Abstract

Hydrocarbon exploration in Ramnad sub basin and Palk bay offshore in the Cauvery basin were mostly confined to Nannilam and Bhuvanagiri play as primary exploratory targets over a decade till the discovery of Paleocene pay (Lower Kamalapuram Formation) in well P-E. The Kamalapuram reservoirs occur principally as sub-aqueous fill deposits within canyon / channel cut over Cretaceous unconformity (K/T) having charged from Older Cretaceous source facies through deep seated faults. This study mainly deals with sub-aqueous canyon /channel system over K/T and Paleocene erosional activities, suggesting probable exploratory target for Kamalapuram reservoirs and is a part of comprehensive study covering basement to Paleocene level, carried out at KDMIPE on a regional scale (Juyal et.al,2005) . The integrated relief map over top of Cretaceous and Paleocene reveals a network of sub-aqueous canyon and channel system mainly originating from PattukottaiMannargudi ridge, with erosional activities more prominent over K/T. The coarser and eroded clastics from PattukottaiMannargudi ridge carried through these sub-aqueous canyons proved the reservoir in the basinal dip for hydrocarbon accumulation. The identification of network of sub-aqueous canyon and channel fill deposits associated with structural component will lead to discovering of prospects.