Multiphysics and Multidisciplinary Integration Unravels Kirthar Fold Belt Structural Complexity

Subsurface understanding could be very challenging in fold-thrust-belt areas like the Kalat Plateau. In this type of geological setting, potential field methods are a valid complementary discipline to seismic imaging methods. We show how gravity and magnetic data have been exploited to unravel Kalat Plateau structural complexities, since primary reservoir targets, initially identified on seismic domain only, were unexpectedly not encountered in the first exploratory well. The herein implemented multiphysics workflow encompasses an initial qualitative interpretation and a successive quantitative determination of depth-to-sources geologic features. In the first stage of the process, the structural lineaments are traced through the analysis of potential field data and compared against public-domain information and literature. Successively a depth-to-source evaluation is performed through separate methods, specifically extended Euler deconvolution, source parameter imaging, and layered gravity inversion. Finally, the outcomes of the early stages are integrated in a scenario validation phase to produce a unified structural interpretation; particularly several 2D profiles were iteratively assessed to highlight the tectonostratigraphic reliability of the subsurface to retain and accumulate resources in the prospect area where seismic data were not helpful.