Title: Current status of hydrocarbon exploration in Sri Lanka

Authors: Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake; Yoshikazu Sampei; Chaminda Wimal Kularathne

Addresses: Department of Geoscience, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Shimane University, Nishikawatsu-cho 1060, Matsue 690-8504, Japan ' Department of Geoscience, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Shimane University, Nishikawatsu-cho 1060, Matsue 690-8504, Japan ' Petroleum Resources Development Secretariat (PRDS), Level 06, Ceylinco House 69, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka

Abstract: The offshore investigations in Sri Lanka have identified three oceanic basins (i.e., the Mannar, Cauvery and Southern Basins) for possible oil and gas generation. These sedimentary basins recorded thick sedimentary successions from the Upper Jurassic to recent in age. The Cauvery and Mannar Basins contain a complex sequence of potential source rock beds from the Upper Jurassic to Neogene. An extensive kitchen source can be expected during the Upper Cretaceous. In addition, the basin modelling suggests that the Upper Cretaceous rock entered the maximum gas generation window around 20 Ma ago. The excellence reservoir potential can be expected by channel-levee complexes and slope fans in the Cretaceous and Tertiary sequences. The presence of combined stratigraphic and structural traps such as the Upper Cretaceous stratigraphic pinch-outs, horsts and tilted fault blocks and deepwater turbidites give positive force to the hydrocarbon exploration in Sri Lanka. [Received: October 3, 2015; Accepted: January 28, 2017]

Keywords: Mannar Basin; Cauvery Basin; stratigraphy; source rock; maturity; hydrocarbon prospective; Sri Lanka.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2017.087879

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2017 Vol.16 No.4, pp.377 - 389

Accepted: 28 Jan 2017
Published online: 06 Nov 2017 *

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