Delineation of Coal Bed Geometry using High Resolution Seismic Reflection Data for Uninterrupted Directional Drilling Exploration

The utilization of innovative technology by the coal mine industry requires proper guidance of sub-surface information so that it can provide uninterrupted exploration with less time and minimum cost. Sufficient knowledge about the coal beds that is variation of thickness, depth, and associated structures will facilitate the mine engineer to run machinery systematically. Conventional geological reports based on borehole data may not sufficient to adopt state-of-the-art drilling technology. To address these issues, high-resolution seismic survey (HRSS) was conducted to delineate the thickness of coal seams and mapping of structural features which are associated with coal seams. An effort was made to demonstrate the high-resolution seismic reflection study for picking of minor faults locations and thickness of coal seams in the central part of the Sohagpur, Gondwana basin that occurs at the junction of the Mahanadi and Son-Narmada rift systems in central India. The study reveals thick Barakar Formation and coal seams at a depth range of 300 to 550 meters. The thickness of coal seams and the location of minor faults were interpreted with the help of attribute analysis from the seismic sections. The obtained results from the seismic survey were useful for the selection of potential target zones which are favourable for drilling.