Introduction:

Baran block lies in Zone 3 as defined by the DGPC i.e. Low to high Cost & Medium Risk Area,
covering an area of 2475.26 sq.kms falls in the district of Dadu (Sindh) and Lasbella
(Baluchistan). The nearest major city is Dadu which is about 20 Km to the east, the nearest
town Johi is 2Km away from the concession area.
In the vicinity of Baran Block the major Gas producing fields are Zamzama, Bhit, Bhadra and
recently commercially viable gas was discovered in Kirthar block. The proven Gas reservoir in
this region is Pab sandstone formation, which is also expected to encounter in the Baran block
which will be confirmed after seismic survey, drilling of exploratory well and extensive testing.
The major trend of Topography of Baran Block is hilly but accessible. On the basis of
topographical, Raster and elevation data and satellite images Baran Block is subdivided into
three regions Northern, Southern and Central region. Among which Northern region is the main
focus for study as this region has ample seismic vintage data and also has well data.
For the purpose of exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in this block, Seismic reflection
data is required to delineate potentially hydrocarbon prone structures and overall study of the
subsurface. As most of the vintage data in this region is very old, had different objectives and
was acquired by different companies using different parameters, the quality of data is not
suitable for the study objectives set by OGIL. Therefore, OGIL has decided to conduct seismic
survey of the block with main emphasis on the areas where geophysical leads have been
marked on the basis of detailed review and study of vintage seismic data available in the area.
As OGIL’s commitment set in the PCA is to drill upto Pab Sandstone and testing it for
hydrocarbon reserves, but for investigation purposes OGIL is planning to map and evaluate
horizons deeper than Pab as it is known that some of the formations below Pab Sandstones are
potential reservoirs and some of them do produce in some of the fields in Pakistan.
 Figure 1: Location Map of Baran Block

Objectives:
Oil and Gas Investments Limited (OGIL) hold the operatorship of Baran Block (2667-12). For the
detailed and thorough study of the block OGIL has decided to investigate deeper horizons, such
as Chiltan formation, for possible prospects. To do so mapping of the region on these levels is
required. This mapping enables to determine if a potential petroleum play and structure is
present in the subsurface at that specific level. For this purpose clear seismic record is required.
As the available data in the regions is not optimum for mapping at these levels OGIL requires
acquiring its own seismic data which could give reliable results of deeper horizons. The primary
aim of this study report is to determine the procedures that will be employed to delineate
seismic data acquisition parameters for the study and prospect evaluation of deeper horizons in
Baran Block.
Data Used:
OGIL has purchased sufficient data from LMKR which consists of Seismic Lines, Seismic Base
Maps, well data, petrophysical data, etc. All the vintage seismic data available in the Baran
Block area is very old thus its data quality is very bad. There are several reasons for the bad
data quality of vintage data, these may be:
1. Different objectives for data acquisition
2. Primitive field devices and techniques were available.
3. Processing of data was not good.
4. Processing parameters were not best suited for the area
In For the working of in-house acquisition parameter design, integration of the different data
was carried out to define optimum acquisition parameters for gathering data of deeper
horizons; this data includes regional geology, well tops of various wells in the vicinity of Baran
Block, and seismic line base maps of different Blocks.

Well tops would help in identifying the deepest formation drilled in all the wells in the vicinity
of Baran Block. Whereas the regional geology would help in assessing the formation as a
possible or probable reservoir and also to delineate if all the components of a petroleum play
are present for the formation to be considered as a probable reservoir. Seismic line base map is
required to identify and select the seismic surveys and specific seismic line which are passing
from wells which are deep enough. These lines are selected for their review and study of field
acquisition parameters used to shoot these lines. Review of these lines is necessary to check
and validate the results produced by those parameters at OGIL’s required depth and horizon
levels. This would help in further planning of new field acquisition parameters for Bran Block if
deeper horizons are to be investigated.
Figure 2: Map Showing Surrounding Blocks of Baran
Study Methodology:
Well tops show all the formations encountered in a well with their depth in the subsurface this
would help in determining the deepest horizon/Formation encountered in a petroleum basin.
Baran Block is situated in the Lower Indus Basin of Pakistan. Most of the wells in the vicinity of
Baran Block have encountered Mughalkot formation as their total depth (TD). For this study,
OGIL required formations deeper than Mughalkot formation. Only two wells have encountered
deeper formations in the area around Baran Block. There are:

1) Sagyun-01
2) Sann-01

Sagyun-01 is a plugged and abandoned well around 100km North East of Baran Block, in
Noshero Feroz Block now being operated by Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). This well being
deepest in the Northern part of Lower Indus Basin was drilled up to Chiltan formation.

Sagyun-01
TOP (KB) TOP (SS)
FORMATION
(m) (m)

ALLUVIUM    
KIRTHAR 668.089 610.17982
GHAZIJ 778.11643 720.20725
SML 1159.0978 1101.1887
U. RANIKOT 1397.135 1339.2258
L. RANIKOT 1882.9625 1825.0533
U. GORU 2402.0116 2344.1024
L. GORU 2540.9936 2483.0844
SEMBAR ? ?
CHILTAN 2611.0942 2553.185
TD. 4245.0472 4187.1381
Table 1: Well Tops of Sagyn-01 well
Sann-01 is also a plugged and abandoned well in the south east of Baran Block. It was drilled in
the block now called as Manghu Block operated by OPII. This well was drilled up till Sember
formation. Some seismic data is available around this well of different vintages. Sann-01 is on
two seismic lines of different vintages namely TP-92001 and O/821-PT-21-A.

Sann-01
FORMATION TOP (KB) TOP (SS)
(m) (m)

DUNGHAN 4.00 133.50

RANIKOT 95.00 42.37
KHADRO 888.00 750.54
PAB 935.00 797.54
MUGHALKOT 1082.00 944.54
PARH 1092.00 954.54
U.GORU 1258.00 1120.54
L.GORU 2578.00 2440.54
SEMBAR 3455.00 3317.54
CHILTAN 3601.00 3463.54
TD. 3769.00 3631.54

Table 2: Well Tops of Sann-01 Well

Conclusions:
The study of various wells of different blocks show that the area in which Baran Block is present
is, more mature and prone to have prospects in shallow horizons such as Pab Sandstone as
most of the discoveries in the region are from these shallow horizons. Two wells which were
drilled up to Sember formation and Chiltan formation are plugged and abandoned.
Recommendations:
To plan the seismic acquisition for deeper horizons it would be advantageous if older seismic
Lines which were used to drill Sann-01 and Sagyun-01 wells and their field acquisition
parameters could be reviewed which can help in planning of parameters and validate the
results from the parameters OGIL plans. Also, seismic line base maps of the blocks in which
these two wells are present would be required.