Using Onshore Geology to Predict the Hydrocarbon Potential of a Frontier Arctic Region - The Laptev Shelf, East Arctic

With growing interest in the hydrocarbon potential of the circum-Arctic, increasing attention is turning to the frontier shelves of the East Arctic such as the Laptev Shelf. No deep wells have been drilled offshore, with stratigraphic predictions based on study of onshore outcrops, including the Taimyr Peninsula, northern mainland Siberia and New Siberian Islands. The discovery of hydrocarbon fields in Jurassic-Early Cretaceous clastics of the Yenisey-Khatanga and West Siberian basins, and in Permian-Triassic clastics of the Lena-Anabar Basin, highlight Late Palaeozoic-Mesozoic potential in the neighbouring offshore. Early Cretaceous post-orogenic and Late Cretaceous-Palaeogene syn-rift coal-bearing clastics could represent the most significant source rocks. Marine organic-rich facies of the PETM and Middle Eocene “Azolla” event may constitute oil-prone source rocks in restricted grabens. Oligocene-Early Miocene sandstones and Late Miocene-Pliocene marine shales could represent regional reservoirs and seals respectively. We have conducted a study of the region using a global sequence stratigraphic model, drawing on data available in the public domain. This interpretation allows enhanced understanding of the shifting distribution of transgressive and regressive reservoir facies. When placed in a regional palinspastic framework, models of source rock deposition can be developed, and used to better predict timing and extent of deposition.