Regional geological researches of the Rosneft Oil Company were focused on the study of various petroleum plays in the offshore of the Pechora oil and gas basin, including one of the most perspective of them: Middle Carboniferous - Lower Permian carbonate play. This play is of especial interest because of several confined discoveries of oil and gas fields. Middle Carboniferous - Lower Permian carbonate play can provide increasing the hydrocarbon resources of Rosneft Company at the areas of current exploration. Basing on seismic identification and sedimentological studies of well data distribution pattern of build-ups in the Pechora sea area has been profoundly analyzed.
Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of Carboniferous-Lower Permian carbonate interval in the offshore Pechora oil and gas basin was based on well and seismic data. Well data included stratigraphic and lithological information from core, cuts and logs. Additional macro- and microscopic study focused on sedimentological aspect has been carried out. Characteristic lithological features of different facies including carbonate build-ups have been recognized and facies analysis was performed. As a result of a comprehensive interpretation of all available well and seismic data, including previous works and publications, facies zones of Middle Carboniferous - Lower Permian carbonate rocks were defined. They comprise zones of deep shelf, open shallow shelf, depressions on the shallow shelf, tidal plain and shoals on the shallow shelf was identified. Basing on seismic data "reef"-type anomalies were recognized and their origin was interpreted. As a whole carbonate build-ups were subdivided into 4 morphological types, and their areal distribution provides prediction of most perspective zones.
This article was prepared for publication as part of the exploration and research work process in Rosneft Oil Company within Pechora sea area.
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