Modeling of the Petroleum System in the Cauvery Basin, Sri Lanka

A part of the southeastern onshore area of India and the northwestern onshore area of Sri Lanka, and the Palk Strait come under the Cauvery Basin. The Indian side of the Cauvery Basin has proven hydrocarbon reserves, while the Sri Lankan sector remains relatively under-explored. Only six exploration wells drilled in the Sri Lankan sector from 1972 to 1981 was dry. Since little further exploration has taken place from 1981 to this date, the existence of an active petroleum system in the Sri Lanka sector of the basin is not known. The objective of this study was to simulate the petroleum system in the Sri Lankan sector of the Cauvery Basin on Petromod 1D software (v.12.2) using data from unpublished reports and data in the public domain. The model was validated using the measured vitrinite reflectance data. Results of the study showed that Albian and Late Cretaceous shale in the Pesalai area have relatively higher hydrocarbon source potential and that hydrocarbon exploration in the Sri Lankan sector of the Cauvery Basin should mainly target Cretaceous and Eocene clastic and carbonate reservoirs associated with faults and anticlinal traps. Hydrocarbon potential in the Pesalai area is relatively higher than that in the Palk-Bay area.