Introduction
The Assam-Arakan FTB extends all along the India-Myanmar border from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. Petroliferous Tertiary non-marine sedimentary rocks essentially dominate the stratigraphy within the foreland FTB. Like the Himalayan orogenic belt, several fault-bound, stacked-up and longitudinally continuous litho-tectonic zones characterize the Assam-Arakan FTB. Since the late 19th century, workers have adopted various techniques and methods to understand the structures in the FTB, which, in turn, aid in developing hydrocarbon exploration leads. The present work is a consequence of such an activity in the area, undertaken by Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited and its Joint Venture partners (Block AAP-ON-94/1, Assam-Arunachal Pradesh, India; Eighth round of exploration bidding announced by Government of India in 1994).

An integrated approach of remote sensing and GIS technologies provides better opportunities not only for geological mapping, but also for geological interpretation and implementation of exploration programs in difficult terrains with greater accuracy and in a cost-effective manner (Everett et al. 2002; Harris and Cooper 2002; Saraf et al. 2002). In assistance with ESRI India (NIIT GIS Ltd.), an extensive GIS database has been build up for the study area through standard procedures, so as to utilize the data not only to generate map outputs, but for various analysis as well. Thematic layers generated by digitization include, settlements, roads, railway network, drainage, topographic contours, geological information, well locations, seismic line locations, oil and gas pipelines, time contours of stratigraphic horizons and depth contours of stratigraphic horizons.

The GIS database generated is currently being used, besides for integration into sophisticated, quantitative structural models, for implementing, documenting and monitoring exploration programs like geochemical prospecting, seismic acquisition and well drilling, besides the environmental impact assessment being carried out for each exploration program.

Data Used The following data sets from different sources were used in the present study:

1. Remote sensing data digital data of IRS-1D LISS-III and IRS-ID PAN.
2. Existing geological maps, structure contour maps, and topographical maps (1:50,000 scale).
3. Field survey data of existing well and seismic line locations, as well as GPS survey points (used as GCPs during georeferencing).

Methodology
Figure 1 depicts the various steps undertaken to build up the geo-database. The flowchart also shows how the geo-database is being currently used for various exploration programs.

Figure 1 Flowchart depicting the use of remote sensing and GIS in petroleum ventures.

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