Volga-Ural Basin, U.S.S.R.: Rich Petroleum Systems with a Single Source Rock

ULMISHEK, GREGORY F., U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO

The Volga-Ural basin has produced about 40 billion barrels of oil and still produces a billion barrels annually. The productive Middle Devonian-Lower Permian sequence is composed of various carbonate rocks (including reefs) with clastic intervals in the Middle Devonian-lower Frasnian, middle-upper Visean, and Middle Carboniferous. A single source-rock unit, the Frasnian Domanik Formation, 30-60 m thick, is responsible for productivity of the entire sedimentary section. The three clastic intervals and underlying carbonate strata contain the bulk of the hydrocarbon reserves. Widespread upward and downward vertical migration in this structurally simple basin is explained by imperfect regional seals. Imperfection of the seals has also resulted in a predominance of oil over gas. The best s al is the overpressured Domanik Formation itself; it separates the sedimentary section into two petroleum systems: one in underlying Middle Devonian-lower Frasnian clastics and the other in overlying clastic and carbonate rocks.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91004 © 1991 AAPG Annual Convention Dallas, Texas, April 7-10, 1991 (2009)