GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL STUDY OF THE BALKHASH SEDIMENTARY BASIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE ASSESSMENT OF HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL

This article presents a brief analysis of the geological and geophysical study of the Balhash depression, which suggests the possibility of overthrust coverage of modern mountain systems over hydrocarbon source rocks, expanding the prospective area for oil and gas exploration. The description of the geological structure of the Balhash depression is based on a paleozone surface map derived from seismic data. The article addresses the identification of geological relationships that support the potential hydrocarbon-bearing nature of the depression’s sedimentary cover. As a result of the generalization and analysis of geological-geophysical studies and structural-exploration drilling data, the features of the Balhash sedimentary basin's structure are characterized, including the composition of deposits in the upper sections of the central and peripheral zones. Stratigraphic division of Meso-Cenozoic deposits has been carried out. During the work, archival materials, publications from previous years, 1960 drilling data, and results of seismic, gravimetric, and magnetometric studies were analyzed.