The 36,000-km² Kohat-Potwar depression in northern Pakistan has more than 5,000 m of marine deposition (Precambrian to Eocene, with a major break during Ordovician to Carboniferous). More than 10,000 m of Miocene to Pleistocene alluvial sediments overlies the marine sequence. The tectonic depression formed as a result of continent-to-continent collision at the northwestern margin of the Indian plate. Although the region has been under active petroleum exploration since the mid-nineteenth century, it has been tested by only 60 exploratory wells. Ten oil fields have been discovered; original recoverable reserves total 200 million bbl, of which 112 million bbl has been produced. The region has several attractive features for petroleum generation and accumulation i cluding source-reservoir-trap assemblages and thermal maturity regimes. Total ultimately recoverable hydrocarbon resource of the area is estimated at 2.4 billion bbl of oil equivalent.

Many unexplored surface and subsurface prospects and stratigraphic leads are known. Parts of the region, particularly the Bannu depression and Kohat salt zone, can be regarded as frontier areas; based on the exposed geology and available seismic information, we believe these areas are promising. Recent discoveries of Dakhni field (1983) and Dhurnal field (1984), which were the first discoveries in the northern part of the platform zone of the Potwar plateau, and production from Paleozoic horizons have added new dimension to petroleum prospects of the area.

The region needs careful reevaluation of available information, exploratory drilling on selected targets, and detailed exploration in its western part.