Back to Basics: Paleozoic Carbonate Exploration in the Pricaspian Basin

Donna Drysdale, Menno De Ruig, and Florence Heath
Shell International, Netherlands

A basin framework and hydrocarbon prospectivity review of Paleozoic carbonates in the Pricaspian Basin was completed to assess remaining potential. Exploration sweet spots and yet to find volumes were identified after building a fundamental view of the basin evolution focused on carbonate plays.
Chronostratigraphic panels across the basin highlighted 5 Paleozoic megasequences and key regional reservoir-seal pairs. Based on 67 Paleozoic field summaries, carbonate plays can be classified as an interior platform, attached platform, isolated platform or turbidite. The isolated platform play contains most of the field volumes and includes 3 of the 5 super giant Paleozoic fields.
A regional SE Europe magnetic and gravity data review provided insight into the structural framework and tectonic evolution of basement and basins across the region. The new tectonic evolution model influences carbonate development locations associated with paleo-basement highs, subsidence and maturity models.
A Shell proprietary 3D basin model was created for the Pricaspian basin to calculate the source rock burial history, hydrocarbon generation, expulsion, migration pathways, drainage areas, and phases over time for the 4 youngest megasequences. Final hydrocarbon accumulation outlines were then compared back to field data.
The key to future discoveries and development in this basin are linked to a deep geological knowledge of the basin and the application of new technologies.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90072 © 2007 AAPG and AAPG European Region Conference, Athens, Greece