Abstract

The Kutch-Saurashtra deep water area is a frontier for hydrocarbon exploration. This area is having a bathymetry range of 400m - 3000m and is located to the west of present day shelf break off Gujarat State of Western India. To the north lies the Indus region of Pakistan. Geologically, the area forms the northern extension of the Laxmi basin, which is situated to the east of Laxmi ridge which in turn separates the Laxmi basin from the Arabian basin. The ENE-WSW trending Saurashtra arch divides the area into two distinct geological entities viz., the northern Kutch and southern Saurashtra deepwater areas. The northern Kutch basin is contiguous with the south Indus region of Pakistan.