Usgs Assessment:Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources Каспия и Прикаспия, 2010
Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the North Caspian Basin, Middle Caspian Basin, North Ustyurt Basin, and South Caspian Basin Provinces, Caspian Sea Area, 2010
Introduction
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated technically recoverable, conventional, undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Caspian Sea area as part of a program to estimate these resources for priority basins around the world. Four petroliferous geologic provinces cover the Caspian Sea area, (1) the North Caspian Basin, (2) Middle Caspian Basin, (3) North Ustyurt Basin, and (4) South Caspian Basin (fig. 1). The provinces encompass approximately 1,315,000 square kilometers and were based on interpretations by Delia and others (2008) and Natal’in and Şengör (2005). This assessment was based on published geologic information and on commercial data from oil and gas wells and fields, and field production records. The USGS approach is to define total petroleum systems and assessment units, and assess the potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources.
Total Petroleum Systems and Assessment Units
One total petroleum system (TPS), Paleozoic Composite, was defined for the North Caspian Basin Province to include source rocks ranging in age from Late Devonian through Early Permian (table 1, Ulmishek, 2001b). Five assessment units (AU) were defined geologically within this TPS. Four of the AUs lie below Lower Permian (Kungarian) evaporites (fig. 2A) - North and West Margins Subsalt AU, East and Southeast Margins Subsalt AU, South Margin Subsalt AU, and Central Basin Subsalt AU (table 1). Most reservoirs and seals in these AUs are associated with carbonate shelves and reefs, although some shelf and basin-slope clastic reservoirs of poor quality exist. Because of the extreme depths, a greater uncertainty was assumed that the Central Basin Subsalt AU contains technically recoverable oil or gas exceeding the minimum accumulation size set for the assessment (0.5 million barrels of oil equivalent) and therefore it was assigned a probability of 0.63 (table 1). Carbonate reefs and features associated with carbonate shelves are important traps for the subsalt AUs. Structural traps and likely stratigraphic traps are known in the East and Southeast Margins Subsalt AU. The Suprasalt AU lies above the evaporites (fig. 2A). Reservoirs and seals in this AU include clastic rocks ranging in age from Late Permian through Cretaceous and traps are associated with salt tectonics.
Three TPSs were identified in the North Ustyurt Basin Province - Buzachi Arch and Surrounding Areas Composite TPS, Mesozoic-Cenozoic Composite TPS, and Paleozoic Composite TPS (table 1, Ulmishek, 2001c). The Buzachi Arch and Surrounding Areas Composite TPS was defined to include source rocks within the Buzachi Arch and possible contributions of oil and gas from the neighboring North and Middle Caspian Basins. One AU was defined for each TPS - Mesozoic Sandstone Reservoirs AU, Mesozoic-Cenozoic Reservoirs AU,
and Upper Paleozoic Carbonates AU, respectively. Reservoirs and seals are indicated in the AU names. Most known traps are structural, although some pinchout traps are inferred.
The Terek-Caspian, South Mangyshlak, and Stavropol-Prikumsk TPSs were identified in the Middle Caspian Basin Province (table 1, Ulmishek, 2001a). Source rocks in the Terek-Caspian TPS include Oligocene to Lower Miocene Maykop Formation, Eocene Kuma Formation, and possibly some Middle to Upper Jurassic subsalt mudstones. The South Mangyshlak TPS includes Triassic and possibly Jurassic source rocks. Lower Triassic, Middle Jurassic, and the Oligocene to lower Miocene
Maykop Formation are source rocks in the Stavropol-Prikumsk TPS. Two AUs were defined for the Terek-Caspian TPS - Foldbelt-Foothills AU and Foreland Slope and Foredeep AU (fig. 2B). Reservoirs and seals in these AUs are mainly Upper Cretaceous to Eocene carbonate rocks and Lower to Upper Cretaceous and Miocene clastic rocks. One AU was defined for each of the other TPSs, having the same names as the TPS - South Mangyshlak AU and Stavropol-Prikumsk AU (fig. 2B, table 1). In the South Mangyshlak AU, reservoirs and seals exist in Lower to Middle Jurassic and Cretaceous clastic rocks, Triassic carbonates, and in fractured and weathered basement granite. Triassic carbonate rocks; Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Oligocene clastic rocks; and fractured Maykop mudstone provide reservoirs and seals in the Stavropol-Prikumsk AU. Known traps in all of the AUs are mostly structural, with some pinchout and stratigraphic traps.
The Cenozoic Composite TPS was defined for the South Caspian Basin Province (table 1) to include Oligocene to lower Miocene Maykop Formation and overlying Diatom Formation marine source rocks, and possibly also Eocene marine source rocks. The Apsheron-Pribalkhan Zone, Lower Kura Depression and Adjacent Shelf, and Turkmen Block AUs were defined in the TPS (fig. 2C). Reservoir and seal rocks are predominantly Pliocene to Pleistocene clastic rocks. Known traps include both structural and stratigraphic.
Assessment Results
Estimates of volumes of technically recoverable, conventional, undiscovered oil and gas resources are shown in table 1. No attempt was made to estimate economically recoverable resources because it is beyond the scope of this study. The combined mean undiscovered petroleum resources in the Caspian Sea area are 19.6 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil, 243 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas, and 9.3 billion barrels of recoverable natural gas liquids.
In the North Caspian Basin Province, the mean volumes and probability ranges (F95 to F05) of undiscovered petroleum are approximately 4,671 million barrels (MMB) of crude oil, with a range of 1,278 to 10,565 MMB; 33,099 BCF of natural gas (both associated and dissolved, and nonassociated), with a range of 7,511 to 83,623 billion cubic feet (BCF); and 4,864 MMB of natural gas liquids, with a range of 1,294 to
11,153 MMB.
In the North Ustyurt Basin Province, the mean volumes and probability ranges (F95 to F05) of undiscovered oil are approximately 342 MMB of crude oil, with a range of 118 to 707 MMB; 4,651 BCF of natural gas (both associated and dissolved, and nonassociated), with a range of 1,339 to 10,587 BCF; and 61 MMB of natural gas liquids, with a range of 17 to 140 MMB.
In the Middle Caspian Basin Province, the mean volumes and probability ranges (F95 to F05) of undiscovered oil are approximately 1,908 MMB of crude oil, with a range of 569 to 4,200 MMB; 8,655 BCF of natural gas (both associated and dissolved, and nonassociated), with a range of 2,408 to 20,362 BCF; and 352 MMB of natural gas liquids, with a range of 94 to 850 MMB.
In the South Caspian Basin Province, the mean volumes and probability ranges (F95 to F05) of undiscovered oil are approximately 12,671 MMB of crude oil, with a range of 2,358 to 32,543 MMB; 196,835 BCF of natural gas (both associated and dissolved, and nonassociated), with a range of 38,330 to 494,358 BCF; and 4,002 MMB of natural gas liquids, with a range of 760 to 10,249 MMB.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2010/3094/
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2010/3094/pdf/FS10-3094.pdf
Introduction
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimated technically recoverable, conventional, undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Caspian Sea area as part of a program to estimate these resources for priority basins around the world. Four petroliferous geologic provinces cover the Caspian Sea area, (1) the North Caspian Basin, (2) Middle Caspian Basin, (3) North Ustyurt Basin, and (4) South Caspian Basin (fig. 1). The provinces encompass approximately 1,315,000 square kilometers and were based on interpretations by Delia and others (2008) and Natal’in and Şengör (2005). This assessment was based on published geologic information and on commercial data from oil and gas wells and fields, and field production records. The USGS approach is to define total petroleum systems and assessment units, and assess the potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources.
Total Petroleum Systems and Assessment Units
One total petroleum system (TPS), Paleozoic Composite, was defined for the North Caspian Basin Province to include source rocks ranging in age from Late Devonian through Early Permian (table 1, Ulmishek, 2001b). Five assessment units (AU) were defined geologically within this TPS. Four of the AUs lie below Lower Permian (Kungarian) evaporites (fig. 2A) - North and West Margins Subsalt AU, East and Southeast Margins Subsalt AU, South Margin Subsalt AU, and Central Basin Subsalt AU (table 1). Most reservoirs and seals in these AUs are associated with carbonate shelves and reefs, although some shelf and basin-slope clastic reservoirs of poor quality exist. Because of the extreme depths, a greater uncertainty was assumed that the Central Basin Subsalt AU contains technically recoverable oil or gas exceeding the minimum accumulation size set for the assessment (0.5 million barrels of oil equivalent) and therefore it was assigned a probability of 0.63 (table 1). Carbonate reefs and features associated with carbonate shelves are important traps for the subsalt AUs. Structural traps and likely stratigraphic traps are known in the East and Southeast Margins Subsalt AU. The Suprasalt AU lies above the evaporites (fig. 2A). Reservoirs and seals in this AU include clastic rocks ranging in age from Late Permian through Cretaceous and traps are associated with salt tectonics.
Three TPSs were identified in the North Ustyurt Basin Province - Buzachi Arch and Surrounding Areas Composite TPS, Mesozoic-Cenozoic Composite TPS, and Paleozoic Composite TPS (table 1, Ulmishek, 2001c). The Buzachi Arch and Surrounding Areas Composite TPS was defined to include source rocks within the Buzachi Arch and possible contributions of oil and gas from the neighboring North and Middle Caspian Basins. One AU was defined for each TPS - Mesozoic Sandstone Reservoirs AU, Mesozoic-Cenozoic Reservoirs AU,
and Upper Paleozoic Carbonates AU, respectively. Reservoirs and seals are indicated in the AU names. Most known traps are structural, although some pinchout traps are inferred.
The Terek-Caspian, South Mangyshlak, and Stavropol-Prikumsk TPSs were identified in the Middle Caspian Basin Province (table 1, Ulmishek, 2001a). Source rocks in the Terek-Caspian TPS include Oligocene to Lower Miocene Maykop Formation, Eocene Kuma Formation, and possibly some Middle to Upper Jurassic subsalt mudstones. The South Mangyshlak TPS includes Triassic and possibly Jurassic source rocks. Lower Triassic, Middle Jurassic, and the Oligocene to lower Miocene
Maykop Formation are source rocks in the Stavropol-Prikumsk TPS. Two AUs were defined for the Terek-Caspian TPS - Foldbelt-Foothills AU and Foreland Slope and Foredeep AU (fig. 2B). Reservoirs and seals in these AUs are mainly Upper Cretaceous to Eocene carbonate rocks and Lower to Upper Cretaceous and Miocene clastic rocks. One AU was defined for each of the other TPSs, having the same names as the TPS - South Mangyshlak AU and Stavropol-Prikumsk AU (fig. 2B, table 1). In the South Mangyshlak AU, reservoirs and seals exist in Lower to Middle Jurassic and Cretaceous clastic rocks, Triassic carbonates, and in fractured and weathered basement granite. Triassic carbonate rocks; Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Oligocene clastic rocks; and fractured Maykop mudstone provide reservoirs and seals in the Stavropol-Prikumsk AU. Known traps in all of the AUs are mostly structural, with some pinchout and stratigraphic traps.
The Cenozoic Composite TPS was defined for the South Caspian Basin Province (table 1) to include Oligocene to lower Miocene Maykop Formation and overlying Diatom Formation marine source rocks, and possibly also Eocene marine source rocks. The Apsheron-Pribalkhan Zone, Lower Kura Depression and Adjacent Shelf, and Turkmen Block AUs were defined in the TPS (fig. 2C). Reservoir and seal rocks are predominantly Pliocene to Pleistocene clastic rocks. Known traps include both structural and stratigraphic.
Assessment Results
Estimates of volumes of technically recoverable, conventional, undiscovered oil and gas resources are shown in table 1. No attempt was made to estimate economically recoverable resources because it is beyond the scope of this study. The combined mean undiscovered petroleum resources in the Caspian Sea area are 19.6 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil, 243 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas, and 9.3 billion barrels of recoverable natural gas liquids.
In the North Caspian Basin Province, the mean volumes and probability ranges (F95 to F05) of undiscovered petroleum are approximately 4,671 million barrels (MMB) of crude oil, with a range of 1,278 to 10,565 MMB; 33,099 BCF of natural gas (both associated and dissolved, and nonassociated), with a range of 7,511 to 83,623 billion cubic feet (BCF); and 4,864 MMB of natural gas liquids, with a range of 1,294 to
11,153 MMB.
In the North Ustyurt Basin Province, the mean volumes and probability ranges (F95 to F05) of undiscovered oil are approximately 342 MMB of crude oil, with a range of 118 to 707 MMB; 4,651 BCF of natural gas (both associated and dissolved, and nonassociated), with a range of 1,339 to 10,587 BCF; and 61 MMB of natural gas liquids, with a range of 17 to 140 MMB.
In the Middle Caspian Basin Province, the mean volumes and probability ranges (F95 to F05) of undiscovered oil are approximately 1,908 MMB of crude oil, with a range of 569 to 4,200 MMB; 8,655 BCF of natural gas (both associated and dissolved, and nonassociated), with a range of 2,408 to 20,362 BCF; and 352 MMB of natural gas liquids, with a range of 94 to 850 MMB.
In the South Caspian Basin Province, the mean volumes and probability ranges (F95 to F05) of undiscovered oil are approximately 12,671 MMB of crude oil, with a range of 2,358 to 32,543 MMB; 196,835 BCF of natural gas (both associated and dissolved, and nonassociated), with a range of 38,330 to 494,358 BCF; and 4,002 MMB of natural gas liquids, with a range of 760 to 10,249 MMB.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2010/3094/
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2010/3094/pdf/FS10-3094.pdf