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Abstract

The Red Series is the most important stratigraphic interval in the South Caspian Basin and plays a significant role in hydrocarbon exploration and production in the region. The Upper Miocene –Pliocene sediments hosts about 80 % of recoverable hydrocarbon reserves in Turkmenistan. In Azerbaijan, to the west of the South Caspian Sea, the equivalent aged section of Red Series is called Productive Series. Over 95% of Azerbaijan’s discovered hydrocarbons are accumulated in Productive Series rocks. Petronas Carigali (T) Overseas Sdn. Bhd. is the operator of Block 1, located in the northeastern part of the South Caspian Sea (Figure 1). To date PC(T)SB has drilled 9 exploration wells in this block since 1999 with substantial oil and gas discoveries. The main exploration target in this block is the Red Series. In 2005 PCSB embarked on a study to building the basin model for the Red Series in the South Caspian Basin. This study is an integrated approach comprising remote sensing analysis, gravity and magnetic interpretation, seismic interpretation, structural reconstruction, sequence stratigraphy, basin modeling, fieldstudy and lab analysis. The aim of the study is to understand the basin formation and processes, the petroleum system, the basin fill model and it is composition in terms of source rock, seal and reservoir distribution. The study is also aimed to facilitate the interpretation of Block-1 offshore Turkmenistan and to reconcile various conflicting models that has been proposed previously on the deposition of the Red Series in the region. This paper discusses the findings of the study. The team concludes that the Red Series were deposited as a prograding delta in the early Miocene to Pliocene times. The Paleo Amu Darya river was the main source for the deposition of the Red Series and transported sediments from the northeast into the South Caspian basin (Figure 2). Rapid sediment influx with differential compaction in the Middle to Late Pliocene generated growth faulting and mud volcanism in the area, which is typical for deltaic settings (Figure 3). While the main sedimentation from Paleo Amu Darya to the southwest into the basin, Block-1 is interpreted to be located at the edge or distal part of the delta. This explained why many wells drilled in Block 1 encountered thick shale<br>sections in the middle and upper part of the Red Series. The hydrocarbon bearing reservoir sands at the base of the Red Series in Block-1 were believed to be derived from the Paleo Volga river to the northwest of the area with lesser influence from the Paleo Amu Darya. Petroleum systems modeling suggest that the Maykop is the main source rock of the South Caspian Basin and results of 2D migration modeling indicate that the Apsheron Sill is being charged from kitchen areas to the north and south of it.

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/content/papers/10.3997/2214-4609-pdb.256.P34
2006-11-27
2024-03-29
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