GEOLOGY AND HYDROCARBON PROSPECTS OF EAST-COAST SEDIMENTARY BASINS OF INDIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO KRISHNA GODAVARI BASIN

The Eastern continental margin of the Indian Peninsula has a complex geological history. Due to fragmentation of Gondwanaland the Peninsula was separated and became the mobile Indian plate. The 'Godavari bend' of the East coast coincides with triple junction or the diverging plates. Palaeozoic to Early Mesozoic sedimentation in the East coast basins is of continental nature and is restricted to rift grabens. The easterly tilt of the Peninsula during its movement gave rise to peri-cratonic sedimentary basins since the Cretaceous. These basins are extended oceanic basins with subsided pull-apart basins. Since Miocene. the cooling of the oceanic crust has facilitated more sedimentation in these basins. Basin configuration, tectonics and status of hydrocarbon exploration are discussed basinwise giving more emphasis to Krishna-Godavari Basin.