Evaluation of Hydrocarbon Potential at a Regional Scale Using Morphometric and Lineament Analysis of DEMs

This study presents the results of morphometric and lineament analysis conducted on a DEM of a study area in the southwestern Siberian Platform, encompassing several petroleum provinces. The research highlights the informative value of the difference between 6th and 7th order base surfaces, revealing that known deposits are predominantly located in areas with low amplitudes of neotectonic movements. This correlation was used as a prospectivity indicator. Additionally, the relationship between macrofracturing in the sedimentary cover, expressed through lineament density, and the location of known deposits was examined. Known petroleum deposits are mainly situated in areas with low to medium macrofracturing, suggesting this characteristic can be considered a factor in petroleum trap integrity. A comprehensive prospectivity map was generated based on these two exploration criteria, and its reliability was validated. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of using geographic information systems in petroleum exploration.