity evolution.
Hydrocarbon exploration is to locate or detect the presence of subsurface structures and determine their
oil and gas content and different physical properties. The four branches of Geology that are relevant in
hydrocarbon explorations are Sedimentology, Sequence and Seismic Stratigraphy and Geo-chemistry. Role
of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy is described below:

• Role of Sedimentology:

Sedimentology is basically the study of sedimentary rocks and of process by which they are formed,
the description, classification, origin and interpretation of sediments. Krishna Godavari basin
contains thick sequence of sediments which were deposited with several cycles of weathering and
transportation process. A major delta with thick argillaceous facies had been prograded in late
Cretaceous and it is main target of hydrocarbon exploration. This basin is divided into sub basins by
fault-controlled ridges and sediments accumulated in sub basins are more than 5 km. thick. The
early stage syn-rift sediments were deposited during early subsidence tectonic faults. Initial soft
collision between Indian and Eurasian plates appears to have great influence on younger tectonic
regiment and consequent sedimentation pattern. Due to this influence the compaction of sediments
takes place easily and accumulation of hydrocarbons occurs at the desired time. Sedimentology
plays an important role in Petroleum System analysis as origin and interpretation sediments can be
helpful in prospect generation, pre-drilling risk assessment (as by interpretation faulting and folding
of prospect can be determined). As oil and gas is not found in igneous or metamorphic rocks, so with
the help of sediments study and their classification hydrocarbon exploration become easy. Fig 6
shows the general deposition environment of a basin

Fig 6 (general depositional environment)

• Role of Sequence Stratigraphy:

Sequences are enveloped by sequence boundaries that are identified as significant erosional
unconformities and their correlative conformities. Sequence development depend on Climate,
Global Sea level, Local Tectonic Movements and Sediment Supply. In Krishna Godavari, in the
northwestern and western margins of the basin, out crops of Achaean crystallizes and sediments
and major part of basin is covered by alluvium/sea. The maximum thickness of the sediments in this
basin is around 5000 m. continued delta progradation characterized basin sedimentation. This
sequence is completely overlain by a Lower Cretaceous, transgressive sedimentary wedge. The
structural history and sequence of deposition helps in understanding trapping mechanism of
petroleum system. Krishna Godavari basin has hydrocarbon accumulations in oldest Permo-Triassic
onland to youngest structures in deep water offshores. Sequence Stratigraphy can be helpful in
hydrocarbon explorations with the help of various correlations like cross cutting relation in which
the rock that cuts other is younger than the structure that is cut. In older rocks hydrocarbons
migration and accumulation can occur easily due to compaction than younger rocks. The outcrop
and sub-crop lithologic information has been gathered from a large of wells drilled in the shelfal area
and onland. The generalized lithostratigraphy of the Krishna Godavari basin is described in Fig 7
 Fig 7 (Generalized Lithography of KG basin)

• Role of Seismic Stratigraphy:Seismic sequence may be analyzed in terms of internal deposition of

reflection events and their character. A representative section has been analysed to understand the
seismic stratigraphy of upper cretaceous block of Krishna Godavari basin. Two system tracts have
 Fig 8 (Seismic Interpretation of KG basin)

been identified which are Low Stand System Tract (LST) and Transgressive System Tract (TST). Seismic Reflection
can be interpreted by Seismic Facies on the basis of configuration, continuity and amplitude. Configuration and
continuity parameters will be helpful in understanding the history of the rocks and interpretation of paleo-
thermal indicators and refer fig 8 for seismic interpretation of KG basin.

Some Well Log data from Krishna Godavari Basin:

The above well data is an analysis for over pressure zone prevailing in parts of Krishna Godavari basin at the
Eastern Continental Margin of India is found promising from the viewpoint of its hydrocarbon potentials.

RISK MATRIX DIAGRAM:

A risk matrix is a matrix that is used during risk assessment to define the level of risk by considering the category
of probability or likelihood against the category of consequence severity. Prospect risk matrix is used to access
various uncertainties during prospect maturation to drilling analysis. Risk matrix identifies the possibility of risks
based on modeling and concepts. To learn more about risk matrix, we have evaluated a play of prospect of
Krishna Godavari basin.

Source rock type Syn-Rift Mesozoic Sediments

Reservoir Sandstone
Trap Structural and strati-Structural
Depositional Environment Continental (Fluvial to Lacustrine)

On the basis of understanding of petroleum system elements, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy the risk matrix can
be prepared. To prepare the risk matrix we have to access the geologic probability to assessment factors of
petroleum system elements.

a) Source rock: The source rock geologic probability depends on

• Burial/thermal/maturation history
• Kerogen type analysis
• Pore pressure history and
• Isopach map
 Based on Krishna Godavari basin the source rocks are having the Total Organic Content (TOC) of 2.4 %
and the rocks in Krishna Godavari basin are good in thermal maturity. Kerogen type is 3 and kitchen
area is also good in nature. So, based on these all possibilities the chance of Success can be assumed to
be 90%.

b) Migration and Charge of Access: The migration and charge of access depends on
• Migration of hydrocarbons
• Charge access from source to reservoir
• Accumulation mechanism
• Fault and fracture density
• Vertical/lateral migration

According to data of Krishna Godavari, Kommugudem formation is having high organic content so due to high
compaction hydrocarbons can easily migrate into reservoir rock. Due to all these factors the migration can have a
probability of 77%.

c) Trap: Trap of any basin depends on

• Permeability structure
• Charge access from source to trap
• Fault and fracture density

The traps found in Krishna Godavari basin are not very complex so that hydrocarbons can easily be migrated from
source rock due high density of faults and fractures in Syn-Rift Mesozoic Sediments. So, trap can be assign
probability factor of 70%.
 d) Reservoir Presence and Reservoir Deliverability: These two terms are inter related and depend on
following factors
• Reservoir Continuity
• Diagenesis
• Porosity and permeability

As discussed, reservoir rocks found in Krishna Godavari Basin are of sandstones type and sandstones have
average porosity of 20% and in diagenesis biochemical degradation of organic matter takes place so reservoir
presence can be 75%and reservoir deliverability will be80%.

e) Seal: Seal thickness and Seal efficiency are important factors for this element. After analyzing the
petroleum basin of Krishna-Godavari it can be assigned a probability factor of 72%.

On the basis of probabilities assigned to different elements, risk matrix of the prospect can be prepared as
follows:
 Low Risk
Observation Top up

50% Medium
Risk

High Risk

0%

High Medium Low

Bottom up Risk
 Source Presence Trap

Seal Migration and Charge of Access

Reservoir Presence Reservoir Deliverability

Source Rock Presence 90%

Reservoir Rock/ Reservoir 77% and 80 %

Deliverability
Trap 70%

Seal Rock Capacity 72%

Migration and Charge of Access 75%

Chance of Success (COS): (.90*.77*.80*.70*.72*.75 = .21) COS = 21%