Resource potential of the Chernyshev Swell (the Timan Pechora Basin) in the context of the structure and petroleum habitat of the salt bearing thrust belts

• Published in: Georesursy
• Main Author: Konstantin O. Sobornov
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Georesursy Ltd. 2022
• Subjects: salt bearing thrust belts; oil; gas; lithium; superbasin; the chernyshev swell; salt diapir; subthrust trap; 3d seismic; Geology; QE1-996.5; Pechora
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.18599/grs.2022.1.4; https://doaj.org/article/9b33dec354a94e57a388dbf8b97327ef

The salt bearing thrust belts are among the most prolific petroleum provinces in the world, including the fold belts flanking the Persian Gulf Basin, the Tarim Basin, the Terek-Sunzha Zone of the Eastern PreCaucasus etc. They are characterized by peculiar structural styles of deformation, large oil and gas pool sizes, significant flow rates. The Chernyshev Swell is among prospective salt bearing thrust belts. It is located in the Cis-Uralian part of the Timan Pechora Basin. Several exploration wells have been drilled in the area so far failed to deliver the anticipated oil and gas deposits. Post mortem study indicated that the main reason for the past failures was the mismatch between the complexities of the geological settings and the used exploration technologies. Integrated study of the area, conducted by the North Uralian Petroleum Company, using modern technologies, including 3D seismic surveying and magnetotelluric sounding, has enabled a far better understanding of this area’s structure and petroleum habitat. It is shown that high petroleum potential is attributed to the transition zone between the Chernyshev Swell and the Kosyu Rogov Foredeep Basin. This study indicated that the area of the Povarnitsa High is of priority interest for explration. This area provides supplementary opportunities in addition to the commercialization of the petroleum exploration potential. It includes production of rare earth and metals in brine of the evaporate deposits. The subsalt reservoirs of the Chernyshev Swell could be used for the storage of gas and CO2 sequestration. Integrated development of the resource potential of the Povarnitsa High may become a key driver of the economic development of the north-eastern part of the Republic of Komi.