Oil and Gas Potential of South-Caspian Basin

Abstract

Existing views on hydrocarbon generation, migration and accumulation in the South-Caspian Basin are analyzed. A secondary nature of hydrocarbon accumulations in the major commercial interval (Middle Pliocene) is substantiated. It is shown that the main source of oil is the underlying Paleogene-Miocene clay sequences, and that of gas and condensate is the deep Mesozoic section. The geochemical age of hydrocarbons is determined. Dominant role in the hydrocarbon accumulation and placement of the intraformational vertical migration through fractures and faults is established. A thermodynamic model of the formation and distribution of different hydrocarbon phases is developed.

Keywords:

• migration of hydrocarbons
• reserves in Azerbaijan
• South Caspian Basin

Notes

¹“Natural reservoir” (as opposed to just reservoir) includes not only the reservoir interval proper but also the overlying seal.

²Aspid slates are black shales easily foliating into thin laminae and containing large percentage of organic matter.

³AHFP is the abnormally-high formation pressure, whereas AHPP is the abnormally-high pore pressure.

⁴After Lopatin.