Maikop Hydrocarbon System of the Caucasus Region

The Maikop Series widely distributed in the Caucasus-Skythian region consists of clayey rocks with abundant organic matter (OM). Sequences of similar geological age accumulated in marginal basins are characterized by high petroleum potential and in certain cases contain petroleum accumulations. Marine sedimentation environments, clayey composition, sapropelic OM type and presence of petroleum accumulations make MS a classical example of an oil-producing sequence. It is the main oil source present in Cenozoic and, most probably, Upper Cretaceous strata in the Caucasus-Skythian region. However, oil reserves pooled in the Cenozoic reservoirs of the region are incomparably lower than that which could be expected in view of the above conditions.