Detection of Hydrocarbon Microseepages in Northern Potwar through Application of Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques (T-1470) (MFN 3074)

Abstract

Discovery of new hydrocarbon reservoirs is the need of the hour and requires the search for the exploration of more areas for exploitation. The project goal is to develop and implement a methodology by using remote sensing imagery to identify and map alteration zones caused by hydrocarbon microseepages in Fateh Jang area of Northern Potwar. The long term seepage of hydrocarbons in the subsurface can cause a diverse array of chemical and mineralogical changes in the form of alteration of rocks and soil. Such rocks have specific spectral responses in various bands of electromagnetic spectrum and thus give rise to a number of anomalies which may be used as suggestive of hydrocarbon presence. Microseepages are vertical and near vertical movements of hydrocarbons from the reservoir to the surface without clear visible evidence. This study uses enhancement techniques of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Band Ratioing, False Colour Composite (FCC) and Hydrothermal Anomaly Composition for detecting underlying hydrocarbon reservoir accumulation and surface expressions caused by microseeps. Spectral anomalies detection through satellite imagery is one of the unconventional surface exploration techniques that can be used to map hydrocarbon bearing zones. Surface signs of geothermal systems such as thermal anomalies can be identified by calculating the surface temperature of the area. Moreover, remotely sensed images can be used as an effective tool for structural mapping.