Abstract: Regional Correlations in the South Caspian Sea - Implications for Stratigraphic Nomenclature

Janet Murphy, Kulieva Rukhsara

Detailed sequence boundary correlations in the South Caspian Sea have led to a better understanding of the relationships between stratigraphic units identified in wells throughout the basin. With the aid of synthetic seismograms, used to tie the logs to the seismic data, lithologic units have been identified seismically and have been mapped across the basin. The synthetic seismograms were created from pseudo-sonic logs which were transformed from resistivity logs with the Faust equation. Checkshots and VSP surveys supplied the velocity control.

The sequence boundary correlations revealed substantial facies changes across the basin and led to the creation of a new stratigraphic correlation chart which relates local formation names to their time correlative boundaries. A recognition of these facies changes has led to a better understanding of the lithologic relationships within the basin, the depositional history of the basin, and the source and distribution of potential reservoir sands.

Previous well log correlations, made primarily by matching tops of sand and shale sequences, frequently crossed sequence boundaries mapped from seismic data. Lithologic units, deposited under similar geologic conditions, often looked the same but were not time equivalent. Seismic sequence analyses have shown that tectonic movements, as evidenced by rising domes, created barriers to sediment distribution and led to pronounced thickness changes on opposite sides of a high. New log correlations, incorporating these concepts, are helping to unravel the complex structural and stratigraphic history of the South Caspian Sea.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90956©1995 AAPG International Convention and Exposition Meeting, Nice, France