GEOSEISMIC CHARACTERISTICS, HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL AND RESOURCES OF THE NORTH KARA SEDIMENTARY BASIN

This study presents a geological model of the North Kara sedimentary basin, which was developed based on the integrated interpretation of seismic and geological data on islands and Siberian continental margin, and provides seismostratigraphic and structural-tectonic characterization of the basin. The results of the study indicate that the sedimentary cover of much of the basin is composed of Paleozoic sediments of Cambrian to Permian age, reaching 13–14 km in thickness in depression zones. The thickness of Mesozoic sediments over much of the basin is < 1 km; in the northwest, where the North Kara basin borders the Barents Sea basin, the thickness of Mesozoic sediments increases to 5–6 km, and the sedimentary cover comprises Paleozoic, Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous geoseismic sequences. In terms of its hydrocarbon potential, the North Kara sedimentary basin is regarded as part of the potential oil and gas-bearing area of the same name, having a good hydrocarbon potential based on seismic stratigraphic and structural-tectonic considerations. A number of large depressions and uplifts recognized in the structural geometries of different stratigraphic levels can be associated with petroleum generation and accumulation zones; a number of anticlinal, structural-tectonic, structural-stratigraphic traps that are distinguished in different sedimentary complexes ranging in age from Cambrian to Jurassic can be considered as promising exploration targets. The proposed quantitative assessment shows that the most probable initial in-place hydrocarbon resources of the North Kara sedimentary basin are equal to about 10.7 billion tons of hydrocarbon equivalent.