Deep Water Depositional Architecture, Evolution and Reservoir Potential in the Rakhine Basin, Offshore Myanmar

From 2004 to 2006, 3 biogenic gas fields (Shwe, Shwe Phyu, and Mya) were discovered in Rakhine Basin. Since then, the Rakhine Basin has been the focus of deep water exploration. In our research, industrial and high-resolution 2D and 3D seismic and well data were analyzed to study deepwater architectural elements, depositional evolution and hydrocarbon reservoir potential of the Rakhine.

Six different types of architectural elements are recognized in the Rakhine basin: submarine canyons, confined slope channel complexes, aggradational channel-levee complexes, frontal splays, isolated slope channels, and mass-transport complexes.

Deepwater depositional system showed continuous progradation, and the extent and scope strengthened and widened gradually from the Late Eocene to Pleistocene. The Oligocene mainly comprised confined slope channel complexes. The Miocene was dominated mainly by confined channel complexes and levee-overbank sediments. The Pliocene mainly consisted of confined slope channel complexes, frontal splays. The Pleistocene mainly developed aggradational channel-levee complexes, frontal splays, and mass transport complexes.

Controlled by structural and depositional evolution, the Pliocene confined slope channel complexes and frontal splays have the best reservoir potential in the study area. In gentle fold belt, there are numerous frontal splays and various types of slope channels that remain untested.