Abstract The Indian Proterozoic Super Basins were part of the Northern Rim of Gondwanaland prior to its break-up along six major radial fractures. The Proterozoic rocks of these basins are extensively exposed in the northern as well as the southern parts of the Indian Peninsula. Based on recently conducted geochemical and seismic surveys within these basins, followed by well drilling in the Son Valley, Ganga Valley, and the Bikaner–Nagaur basin, it is concluded that hydrocarbons have been generated within these basins and conditions conducive to hydrocarbon accumulation exist within them. The discovery of gas within Son Valley has indicated the existence of an active Mesoproterozoic petroleum system that is likely to have continued up to Infracambrian times. Based on the correlation of Indian Proterozoic Super Basins with their analogous Chinese and Australian basins, it appears that elements of a similar petroleum system exist within these basins, together with the possibility of an active Ordovician–Silurian petroleum system within the northernmost Ganga Valley Vindhyans, where sedimentation continued up to the lower Devonian. Modelling and empirical data show that the Chambal Valley, as well as the probably trap-concealed Vindhyans, underwent intense wrenching during Neoproterozoic times, accompanied by good entrapment conditions. Even the peninsular SW Cuddapah Superbasin also appears worth exploring as an element of the Meso–Neoproterozoic petroleum system.

Abstract The burgeoning oil and gas consumption in India in recent years has necessitated looking into the Proterozoic basins of India, which are sparsely explored and have a scanty knowledge base. The rationale for hydrocarbon exploration in Indian Proterozoic basins is derived from the fact that they have large basinal areas, wide geographical distribution, varied geotectonic setting and sedimentary fill. The favourable tectonic settings of these basins, pronounced biological activity, known hydrocarbon gas seepages, and subsurface commercially viable oil and gas shows in the Bikaner–Nagaur and Vindhyan basins and analogous basins throughout the world necessitate proactive exploration strategies in these basins. The basins of Bikaner–Nagaur, Vindhyan, Cuddapah and Chhatishgarh include thick Neoproterozoic/basal Lower Palaeozoic (Cambrian) successions, in addition to Palaeoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic sequences. The Neoproterozic sediments in these basins incorporate thick successions of shale, limestone and sandstone. These successions have rich organic matter of high-quality cyanophycean (stromatolites, acritarchs and filamentous algae) affinity that is proven to be high-quality (type one) source material for hydrocarbon generation and also involved in later structurization. However, the Neoproterozoic sedimentary pack in the Bhima–Kaladgi basins is comparatively less thick, and appears to have less prospectivity. The available geological and source-rock data are reassessed for their hydrocarbon prospectivity in order to help in planning a strategy for exploration in these basins.