--> Abstract: New Model of Barents-Kara Region Geological Structure, by Anatoly Nikishin; #90177 (2013)

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New Model of Barents-Kara Region Geological Structure

Anatoly Nikishin

In 2012, the Scientific Consortium “Geology without Limits”, Russian Academy of Sciences, jointly with the company PGS started a multiannual scientific program for studying the Barents-Kara Region. In the course of fulfillment of this research program, about 9000 line km of seismic lines were acquired, utilizing a powerful source (5058 cu in), a long streamer (10,000 meter) with recording length of 18 seconds (TWT), concentrated mainly in the northern part of the Kara Sea. The newly acquired lines cross all of the major structural-tectonic features of the northern part of the Barents-Kara Region. By results of the said operations, important scientific results have been obtained. In the North Kara Basin, several large-size rifts, of supposedly Ordovician age, are singled out. This basin experienced compression and low-angle deformations approximately at the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary. Carboniferous-to-Mesozoic deposits form an almost horizontal sedimentary cover. Ordovician rifts are characterized by inversion structures with several phases of formation. In the section of approximately Silurian age, carbonate buildups are revealed. In the northern part of the North Kara Basin, large-size salt diapirs are well defined. The salt is of supposedly Middle-Late Ordovician age. Between the North Kara Basin and the Taimyr Orogen, a major overthrust belt exists, of Carboniferous age. The North Barents Basin (or the Saint Anna Basin) is originated from rifting. In the basement, normal faults of supposedly Late Devonian age exist. All depressions of the East Barents Megatrough are of a single origin. They are typical Mesozoic intrusions in the form of sills and dikes. In the northward direction, the number of intrusions increases. The main phases of deformations and generation of structural traps were in Mesozoic and Cenozoic. With the new data, new and not known previously gentle anticlinal highs are singled out.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90177©3P Arctic, Polar Petroleum Potential Conference & Exhibition, Stavanger, Norway, October 15-18, 2013