Hydrocarbon potential and prospects for exploration of Eastern Arctic oil and gas deposits

Conditions for the formation of hydrocarbon systems and prospects for searching for accumulations of oil and gas in the waters of the Eastern Arctic are considered. Significant hydrocarbon potential is predicted in the sedimentary basins of this region. All known manifestations of oil hydrocarbons are installed on land adjacent to the south, as well as on the east of the shelf. The East Arctic waters are included in a single model in order to perform an adequate comparative analysis of the evolution of hydrocarbon systems. The purpose of the research was to build space-time digital models of sedimentary basins and hydrocarbon systems, and to quantify the volume of generation, migration, and accumulation of hydrocarbons for the main horizons of source rocks. To achieve this goal, a spatiotemporal numerical basin simulation was carried out, based on which the distribution of probable hydrocarbon systems was determined and further analyzed. Following to the data obtained the most probable HC accumulation zones and types of fluids contained in potential traps were predicted. Keywords: numerical space-time basin modeling; modeling of hydrocarbon systems; evidence of oil and gas presence; Eastern Arctic; elements of hydrocarbon systems; oil and gas reservoirs; migration; accumulation; perspective objects

Forecast and assessment of hydrocarbon potential of cretaceous and jurassic deposits of the Kara Sea shelf based on the results of geological exploration

According to the oil and geological zoning, the water area of the Kara Sea, including the Ob and Taz Bays, is located on the border of three oil and gas-bearing regions: Yamal, Gydan and Nadym-Purskaya, having different characteristics of oil and gas potential by section and by area. As a result of geological exploration carried out in the water area and on the adjacent land, a wide age range of oil and gas potential was revealed. Seven fields have been discovered in the waters of the Yuzhno-Kara NGO: six gas condensate fields in Cretaceous Cenomanian-Albian deposits and one oil and gas condensate field in Cretaceous and Jurassic deposits. Large gas condensate fields have been explored in the Ob and Taz bays in the Cenomanian-Alb-Apt complex. The water area of the lips is one of the most important areas in terms of the growth of economically viable natural gas resources. According to the research results, it has been established that the UV potential of the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous complexes of the Ob and Taz Bays is characterized as highly promising. Keywords: Kara Sea; shelf; cretaceous and jurassic deposits.

Spatial Organisation of Gas Resources Development in the Yamal Oil and Gas Bearing Region

The Yamal oil and gas province (OGP) is strategically important for the Russian gas industry. In the coming decade, gas production in Yamal is expected to grow to 180–200 billion cubic meters per year. The main goal of the article is to solve a scientific problem consisting in the study of the spatial organization of the development of gas resources, determination of the rational structure of reproduction of natural gas reserves in the Yamal oil-gas-bearing region in the context of the modernization of the Arctic gas industry complex. The article assessed the gas resources of Yamal, revealed trends in the economic development of natural gas fields, presented the characteristics of investment projects based on the fields being developed. An analysis was carried out that made it possible to differentiate the deposits by the degree of their prospects, and a strategy for expanding the hydrocarbon potential of Yamal was determined. It was revealed that the main areas of production in the Yamal oil-gas-bearing region are associated with the development of deposits with a high level of Cenomanian deposits. Such deposits are characterized by a higher increase in the capitalization and profitability of investment projects in real time compared to fields located in the northern and far eastern seas, including on the shelf of the Kara Sea. It was concluded that the strategy for the reproduction of hydrocarbon potential will be aimed at conducting prospecting and exploration in order to transfer forecast resources to industrial reserves of natural gas. The study applies a general scientific methodology providing for systemic and comprehensive approaches to justify the spatial organisation of gas resources development in the Yamal oil and gas bearing region. A significant body of factual material on the state of free gas and condensate reserves in Yamal has been analyzed. The results of the research were obtained with the use of comparative-analytical, statistical methods of economic analysis.

Organic Petrographic and Geochemical Evaluation of the Black Shale of the Duwi Formation, El Sebaiya, Nile Valley, Egypt

This study evaluates the palynologic, organic, inorganic, and petrographic properties of organic-rich black shale (Mahamid Mine) in the El Sebaiya area, Nile Valley, Egypt. Black shale is composed of quartz (50%), calcite (10%), kaolinite (25%) and montmorillonite (15%). Organic and inorganic analyses revealed that this shale was deposited under oxic to anoxic marine conditions during strong chemical weathering. Black shale has poor to very good organic richness, and poor to fair hydrocarbon potential. Organic petrography indicates that the kerogen is mixed types II/III and III and is immature to marginally mature (%VRo is 0.44 and 0.53). Liptinite macerals consist of alginite, cutinite, and bituminite. The hydrocarbon products to be generated at higher maturity are expected to be oil and gas.

The application of basin modeling of oil and gas systems for seismogeological projects for assessment of hydrocarbon potential and risks of exploration work

In this article, the methodology of basin modeling was systematized and the sequence of solutions to the applied problems related to the forecast of deposits of oil and gas was updated, and the applicability of basin modeling to traditional regional projects was evaluated.