1887
Volume 24, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 1569-4445
  • E-ISSN: 1873-0604

Abstract

Abstract

The knowledge of in situ petro‐physical properties of flood basalt is key to understanding the groundwater potential, deep (>1 km) hydrological networks, and the nature of the subsurface aquifers (confined or unconfined). Porous flow tops and permeable columnar joints/natural fractures can store and transport groundwater throughout the thickness of the basaltic pile, respectively. Additionally, bulk formation porosity (isolated or effective/interconnected) and fracture network provide further insights towards exploring the potential of Deccan basalt for CO sequestration. Thus, information on in situ properties of basalts is a pre‐requisite to take up such exploration programs. In the present study, in situ petrophysical properties of a ∼750 m long, continuous vertical section of Deccan basalt (depth 500–1247 m) are determined from analyses of high‐resolution geophysical well log data acquired in a 3 km deep scientific borehole, KFD1, in the Koyna region, Western India. KFD1 passed through 1247 m thick Deccan traps and continued 1767 m into the underlying granitic basement. Well log data, including natural gamma, caliper, electrical resistivity, self‐potential (SP), formation density, neutron porosity, sonic velocities, temperature, nuclear magnetic resonance and wellbore image data, were acquired using standard Schlumberger logging tools. Salient results from the study are as follows. (i) The massive and non‐massive (comprising vesicular/amygdaloidal, flow top breccia and red bole horizons) parts of individual lava flows are delineated by contrasting physical properties. (ii) Empirical relationships are proposed for density, electrical resistivity, P and S wave velocities as a function of porosity for Deccan basalt formation. (iii) The geophysical well log datasets provide evidence for deep percolation of groundwater. Although the non‐massive parts of lava flows facilitate storage of groundwater, the presence of water‐saturated, permeable fractures in massive basalt sections favours deep hydrological networks in Deccan basalt.

© 2026 European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers. © 2025 European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1002/nsg.70030
2026-01-24
2026-02-19

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1002/nsg.70030
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Akkiraju, V.V., Goswami, D., Kueck, J., Klee, G., Bansal, B.K., & Roy, S. (2025) Determination of in‐situ stress regime in the Koyna seismic zone, India from hydrofrac tests in a 3 km deep scientific borehole: implications for reservoir triggered seismicity. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 195, 106273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2025.106273.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Auden, J.B. (1952) Geological Inspection note, Koyna Hydroelectric Project, Bombay state. Unpublished report. Kolkata: Geological Survey of India.
  3. Banerjee, R., & Mondal, S.K. (2021) Petrology and geochemistry of Deccan basalts from the KBH‐7 borehole, Koyna Seismic zone (Western Ghats, India): Implications for nature of crustal contamination and sulfide saturation of magna. Lithos, 380, 105864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2020.105864
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Boldreel, L.O. (2006) Wire‐line log‐based stratigraphy of flood basalts from the Lopra‐1/1A well, Faroe Islands. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, 9, 7–22. https://doi.org/10.34194/geusb.v9.4855
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Bondre, N.R., Duraiswami, R.A., & Dole, G. (2004) Morphology and emplacement of flows from the Deccan Volcanic Province, India. Bulletin of Volcanology, 66, 29–45.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Bose, M.K. (1973) Petrology and geochemistry of the igneous complex of Mount Girnar, Gujarat, India. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 39, 247–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383107
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Chatterjee, N. (2024) Petrogenesis of the Deccan high‐Mg basalts and picrites. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 179, 90, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410‐024‐02172‐7
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Clapham, M.E., & Renne, P.R. (2019) Flood basalts and mass extinctions. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 47, 275–303. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev‐earth‐053018‐060136
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Condie, K. (2021) Earth as an evolving planetary system. Amsterdam: Elsevier, https://doi.org/10.1016/C2019‐0‐00301‐9.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Condie, K.C. (2001) Mantle plumes and their record in earth history. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511810589.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Courtillot, V.E., & Renne, P.R. (2003) On the ages of flood basalt events. Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 335, 113–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1631‐0713(03)00006‐3
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Cox, K.G., & Hawkesworth, C.J. (1985) Geochemical stratigraphy of Deccan Traps at Mahabaleswar, Western Ghats, India, with implications for open system magmatic process. Journal of Petrology, 26, 355–377.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Deolankar, S.B. (1980) The Deccan basalts of Maharashtra India: their potential as aquifers. Groundwater, 19, 434–437. https://doi.org/10.12691/jgg‐1‐1‐5
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Deshmukh, S.S. (1988) Petrographic variations in compound flows of Deccan Traps and their significance. In: Subbarao, K.V. (Ed.) Deccan flood basalts. Bangalore: Geological Society of India, Memoir, 10, pp. 305–319.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Dessert, C., Dupré, B., Gaillardet, J., François, L.M., & Allègre, C.J. (2003) Basalt weathering laws and the impact of basalt weathering on the global carbon cycle. Chemical Geology, 202, 257–273. 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2002.10.001
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Duraiswami, R.A. (2013) Hydrogeology of aquifers in the Deccan Traps, India. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 81, 729.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Duraiswami, R.A., Gadpallu, P., Shaikh, T.N., & Cardin, N. (2014) Pahoehoe‐a'a transitions in the lava flows of the western Deccan Traps, India—implications for emplacement dynamics, flood basalt architecture and volcanic stratigraphy. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 84, 146–166; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2013.08.025.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Dutta, A., Mukhopadhyay, S., Mukherjee, D., Sahu, R.P., Duttagupta, S., Gupta, A. et al. (2025) Microbial community composition and function in groundwater systems of the Deccan Traps. Geo‐Bio Interfaces. https://doi.org/10.1180/gbi.2025.10004.
  19. Ernst, R.E., & Youbi, N. (2017) How large igneous provinces affect global climate, sometimes cause mass extinctions, and represent natural markers in the geological record. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 478, 30–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.03.014.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Gíslason, S.R., Sigurdard´ottir, H., Arad´ottir, E.S., & Oelkers, E.H. (2018) A brief history of CarbFix: challenges and victories of the project's pilot phase. Energy Procedia, 146, 103–114.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Goldberg, D., Aston, L., Bonneville, A., Demirkanli, I., Evans, C., Fisher, A. et al. (2018) Geological storage of CO2 in sub‐seafloor basalt: the CarbonSAFE pre‐feasibility study offshore Washington State and British Columbia. Energy Procedia, 146, 158–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2018.07.020.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Goldberg, D., Slagle, A.L. (2009) A global assessment of deep‐sea basalt sites for carbon sequestration. Energy Procedia, 1(1), 3675–3682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2009.02.165.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Gomila, R., Chiesurin, A., Spagnuolo, E., Masoch, S., Preto, N., Roy, S. et al. (2025) Fault zone rocks associated with the reservoir‐triggered seismicity of the Koyna‐Warna region (India). Geophysical Research Letters, 52, e2025GL115072. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115072.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Goswami, D., Akkiraju, V.V., & Roy, S. (2024) Heat flow and thermal structure in the Koyna seismic zone, western India: implications for recurrent reservoir triggered seismicity. Tectonophysics, 873, 230216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2024.230216.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Goswami, D., & Hazarika, P., Roy, S. (2020) In situ stress orientation from 3 km borehole image logs in the Koyna seismogenic zone, Western India: implications for transitional faulting environment. Tectonics, 39, e2019TC005647. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019TC005647.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Goswami, D., Roy, S., & Akkiraju, V.V. (2019) Delineation of damage zones from 3 km downhole geophysical logs in the Koyna seismogenic zone, western India. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 124, 6101–6120. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB017257.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. GSI . (1968) A geological report on the Koyna earthquake of 11th December, 1967, Satara District, Maharashtra State, Report submitted by officers of the Geological Survey of India. Kolkata: Geological Survey of India.
  28. Guha Roy, D., Vishal, V., & Singh, T.N. (2016) Effect of carbon dioxide sequestration on the mechanical properties of Deccan basalt. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75, 771, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665‐016‐5587‐4
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Gupta, H.K., Arora, K., Rao, N.P., Roy, S., Tiwari, V.M., & Patro, P.K. et al. (2016) Investigations of continued reservoir triggered seismicity at Koyna, India. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 445, 151–188. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP445.11.
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Heim‐Clark, C.M., Rodgers, D.W., & Smith, R.P. (2004) Borehole geophysical techniques to define stratigraphy, alteration and aquifers in basalt. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 55, 3–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2003.06.003
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Horai, K., and Simmons, G. (1971) Thermal conductivity of rock‐forming minerals. Journal of Geophysical Research, 76, 1278–1308. https://doi.org/10.1029/JB076i005p01278.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Jerram, D.A., & Widdowson, M. (2005) The anatomy of continental flood basalt provinces: geological constraints on the processes and products of flood volcanism. Lithos, 70, 385–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2004.09.009
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Keszthelyi, L., McEwen, A.S., & Thordarson, T. (2000) Terrestrial analogs and thermal models for Martian flood lavas. Journal of Geophysical Research, 105, 15027–15049. https://doi.org/10.1029/1999JE001191
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Kulkarni, H., Deolankar, S.B., Lalwani, A., & Lele, V.A. (1994) Integrated remote sensing as an operational aid in hydrogeological studies of Deccan basalt aquifers. Asian‐Pacific Remote Sensing Journal, 6, 9–18.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Kulkarni, H., Deolankar, S., Lalwani, A., Joseph, B., & Pawar, S. (2000) Hydrogeological framework of the Deccan basalt groundwater systems, west‐central India. Hydrogeology Journal, 8, 368–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s100400000079
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Lee, E.Y., Tejada, M.L.G., Song, I. et al. (2021) Petrophysical property modifications by alteration in a volcanic sequence at IODP site U1513, Naturaliste Plateau. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126, e2020JB021061. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB021061.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Limaye, S.D. (2010) Review: Groundwater development and management in the Deccan Traps (basalts) of western India. Hydrogeology Journal, 18, 543–558. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040‐009‐0566‐4
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Mahoney, J.J. (1988) Deccan traps. In: Macdougall, J.D. (Ed.) Continental flood basalts. Dordrecht: Kluwer, 151–194.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Mahoney, J.J., Coffin, M.F. (Eds.) (1997) Large igneous provinces: continental, oceanic, and planetary flood volcanism. In: AGU geophysical monograph series. Washington: American Geophysical Union. 438. https://doi.org/10.1029/GM100
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Matter, J.M., & Kelemen, P.B. (2009) Permanent storage of carbon dioxide in geological reservoirs by mineral carbonation. Nature Geoscience, 2(12), 837–841. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo683.
     [Google Scholar]
  41. McGrail, B.P., Schaef, H.T., Ho, A.M., Chien, Y.‐J., Dooley, J.J., & Davidson, C.L. (2006) Potential for carbon dioxide sequestration in flood basalts. Journal of Geophysical Research, 111, B12201. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JB004169.
     [Google Scholar]
  42. McGrail, B.P., Spane, F.A., Bacon, D.H., & Hund, G. (2011) The Wallula basalt sequestration pilot project. Energy Procedia, 4, 5653–5660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.02.557
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Mishra, S., Misra, S., Vyas, D., Nikalje, D., Warhade, A., & Roy, S. (2017) A 1251 m‐thick Deccan flood basalt pile recovered by scientific drilling in the Koyna region, western India. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 90, 788–794. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594‐017‐0792‐7
     [Google Scholar]
  44. Mitchell, C., & Widdowson, M. (1991) A geological map of the southern Deccan Traps, India and its structural implications. Journal of the Geological Society, 148, 495–505.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Modak, K. (2024) Evidence of water percolation in granitoid basement in Koyna seismogenic zone: implications for reservoir triggered seismicity. Journal of Earth System Science, 133(163), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040‐024‐02380‐6
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Mwakipunda, G.C., Yu, P., Komba, N.A., Ayimadu, E.T., Moshi, J.S., Mwizarubi, F. et al. (2024) A review on carbon dioxide sequestration potentiality in basaltic rocks: experiments, simulations, and pilot tests applications. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 242, 213253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoen.2024.213253
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Matter, J. M., Broecker, W. S., Stute, M., Gislason, S. R., Oelkers, E. H., Stefánsson, A., Wolff‐Boenisch, D., Gunnlaugsson, E., Axelsson, G., & Björnsson, G. (2009). Permanent Carbon Dioxide Storage into Basalt: The CarbFix Pilot Project, Iceland. Energy Procedia, 1(1), 3641–3646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2009.02.160
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Podugu, N., & Roy, S. (2022) Thermal conductivity of Deccan flood basalts. Journal of Earth System Science, 131, 112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040‐022‐01868‐3
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Podugu, N., Goswami, D., Akkiraju, V.V., & Roy, S. (2023) In‐situ physical and elastic properties of Archaean basement granitoids in the Koyna seismogenic zone, western India from 3 km downhole geophysical well logs: implications for water percolation at depth. Tectonophysics, 848, 229725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2023.229725
     [Google Scholar]
  50. Rai, S.N., Thiagarajan, S., & Kumari, Y.R. (2011) Exploration for groundwater in the basaltic Deccan traps terrain in Katol Taluk, Nagpur District, India. Current Science, 101(9), 1198–1205. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24079611
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Rai, S.N., Thiagarajan, S., Shankar, G.B.K., Sateesh Kumar, M.S., Venkatesam, V., Mahesh, G. et al. (2015) Groundwater prospecting in Deccan traps covered Tawarja basin using electrical resistivity tomography. Journal of Indian Geophysical Union, 19(3), 256–269.
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Raja Rao, C.S. (1984) The thickness of Deccan Trap. Symp. on Deccan Trap and Bauxite (1976). Kolkata: Geological Survey of India, Special Publication, 14, 1‐6.
     [Google Scholar]
  53. Raman, R., Majumdar, S., & Dubey, R. (1984) Sequence of basaltic flows around Koyna dam, Satara district, Maharashtra. Symp. on Deccan Trap and Bauxite (1976). Kolkata: Geological Survey of India, Special Publication, 14, 15‐17.
     [Google Scholar]
  54. Reidel, S.P., Johnson, V.G., & Spane, F.A. (2002) Natural gas storage in basalt aquifiers of the Columbia basin, Pacific Northwest USA: a guide to site characterization. Report No. PNNL‐13962. Richland: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, https://doi.org/10.2172/15020781.
  55. Roy, S. (2017) Scientific drilling in Koyna region, Maharashtra. Current Science, 112(11), 2181–2181. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv112%2Fi11%2F2181‐2181.
     [Google Scholar]
  56. Roy, S., Goswami, D., Akkiraju, V.V., Sutar, A.K., Rohilla, S., Vishnu, C.S. et al. (2025) New insights into recurrent reservoir triggered seismicity in Koyna region, India from scientific deep drilling studies—A review. Journal of Geological Society of India, 101, 748–753. https://doi.org/10.17491/jgsi/2025/174154.
     [Google Scholar]
  57. Roy, S., Rao, N.P., Akkiraju, V.V., Goswami, D., Sen, M., Gupta, H.K. et al. (2013). Granitic basement below Deccan Traps unearthed by drilling in the Koyna seismic zone, western India. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 81, 289–290.
     [Google Scholar]
  58. Roy, S., & Rao, R.U.M. (1999) Geothermal investigations in the 1993 Latur earthquake area, Deccan Volcanic Province, India. Tectonophysics, 306(2), 237–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040‐1951(99)00051‐7
     [Google Scholar]
  59. Roy, S., & Rao, R.U.M. (2000) Heat flow in the Indian shield. Journal of Geophysical Research, 105(B11), 25587–25604. https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JB900257.
     [Google Scholar]
  60. Shashidhar, D., Mallika, K., Mahato, C., Maity, B.S., Sudheer, K., Satyanarayana, H.V.S. et al. (2019) A catalogue of earthquakes in the Koyna‐Warna region, western India (2005–2017). Journal of the Geological Society of India, 93(1), 7–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594‐019‐1115‐y
     [Google Scholar]
  61. Sheth, H.C. (2007) Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs): definition, recommended terminology, and a hierarchical classification. Earth Science Reviews, 85, 117–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2007.07.005
     [Google Scholar]
  62. Singhal, B.B.S. (1987) Hydrogeological characteristics of Deccan trap formations of India. Hard rock hydro systems (proceedings of rabat symposium S2, May 1997), Publication No. 241. Wallingford: IAHS.
  63. Sinha, D.K., Som, A., & Roy, S. (2017) The subsurface megascopic characteristics of basalt and basement rocks from Koyna‐Warna area of Maharashtra, India. Journal of Geological Society of India, 90, 761–768. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594‐017‐0788‐3
     [Google Scholar]
  64. Srinivasan, P.B., & Dutta, A.K. (1960) Progress report on Koyna hydroelectric project, North Satara District, Maharashtra: 1959–60, Unpublished report. Kolkata: Geological Survey of India.
  65. Srinivasan, P.B., & Dutta, A.K. (1961) Progress report for 1960‐61 on Koyna Hydroelectric Project, North Satara District, Maharashtra, Unpublished report. Kolkata: Geological Survey of India.
  66. Sukheswala, R. N. (1981) Deccan Basalt Volcanism. In: Subbarao, K. V. and Sukheswala, R. N. (Eds.) Deccan Volcanism and related basalt provinces in other parts of the world. Bangalore: Geological Society of India, Memoir, 3, pp. 8–18.
     [Google Scholar]
  67. West, W.D. (1959) The source of Deccan Trap flows. Journal of Geological Society of India, 1, 44–52. https://doi.org/10.17491/jgsi/1959/010112.
     [Google Scholar]
  68. West, W.D. (1999) The petrography and petrogenesis of forty eight flows of Deccan Trap penetrated by borings in Western India. In: Subbarao, K. V. (Ed.) Deccan Volcanic Province. Bangalore: Geological Society of India, Memoir, 43, 641–704.
     [Google Scholar]
  69. Wignall, P.B. (2001) Large igneous provinces and mass extinctions. Earth Science Reviews, 53, 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0012‐8252(00)00037‐4
     [Google Scholar]
  70. Zakharova, N.V., Goldberg, D.S., Sullivan, E.C., Herron, M.M., & Grau, J.A. (2012) Petrophysical and geochemical properties of Columbia river flood basalt: implications for carbon sequestration. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 13, Q11001. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GC004305.
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1002/nsg.70030
Loading
Petrophysical and fluid transport properties of Deccan trap basalts from analysis of geophysical well logs in a 3 km scientific borehole at Koyna, India
Near Surface Geophysics 24, 3 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1002/nsg.70030
/content/journals/10.1002/nsg.70030
/content/journals/10.1002/nsg.70030
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): data acquisition; data processing; Deccan traps; hydrogeophysics; porosity

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error