Types of river sources of the thin-grained aluminosilicaclastics for the Jurassic and lower cretaceous deposits of the West Siberian megabasin

Background. The lithogeochemical features of fine-grained detrital rocks (mudstones, shales, and fine-grained siltstones) allow, with a certain degree of success, the main parameters of the formation of sedimentary sequences to be reconstructed. These parameters include (primarily in terms of their REE and Th systematics) the types of river systems supplying thin terrigenous suspension in the sedimentation area: the rivers of the 1st category – large rivers with a catchment area of more than 100,000 km2; 2nd category – rivers feeding on the products of erosion of sedimentary deposits; 3rd category – rivers draining mainly igneous and metamorphic rocks; and 4th category – rivers carrying erosion products of volcanic associations.Aim. To reveal, based on the analysis of interrelationships between such parameters as (La/Yb)N, Eu/Eu* and the Th content, the types of river systems that fed the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits of the Shaim oil and gas region (OGR) (Sherkalinsky, Tyumen, Abalak and Mulymya formations) and the region of the North Pokachevsky field of the Shirotnoe Priobye region (Sherkalinsky, Tyumen and Bazhenov formations, Lower Cretaceous deposits).Materials and methods. The ICP MS data for almost 100 samples of mudstones and fine-grained clayey siltstones were used to analyse the features of distribution of lanthanides and Th in the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous clayey rocks of the Shaim OGR and the area of the North Pokachevsky deposits. Individual and average composition points for formations, members and layers were plotted on the (La/Yb)N-Eu/Eu*, (La/Yb)N–Th diagrams developed by us with classification areas of the composition of fine suspended material of modern rivers of different categories.Results and conclusion. The results presented in the article showed that during the formation of the deposits of the Shaim OGR in the Early and Middle Jurassic, erosion affected either mainly sedimentary formations or paleo-catchment areas that were very variegated in their rock composition. In the Late Jurassic, the source area was, most likely, a volcanic province, composed mainly of igneous rocks of the basic composition, and located within the Urals. This conclusion suggested that the transfer of clastic material from the Urals to the Urals part of the West Siberian basin “revived” much earlier than the Hauterivian. The Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous section of the vicinity of the North Pokachevsky field was almost entirely composed of thin aluminosilicaclastics formed due to the erosion of volcanic formations. These volcanic formations were located, as followed from the materials of earlier performed paleogeographic reconstructions, probably within the Altai-Sayan region or Northern Kazakhstan. Thus, the supply of detrital material in the considered territories of the West Siberian basin had a number of significant differences in the Jurassic and early Cretaceous.

Paleogeography of the West Siberian Sedimentary Basin in the Late Bajocian–Bathonian

—The paper presents results of regional paleogeographic reconstructions of the West Siberian sedimentary basin in the Late Bajocian–Bathonian. Regional paleogeographic maps of the Yu4, Yu3 and upper part of the Yu2 reservoir units were constructed and described for the first time ever. The implemented approach provided insights into the evolution of paleolandscapes and highlighted the deposition features of the Upper Tyumen Subformation and Malyshev Formation in the different parts of the West Siberian basin. The compilation of paleogeographic maps was based on the electrofacies analysis performed for individual parts of the Malyshev stratigraphic horizon, with regard to the core description materials, paleontological, sedimentological, geochemical data and other. The paleogeographic control of the reservoir’s formation in the Bathonian regional reservoir is discussed.

Tectonic Evolution of the SE West Siberian Basin (Russia): Evidence from Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology of Its Exposed Crystalline Basement

The West Siberian Basin (WSB) is one of the largest intracratonic Meso-Cenozoic basins in the world. Its evolution has been studied over the recent decades; however, some fundamental questions regarding the tectonic evolution of the WSB remain unresolved or unconfirmed by analytical data. A complete understanding of the evolution of the WSB during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras requires insights into the cooling history of the basement rocks as determined by low-temperature thermochronometry. We presented an apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology study on the exposed parts of the WSB basement in order to distinguish tectonic activation episodes in an absolute timeframe. AFT dating of thirteen basement samples mainly yielded Cretaceous cooling ages and mean track lengths varied between 12.8 and 14.5 μm. Thermal history modeling based on the AFT data demonstrates several Mesozoic and Cenozoic intracontinental tectonic reactivation episodes affected the WSB basement. We interpreted the episodes of tectonic activity accompanied by the WSB basement exhumation as a far-field effect from tectonic processes acting on the southern and eastern boundaries of Eurasia during the Mesozoic–Cenozoic eras.

Overview of Lower Cretaceous Achimov Formation: Physical Properties and Their Distribution Pattern in West Siberian Basin, Russia

The Achimov Formation is one of the most important oil- and gas-bearing strata in the West Siberian basin in Russia. The total estimated reserves of this stratum exceed one billion tons. The formation was first explored in 1981, but it remains largely underdeveloped due to its deep burial depth and poor physical properties. Therefore, further research on the genetic mechanisms and distribution characteristics of the reservoirs in the formation can contribute to its further exploitation. The Achimov Formation is dominated by of fine- to medium-grained sandstones interbedded with shale. Based on analysis of well logging data, hand specimens, and previous research, this study analyzed the properties of three members (Ach1, Ach2, and Ach3) of the Achimov Formation and summarized their distribution patterns. Research on reservoir rocks from different oil and gas fields reveals varying physical properties across the formation with permeability and porosity increasing from the northern to central areas and decreasing from the central to the southern areas. Burial depth is one of the major controlling factors for reservoir properties in the formation. Reservoirs in both the northern and southern parts of the formation are buried deeper than those in the central areas, resulting in a disparity in reservoir quality.