Abstract

Hydrocarbon seepages in oceans are direct indicators of the existence of a petroleum system under the sea bed. Active microwave radar or SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) provides a powerful and cost effective mode to detect such oil seepages. In this paper an attempt had been made to understand the relationship between the seepages and probable hydrocarbon prospects in the Eastern Offshore regions of India. Based on SAR data, regions of seepage repetitions had been detected and are found to be associated with faults and tectonic elements attached with source pods suggesting that seepages are manifestations of active migration, mature source and a shallow reservoir. Using the same premises and the same methodology, a possible hydrocarbon system had also been envisaged in the isolated and distally located 85 E Ridge