Generation potential, distribution area and maturity of the Barents-Kara Sea source rocks

• Published in: Georesursy
• Main Authors: Antonina V. Stoupakova, Maria A. Bolshakova, Anna A. Suslova, Alina V. Mordasova, Konstantin O. Osipov, Svetlana O. Kovalevskaya, Tatiana O. Kolesnikova, Gleb A. Shevchenko, Igor A. Masterkov, Anastasia A. Tsygankova, Albina A. Gilmullina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Georesursy Ltd. 2021
• Subjects: barents-kara sea shelf; source rocks; organic matter; generation potential; maturity; paleogeorgraphy; basin analysis; Geology; QE1-996.5; Barents Sea; Kara Sea
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.18599/grs.2021.2.1; https://doaj.org/article/e88966c63a78490796bc33693e788dde

Identification of the source rock potential and distribution area is the most important stage of the basin analysis and oil, and gas reserves assessment. Based on analysis of the large geochemical and geological data base of the Petroleum geology department of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and integration of different-scale information (pyrolysis results and regional palaeogeographic maps), generation potential, distribution area and maturity of the main source rock intervals of the Barents-Kara Sea shelf are reconstructed. These source rocks wide distribute on the Barents-Kara Sea shelf and are characterized by lateral variability of generation potential and type of organic matter depending on paleogeography. During regional transgressions in Late Devonian, Early Permian, Middle Triassic and Late Jurassic, deposited source rocks with marine organic matter and excellent generation potential. However in the regression periods, during the short-term transgressions, formed Lower Carboniferous, Upper Permian, Induan, Olenekian and Late Triassic source rocks with mixed and terrestrial organic matter and good potential. Upper Devonian shales contain up to 20.6% (average – 3%) of marine organic matter, have an excellent potential and is predicted on the Eastern-Barents megabasin. Upper Devonian source rocks are in the oil window on the steps, platforms and monoclines, while are overmature in the basins. Lower Permian shale-carbonate source rock is enriched with marine organic matter (up to 4%, average – 1.4%) and has a good end excellent potential. Lower Permian source rocks distribute over the entire Barents shelf and also in the North-Kara basin (Akhmatov Fm). These rocks enter the gas window in the Barents Sea shelf, the oil window on the highs and platforms and are immature in the North-Kara basin. Middle Triassic shales contain up to 11.2% of organic matter, there is a significant lateral variability of the features: an excellent generation potential and marine organic matter on the western Barents Sea and ...