The sandstone units of the Early Cretaceous Lower Goru Formation are significant reservoir for gas, oil, and condensates in the Lower Indus Basin of Pakistan. Even though these sandstones are significant reservoir rocks for hydrocarbon exploration, the diagenetic controls on the reservoir properties of the sandstones are poorly documented. For effective exploration, production, and appraisal of a promising reservoir, the diagenesis and reservoir properties must be comprehensively analyzed first. For this study, core samples from depths of more than 3100 m from the KD-01 well within the central division of the basin have been studied. These sandstones were analyzed using petrographic, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopic analyses to unravel diagenetic impacts on reservoir properties of the sandstone. Medium to coarse-grained and well-sorted sandstone have been identified during petrographic study. The sandstone are categorized as arkose and lithic arkose. Principal diagenetic events which have resulted in changing the primary characters of the sandstones are compaction, cementation, dissolution, and mineral replacement. The observed diagenetic processes can be grouped into early, burial, and late diagenesis. Chlorite is the dominant diagenetic constituent that occurs as rims, coatings, and replacing grains. The early phase of coating of authigenic chlorite has preserved the primary porosity. The recrystallization of chlorite into chamosite has massively reduced the original pore space because of its bridging structure. The current study reveals that diagenetic processes have altered the original rock properties and reservoir characteristics of the Lower Goru sandstone. These preliminary outcomes of this study have great potential to improve the understanding of diagenetic process and their impact on reservoir properties of the Lower Goru sandstone in the Lower Indus Basin and adjoining areas.

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The present research describes a method of combining geostatistical analysis with geophysical inversion of electrical resistivity data conducted in Pakhli Plain, northwestern Himalayas, Pakistan. The raw data has been collected from the Technical Report VII-I on Ground Water Resources in Pakhli Plain, Mansehra District. Subsequently, the data has been deciphered and broadened from one dimensional resistivity data into a 2D model that can be entirely visualized and deduced in a spatial sense. Interpretation and calibration of the electrical resistivity curves with the lithologies and geophysical logs of boreholes suggests possible identification of distinctive sedimentary accumulations occurring within the Pakhli Plain. The 2D and 3D gridding and visualization is imperative to map the extents of the alluvial deposits within the Pakhli Plain formed during the periods of extreme tectonic activity. The coarser sediments are associated with lower levels of resistivity as measured in the electrical surveys, whereas the finer sediments exhibit characteristically lower resistivities. Therefore, the zones of low and high resistivity values are indicative of particles associated with coarser and finer sediments, respectively. It has been mentioned that the Pakhli Plain has remained a lacustrine zone during some time in the geological past as indicated by low resistivities representing finer sediments in the middle of the Plain. Consequently, the overall transmissivity of the sediments is low, which imply poor conditions for commercial groundwater production in the Pakhli Plain. Moreover, high resistivity zones of coarse material could be further investigated for groundwater potential areas. In particular, the prime objectives of the present study include 3D modeling of underground resistivity and its exploration in terms of groundwater potential on the basis of distribution of low resistivity zones.

The petrographic and geochemical analysis of the greywacke horizon of the late Neoproterozoic Hazara Formation from the Hazara Mountains has been investigated to determine the provenance, tectonic settings and weathering history of the sediments. The Late Neoproterozoic Hazara Formation is a thick sedimentary sequence comprising of greywacke, shale, argillites, siltstone, and limestone. The greywackes are characterized by fine to medium-grained, moderately sorted and sub-angular to sub-rounded framework grains. They are rich in quartz, lithic fragments and clay minerals. The petrographic investigation of the greywackes categorized them as feldspathic greywacke in the QFR diagram. The quartz content is higher in sandstone and may reach to 70%, which indicates a weathered felsic source. Chemical Index of Alteration values of greywacke suggests that the source region has experienced highly weathering conditions with a warm and moist climate. Various geochemical interpretations, elemental ratios like Th/Sc, La/Sc,Th/Cr, and positive Eu anomalies indicate that the greywackes of the Hazara formation derived from a felsic source and were deposited within an active continental margin tectonic settings. The main source area of the sediments of the greywackes was located to south to southeast, which may possibly be the Aravali orogeny, central Indian craton and Bundelkhand craton. Finally, the geochemical data of the major elements point to a felsic igneous provenance for the greywacke.