Reconstruction of burial history and analysis of the hydrocarbon potential using sedimentary modeling the middle Bengal Fan, Myanmar

Abstract

The burial history and sedimentation rate of the middle part of the Bengal Fan, which is one of the world’s largest submarine fan, was reproduced using the sedimentary basin modeling software, SEDPAK. Modeling of the sedimentation rates, subsidence rates, and burial history of the Bengal Fan suggests three stages of basin evolution: Stage I (4.5–1.81 Ma), Stage II (1.81–0.79 Ma), and Stage III (0.79–0 Ma). Stage I was characterized by low sedimentation and subsidence rates, whereas the highest sedimentation and rapid subsidence occurred during Stage II. During Stage III, high sedimentation and the slowest rate of subsidence occurred. Biogenic gas is the typical hydrocarbon found in the study area. Based on the general features of the petroleum system, the generation and migration of the biogenic gas is interpreted to have occurred immediately after the deposition of Unit 2. The modeling results also support the generation and preservation of biogenic gas rather than thermogenic gas. Thermal maturity analysis established that the TTI (time-temperature index) and the thermogenic hydrocarbon potential in the study area are low because of relatively low temperatures and a short burial.