GEODYNAMICS

The article studies the system organization of inversion tectonic deformations of the Dnieper-Donetsk Basin which covered the territory of the Western Donetsk Graben. The research uses the kinematic and structural-paragenetic analysis of inversion structural transformation of the folded floors of the sedimentary cover of the Graben. The original model of tectonic inversion of the Dnieper-Donets Basin was completed from the previous models. The tectonic inversion of the Dnieper-Donets Paleorift rift-like structures began at the late Hercynian stage in the geodynamic environment of the territory of the Eastern European Platform general collision. Tectonophysical analysis shows that the inversion folding was formed by the mechanism of sedimentary horizons longitudinal bending in the environment of the interference of the intraplate submeridional collision compression and the regional strike-slip stress field. At the Mesozoic-Cenozoic stage, tectonic inversion continued in the field of right-hand strike-slip deformations with a variable compressive component. This caused the formation of folded covers of tectonic plates and scales in the uplift-thrust mode. They, Hercynian neo-autochthonous formations and further the weakly located syneclise autochthon of the South-east of the Basin. The pressure of the "tectonic stamp" geoblock of the Donetsk Foldbelt contributed to the formationof the Segment body of geomass Tectonic Wedging. It was diagnosed with a structural orocline of transverse extension of the sliding type. Large linear throw-folded zones were formed within geodynamic bands of injection and displacement of geomass along the front of the orocline. The tectonic compression fan, characteristic of geodynamic compression zones, was formed in the foreland of the orocline, on the ends of the main thrusts. They served as “tectonic rails”of the allochthon invasion within the rift-like structure. There are the transverse zones of tectonic sutures formed on the roots of the folding covers of the Hercynian neo-autochthon thrusting, which are located in the hinterland of the orocline in the Foldbelt Western slope. The study completed an original kinematic model of tectonic inversion of the transition zone between the Dnieper-Donets Basin and Donets Foldbelt. According to the model, the pressure of the “tectonic stamp” geoblock initiated the invasion of the Segment of Tectonic Wedging which consists of the intensively dislocated allochthonous geomass. The Segment destroyed the rift-like structure and formed the Western Donetsk Cover-Folded Region in the South-eastern part of the Basin. The system organization model of inversion complications of the rift-like structure in the territory of the Western Donetsk Graben will allow to improve the regional geological schemes of tectonic oil and gas zoning.

Some Aspects of Seismic Data Reverse Time Migration for Salt Tectonics Geology of the Dnieper-Donets Basin

Processing of the seismic data acquired in areas of complex geology of the Dnieper-Donets basin, characterized by the salt tectonics, requires special attention to the salt dome interpretation. For this purpose, Kirchhoff Depth Imaging and Reverse Time Migration (RTM) were applied and compared. This is the first such experience in the Dnieper-Donets basin. According to international experience, RTM is the most accurate seismic imaging method for steep and vertical geological (acoustic contrast) boundaries. Application of the RTM on 3D WAZ land data is a great challenge in Dnieper-Donets Basin because of the poor quality of the data with a low signal-to-noise ratio and irregular spatial sampling due to seismic acquisition gaps and missing traces. The RTM algorithm requires data, organized to native positions of seismic shots. For KPSDM we used regularized data after 5D interpolation. This affects the result for near salt reflection. The analysis of KPSDM and RTM results for the two areas revealed the same features. RTM seismic data looked more smoothed, but for steeply dipping reflections, lateral continuity of reflections was much improved. The upper part (1000 m) of the RTM has shadow zones caused by low fold. Other differences between Kirchhoff data and RTM are in the spectral content, as the former is characterized by the full range of seismic frequency spectrum. Conversely, beneath the salt, the RTM has reflections with steep dips which are not observed on the KPSDM. It is possible to identify new prospects using the RTM seismic image. Reverse Time Migration of 3D seismic data has shown geologically consistent results and has the potential to identify undiscovered hydrocarbon traps and to improve salt flank delineation in the complex geology of the Dnieper-Donets Basin's salt domes.

Palaeogeography and Palaeoenvironments – A Multifield Examination of the Devonian-Permian Evolution of the Dneipr-Donets Basin

Context is everything. Not all thick sands pay out and not all thin sands are poorly productive. It is important to understand a basin's palaeogeographical drivers, the resultant palaeoenvironments and their constituent sedimentary architecture. Development of a depositional model can be predictive with respect to the magnitude of accessible pore space for potential development. We present a multi-field study of the Dneipr-Donets basin. Over 600 wells were studied with >4500 lithostratigraphical picks being made. Over 7500 sedimentological picks were made allowing mapping of facies bodies and charting shifts in facies types. A facies classification scheme was developed and applied. The Devonian-Permian sedimentary section records the creation, fill, and terminal closure of the Dneipr-Donets Basin:Syn-rift brittle extension (late Frasnian-Famennian): intracratonic rifting between the Ukrainian Shield and Voronezh Massif formed a NW-SE orientated trough, with associated basaltic extrusion. Basin architecture consists of rotated fault blocks forming graben mini-basins. Sedimentation is dominantly upper shoreface but sand packages are poorly correlatable due to the faulted palaeotopography.Early Post-rift thermal subsidence (Visean-Lower Bashkirian): the faulted palaeotopography was filled and thermal subsidence drove basin deepening. Cyclical successions of offshore, lower shoreface and upper shoreface dominate. Sands are typically thin (<10m) but can be widely correlated and have high pore space connectivity.Mid Post-rift: the Bashkirian (C22/C23 boundary), paralic systems prograde over the shoreface. Changes in vertical facies are abrupt due to a low gradient to basin floor. Deltaic and fluvial facies can produce thick amalgamated sands (>30m), but access limited pore space because they are laterally restricted bodies.Terminal post-rift (Mykytivskan): above the lower Permian, the convergence of the Kazahkstanian and Siberian continents began to restrict the Dnieper-Donets basin's access to open ocean. The basin approached full conditions and deposition was dominated by evaporite precipitation, with periodic oceanic recharge. Ultimately, this sediment records the formation of Pangea. The successions examined were used to construct a basinal relative sea level curve, which can be applied elsewhere in the basin. This can be used to help provide palaeogeographical context to a field, which in turn controls the sedimentary architecture.

An Integrated Approach to Well Logging: The Case of the Bazhenov Formation

New geological structures – displaced blocks of salt diapirs’ overburden – were identified in the axial part of the Dnieper-Donets basin (DDB) beside one of the largest salt domes due to modern high-precision gravity and magnetic surveys and their joint 3D inversion with seismic and well log data. Superposition of gravity lineaments and wells penetrating Middle and Lower Carboniferous below Permian and Upper Carboniferous sediments in proximity to salt allowed to propose halokinetic model salt overburden displacement, assuming Upper Carboniferous reactivation. Analogy with rafts and carapaces of the Gulf of Mexico is considered in terms of magnitude of salt-induced deformations. Density of Carboniferous rocks within the displaced flaps evidence a high probability of hydrocarbon saturation. Possible traps include uplifted parts of the overturned flaps, abutting Upper Carboniferous reservoirs, and underlying Carboniferous sequence. Play elements are analyzed using analogues from the Dnieper-Donets basin and the Gulf of Mexico. Hydrocarbon reserves of the overturned flaps within the study area are estimated to exceed Q50 (Р50) = 150 million cubic meters of oil equivalent.

Logging Optimization and Data Analysis Enabling Bypass Pay Identification and Hydrocarbon Quantification with Advanced Pulsed Neutron Behind Casing

Ukraine ranks the third largest gas reserves in Europe. Gas production is carried out mainly from the Dnieper-Donets Basin (DDB). A gradual decline in reserves is forcing Ukraine to actively search for possible sources to increase reserves by finding bypassed gas intervals in existing wells or exploration of new prospects. This paper describes 3 case studies, where advanced pulsed neutron logging technology has shown exceptional value in gas-bearing layer identification in different scenarios. The logging technology was applied for formation evaluation. The technology is based on the neutron interaction with the minerals and the fluids contained in the pore space. The logging tool combines measurements from multiple detectors and spacing for self-compensated neutron cross-capture section (sigma) and hydrogen index (HI), and the Fast Neutron Cross Section (FNXS) high-energy neutron elastic cross section rock property. Comprehensive capture and inelastic elemental spectroscopy are simultaneously recorded and processed to describe the elemental composition and the matrix properties, reducing the uncertainties related to drilling cuttings analysis, and overall, the petrophysical evaluation combined with other log outputs. The proposed methodology was tested in several wells, both in open hole and behind casing. In the study we present its application in three wells from different fields of the DDB. The log data acquisition and analysis were performed across several sandstone beds and carbonates formation with low porosities (<10%), in various combinations of casing and holes sizes. The results showed the robustness and effectiveness of using the advanced pulsed neutron logging (PNL) technologies in multiple cases: Case Study A: Enabling a standalone cased hole evaluation and highlighting new potential reservoir zones otherwise overlooked due to absence of open hole logs. Case Study B: Finding by-passed hydrocarbon intervals that were missed from log analysis based on conventional open hole logs for current field operator. Case Study C: Identifying gas saturated reservoirs and providing solid lithology identification that previously was questioned from drilling cuttings in an unconventional reservoir.

Minimization of Negative Impact of Well Cementing on Productive Horizons by Utilization of Swellable Packers

Avoiding of negative impact of slurry contact with productive sections by utilization of swellable pakers well completion systems as a key solution for depleted reservoirs. Results are compared to previously used classic well completion method with production casing cementing The new method of the well completion is based on a long period and many wells operations within Svyrydivske field in Dnipro-Donets Basin (here and after DDB). Precise selection of hybrid, oil and water based elastomers and correct placement in the appropriate hole zones for water and sectional isolation together with oil based mud utilization during drilling have provided stable production in depleted reservoirs and have minimized negative consequences from water filtration. The results achieved and the well completion method are described in detail to allow readers to replicate all results in a comparable geological conditions in DDB. Current well completion method has a couple of outstanding results achieved: –well integrity barrier is based on sufficient differential pressure provided by swellable packers;–reliable long term water isolation of all detected water contained intervals;–the production sections are not polluted by slurry filtrated water;–increased production rate comparing to cemented wells;–no risks of slurry loss during well cementing. This technology has been successfully implemented in both vertical and deviated wells on 4.5″ (114.3 mm) casing OD, in the interval 5100-5450 meters, bottom hole temperature 120-135°C. The differential pressure provided by swellable packer is up to 10,000 PSI (68.9 MPa). Fluid reactive packers are ready to expand and isolate highly cavernous hole sections and keep differential pressure sustainably. To achieve the best results with this well completion method, it is also important to use reliable gas tight casing connections and know precise reservoir characteristics. That is why the technology is recommended to be customized for well known brownfield reservoirs with high rate of depletion. The main benefit of the well completion method is a proved and safe technical solution for mainly depleted deep gas and condensate deposits in DDB (Ukraine) with sensitive economics

Modern Analogues of Sedimentation of Lower Permian Reservoirs in the Dnieper-Donets Depression

The paper considers the problematics of identifying proper analogues for understanding carbonate and clastic reservoir distribution and prediction in the Lower Permian and Upper and Lower Carboniferous within the Dnieper-Donets basin. The focus of the exploration team was finding meandering rivers. This choice was proven good in mapping reservoirs and finding traps deeper in the Upper and Middle Carboniferous, although for Permian clastic section the approach was not helpful. The second option was desert dunes, but poor sorting of reservoirs suggests a more complex picture. Analogues such as desert environment is quite logical for describing Lower Permian as aridic climate, with red and brown shales and sands. Lower Permian reservoirs have a moon-like shape in the vertical sections that could be easily mistaken for river channels, but in such a dry climate, it is very likely water flow channels with sporadic hurricane-related activities. Core and logs shows chaotic grain sizes, but more with fine grains with almost no coarse grains. The source of sedimentary material could be mountains of Ukrainian Rock Shield from the South and Voronezh massif from the North. This conceptual model is proposing not to look for meandering channels, but more for braided channels with poorly sorted material. The current time analogue could be the Oman desert between the mountains and peninsula. From satellite images, braided channels are clearly visible in the direction towards the Indian Ocean. The channels’ internal structure is quite heterogeneous. This method suggests exploration targets with possible widths of the channels as big as hundreds of meters and their lengths under 10 and between 10-20 kilometres maximum.

Conditions of the Formation Gas Deposits in the Epart of the Dnieper-Donets Basin: Integration of Basin Modeling Data with Consequences of Strike-Slip Faulting Effects

Since 1950, when the megascale Shebelinka deposit was found in the north-eastern portion of the Dnieper-Donets basin (DDB) this district has been served as a heartland of the hydrocarbon extraction in Ukraine. Right now, this area is again facing a new wave of commercial interest. Most conventional hydrocarbon plays here contain natural gas and liquid gas accumulated in numerous clastic and fractured horizons throughout Carboniferous to Lower Permian successions. The numerical basin modelling in the Donbas segment indicated that organic-rich sediments are thermally mature in the deep levels of the basin. Our interpretation of the structural patterns within the study area suggests that the kinematic development of the fracture sets is consistent with the model of development of subsidiary structures within the dextral strike-slip zone. Nearly all gas and gas condensate fields in the eastern part of the DDB may be classified as naturally fractured reservoirs in fault-breached anticlinal traps associated with releasing jogs in strike-slip assemblages. Gaseous hydrocarbons generated in deep "gas window" compartments have escaped here via several fracture corridors forming "sweet spots " sites. The main objective of this contribution is to get an insight into the style and structural trends of formation structural traps of hydrocarbons which in concert with basin modeling technologies will ensure proper technical decisions for the efficient exploration and production of gas reservoirs. This research summarizes new insights into gas deposits formation in the eastern part of DDB based on a synthetic approach ascertaining a vital connection of basin modeling results with the spatial distribution of kinematically induced releasing jogs which facilitating magnified fluid-and-gas conductivity.

Geophysical Aspects of Reservoir Characterization of Tight Gas Play in the Dnieper-Donets Basin

The objective of this work is to describe a comprehensive approach integrating seismic data processing and sets of wireline logs for reservoir characterization of one of the tight gas plays of the Dnieper-Donets basin. This paper intends to discuss a case study from seismic data processing, integrating seismic attributes with formation properties from logs in a geocellular model for sweet spot selection and risk analysis. The workflow during the project included the following steps.Seismic data 3D processing, including 5D interpolation and PSTM migration.Interpretation of limited log data from 4 exploration and appraisal wells.Seismic interpretation and inversion.Building a static model of the field.Recommendations for drilling locations.Evaluation of the drilled well to verify input parameters of the initial model. The static model integrated all available subsurface data and used inverted seismic attributes calibrated to the available logs to constrain the property modelling. Then various deterministic and stochastic approaches were used for facies modeling and estimation of gas-in-place volume. Integrating all the available data provides insights for better understating the reservoir distribution and provided recommendations for drilling locations. Based on the combination of the geocellular model, seismic attributes and seismic inversion results, the operator drilled an exploration well. The modern set of petrophysical logs acquired in the recently drilled well enforced prior knowledge and delivered a robust picture of the tight gas reservoir. The results from the drilled well matched predicted formation properties very closely, which added confidence in the technical approach applied in this study and similar studies that followed later. It is the fork in the road moment for the Dnieper-Donetsk basin with huge tight gas potential in the region that inspires for exploration of other prospects and plays. A synergy of analytical methods with a combination of seismic processing, geomodeling, and reservoir characterization approaches allowed accurate selection of the drilling targets with minimum risk of "dry hole" that has been vindicated by successful drilling outcome in a new exploration well.

Carapaces of the Dnieper-Donets Basin as a New Exploration Target

New geological structures - displaced blocks of salt diapirs’ overburden - were identified in the axial part of the Dnieper-Donets basin (DDB) beside one of the largest salt domes due to modern high-precision gravity and magnetic surveys and their joint 3D inversion with seismic and well log data. Superposition of gravity lineaments and wells penetrating Middle and Lower Carboniferous below Permian and Upper Carboniferous sediments in proximity to salt allowed to propose halokinetic model salt overburden displacement, assuming Upper Carboniferous reactivation. Analogy with rafts and carapaces of the Gulf of Mexico is considered in terms of magnitude of salt- induced deformations. Density of Carboniferous rocks within the displaced flaps evidence a high probability of hydrocarbon saturation. Possible traps include uplifted parts of the overturned flaps, abutting Upper Carboniferous reservoirs, and underlying Carboniferous sequence. Play elements are analyzed using analogues from the Dnieper-Donets basin and the Gulf of Mexico. Hydrocarbon reserves of the overturned flaps within the study area are estimated to exceed Q50 (P50) = 150 million cubic meters of oil equivalent.