HC Prospects of the Western Black Sea, Ukraine

Exploration activity has been taken in the region for about last three decades. Eight gas-condensate fields have been discovered within Odessa shelf (water depth less 100 m). Last revision of offshore well data with modern technology have allowed to determinate additional prospect reservoirs of existed fields. The productive horizons are located in Upper Cretaceous, Palaeocene, Eocene, Oligocene and Lower Miocene sequences. Present-day exploration activity is focused on inverted structural highs of Odessa shelf. About 40 non-drilled anticline structures are known within Odessa shelf. In addition to anticline traps, stratigraphic traps are distributed within the shallow water. Among them traps that formed by pinching out of Paleocene-Eocene layers as well as valleys of Oligocene paleorivers. The deepwater area (up to 2000 m) has not been studied well yet. Nevertheless, the recent expert appraisal based on interpretation of new regional seismic data carried out by Naftogaz of Ukraine demonstrates very high prospects for discoveries of huge fields in the area. Potential targets are Miocene-Pliocene sandstone bodies of submarine turbidite fans. Numerous gas chimneys are strong evidence of HC. Prospect reservoirs in deep water have a potential to contain hundred million barrels of recoverable HC.