History of Exploration in Nepal
A series of geological, geochemical and geophysical works were carried out after the completion of the aeromagnetic and seismic reflection survey in a regional grid pattern by the Compagnie General de Geophysique (CGG) and Petro-Canada (over 3,000 line km).
Hunting Geology and Geophysics Ltd. (1985) conducted a photogeological study over 60,000 sq.kms. area of the southern Nepal (Figure 5 ). It has been useful to establish the structures in Siwalik belt.

Terai and Siwaliks have been divided into 10 Exploration Blocks, each of approximately 5,000 sq.kms in area. These blocks were opened for bidding exploration acreage in 1985 for the first time (Figure 6).

Shell Nepal B.V. (1986-90) carried out exploration works in Nepal (Block 10) including geochemical study of seep samples. It has also acquired gravity and seismic survey (over 2,000 line km) in close grid pattern. The company had drilled an exploratory well (TD.3520m) to test the hydrocarbon potential of a seismically defined structure. The hole was dry and did not penetrate up to the basement. The result obtained from the drilling has created a valuable database for the exploration venture.

Since 1982-1992, over 5,000 km of multi-fold seismic data has been acquired. The field survey provides regional seismic coverage of most of the Terai and limited coverage in the Siwaliks (Figure 7). The data has been processed and interpreted by different seismic service agencies. A number of valuable geophysical interpretation reports are available in the Kathmandu Data Centre.

This site has been viewed 5186 times