Evidence of multiple stretching and episodic subsidence of a passive continental margin: Indian examples

Conference · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:6762667

Agrawal, A ^[1]

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1. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (USA)

The western continental margin of India, south of the Narmada lineament underwent two major phases of stretching and rapid tectonic subsidence, as seen in more than 30 deep offshore wells. The initial phase of unloaded basement subsidence took place in the Paleocene, and was probably related to K/T rifting of India along this margin. At this time, the continental crust underwent some stretching leading to the formation of several north-south-trending depressions, namely the Vijayadurg, Surat-Panna, the Kori-Comorin, and on-land Cambay graben, which provided a site for the rapid accumulation of hydrocarbon source rocks in the depressions. The second phase of rapid basement subsidence along this margin occurred in the Early Miocene Further stretching of the already blockfaulted crust caused the complete development of the westernmost Kori-Comorin depression but the effect was less significant on the main shelf. The possibility of a heating event associated with the stretching, inducing maturation of hydrocarbons in the area, is under investigation. Similar early Miocene tectonic subsidence also is seen along the peripheries of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This phase of tectonic movements was probably related to the locking of the Owen fracture zone, the 20-Ma plate reorganization in the Indian Ocean and the renewed uplift of the Himalayas.

• OSTI ID: 6762667
• Report Number(s): CONF-900605--
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Vol. 74:5; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
ASIA
CENOZOIC ERA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
HIMALAYAS
INDIA
MATURATION
MINERAL RESOURCES
MIOCENE EPOCH
MOUNTAINS
OFFSHORE SITES
OIL WELLS
ORIGIN
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
SOURCE ROCKS
TECTONICS
TERTIARY PERIOD
WELLS