--> Abstract: Some Observations on the Hydrocarbon Habitat of Basins in the CIS Countries, by P. E. R. Lovelock and G. W. M. Lijmbach; #90990 (1993).

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LOVELOCK, P. E. R., and G. W. M. LIJMBACH, Shell Internationale, Hague, Netherlands

ABSTRACT: Some Observations on the Hydrocarbon Habitat of Basins in the CIS Countries

In comparison with many basins in the West, the habitat of oil and gas in the basins of the former Soviet Union is poorly known (to non-Russian geologists) and until recently, virtually inaccessible. This situation now has changed, and the prospect of adding the data on these basins to the worldwide knowledge base is an exciting one. Although much data on source rock distribution, maturity, and correlations are still unavailable, it is useful to summarize what is known and what remains to be done. Better understanding of these parameters has more often than not led to the discovery of significant new reserves in old basins.

Although Paleozoic and Mesozoic organic shales are easily identified in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) basins, Cenozoic source rocks seem to be as elusive as they are in many other Tertiary basins worldwide. The distribution of rich organic layers in the Maikop sequence in the north Caucasus (late Oligocene-early Miocene) is poorly documented, and the role of the organic-rich diatomites in providing the bulk of the charge in the Sakhalin province also has not been demonstrated analytically until now. Such problems recall the difficulty of identifying sources of charge in many other Tertiary delta provinces (Nigeria, Brunei, etc.).

Time-temperate modeling applied to documented or potential source rock intervals allows insights to be gained into the origin of oil and gas accumulations in several of the large complex basins of the CIS, such as Timan Pechora and the East Barents Sea, the Volga-Urals, West Siberia, the pre-Caspian, the north Caucasus group and the Sakhalin province. The results will be used to emphasize the areas of current habitat uncertainty and the scope for new hydrocarbon plays.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90990©1993 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, The Hague, Netherlands, October 17-20, 1993.