Characterization and Exploration Potential of Deep-Water Depositional System in the Rakhine Basin, Myanmar

Summary The current study documents seismic facies of deep-water elements of Bengal Fan in Rakhine Basin, Myanmar and addresses their exploration potential. Several gas reservoirs have been discovered in different elements of deep-water systems in Myanmar, such as frontal splays, overbanks, channel complexes and mass transport deposits. Our observations and results suggest that depositional elements primarily evolve from confined channel complexes during Eocene to Early-Middle Miocene to channel-levee complexes during Late Miocene to Holocene based on integrated subsurface dataset including high-resolution 3D seismic data and various drilling data as long as some Submarine canyon complexes and mass transport complexes are identified, which is controlled by paleogeomorphology and sediments input coupling the regional tectonic movements. Four kinds of dominant depositional elements were established based on seismic facies and wireline-log interpretation, namely submarine canyon complex, mass transport complex, confined channel complex and aggradational channel-levee complex. The secondary classifications were defined to feature the migration of the depositional system. We infer that the complex and its subdivisions are related to the presence of good reservoirs not only the thickness and distribution but also the physical properties. The elements are statistically analyzed by seismic characterization and gas reservoir parameters and the exploration potential are predicted.