Methodology of Reconstructing of Palaeogeography and Oil and Gas Reservoirs Prediction in Clinoform Strata

Clinoform strata are widely distributed in the various sedimentary basins throughout the world. They are observed in clastic and carbonate successions of the wide stratigraphic range and contain oil and gas fields. Clinoforms provide also an information about the direction of sediment transport, palaeogeography, and sea level changes. However, the universal approaches for palaeogeography reconstruction and reservoir prediction in the clinoform sequences of the various ages and in different sedimentary basins have not yet been developed. This study represents the methodical approach to clinoform investigation on the examples from Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous clinoforms of the Barents Sea and Priob region of the West Siberia Basin. Established methodical approach solves three problems: 1) structure and types of clinoforms; 2) reconstruction of sedimentary conditions; 4) prospecting of oil and gas reservoirs and stratigraphic traps in the clinoforms.

1. Babina E. O., Kalmykov G. A., Stoupakova A. V., Mordasova A. V., Korobova N.I., Khotylev O.V., Shardanova T.A., Khromova E.V., Gilaev R. M. (2022). Geometry Analysis and Oil Reservoirs Prediction in the Lower Cretaceous Clinoforms of the Northern Priobskoye Field. Moscow University Geology Bulletin, 77(5), pp. 559–578. https://doi.org/10.33623/0579-9406-2022-4-111-130

2. Ershov S.V. (2016). Paleobathymetry of the Late Jurassic–Neocomian basin in northern West Siberia and the impact of natural processes. Oil and Gas Geology. Theory and Practice, 57(8), pp. 1548–1570 (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.15372/GiG20160808

3. Freiman S.I., Nikishin A.M., Petrov E.I. (2019). Cenozoic clinoform complexes and geological history of the North-Chukchi basin (Chukchi sea, Arctic). Moscow University Bulletin. Series 4. Geology. 4, pp. 11–19. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.33623/0579-9406-2019-4-11-19

4. Gilmullina A., Klausen T.G., Doré A.G., Sirevaag H., Suslova A., Eide C.H. (2023). Arctic sediment routing during the Triassic: sinking the Arctic Atlantis. Journal of the Geological Society, 180(1). https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2022-018

5. Gilmullina A., Klausen T.G., Paterson N.W., Suslova A., Eide, C.H. (2021). Regional correlation and seismic stratigraphy of Triassic Strata in the Greater Barents Sea: Implications for sediment transport in Arctic basins. Basin Research, 33(2), pp. 1546–1579. https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12526

6. Gogonenkov G.N., Mikhailov Yu.A., Elmanovich S.S. (1988). Analysis of the Neocomian clinoform of Western Siberia based on seismic exploration data. Geologiya nefti i gaza (Oil and gas geology), 1, pp. 22–30. (In Russ.)

7. Gubin I.A., Kontorovich A.E., Moiseev S.A., Fomin A.M., Yaroslavtseva E.S. (2018). Identification of sources of hydrocarbon generation in the Kuonama formation in the North Tunguska oil and gas region using seismic data. Interexpo Geo-Siberia, 2, pp. 47–55. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18303/2618-981X-2018-2-47-55

8. Helland-Hansen W., Hampson G.J. (2009). Trajectory analysis: concepts and applications. Basin Research, 21, pp. 454–483. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2117.2009.00425.x

9. Houseknecht D.W. (2019). Petroleum systems framework of significant new oil discoveries in a giant Cretaceous (Aptian–Cenomanian) clinothem in Arctic Alaska. AAPG Bulletin, 103(3), pp. 619–652. https://doi.org/10.1306/08151817281

10. Klausen T.G., Ryseth A., Helland-Hansen W., Gjelberg H.K. (2016). Progradational and backstepping shoreface deposits in the Ladinian to Early Norian Snadd Formation of the Barents Sea. Sedimentology, 63(4), pp. 893–916. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.12242

11. Kostrov Yu.V., Khmarin E.K. (2018). Updated model of the PaleoamurPaleoamgun delta genesis. Oil and Gas Geology. Theory and Practice, 13(1), pp. 1–10. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17353/2070-5379/7_2018

12. Mitchum R.M. Jr., Vail P.R., Sangree J.B. (1977). Seismic stratigraphy and global changes of sea level: Part 6. Stratigraphic interpretation of seismic reflection patterns in depositional sequences: Section 2. Application of seismic reflection configuration to stratigraphic interpretation, in Payton, C., ed., Seismic Stratigraphy: Applications to Hydrocarbon Exploration: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir, 26, pp. 117–133.

13. Mordasova A.V., Stoupakova A.V., Suslova A.A., Escalona A.V., Marín D., Gilmullina A. (2024). Sequence stratigraphy and palaeogeography of the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous in the Eastern Barents Sea. Basin Research, 36(2), e12862. https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12862

14. Mordasova, A.V., Stoupakova, A.V., Suslova, A.A., Ershova, D.K., Sidorenko, S.A. (2019). Conditions of formation and forecast of natural reservoirs in clinoform complex of the Lower Cretaceous of the Barents-Kara shelf. Georesursy = Georesources, 21(2), pp. 63–79. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18599/grs.2019.2.63-79

15. Norina D.A. (2014). Construction and oil and gas source potential of Permian-Triassic terrigenous deposits of the Barents Sea shelf. Cand. Geol. amd Min. Sci. Diss. Moscow: Moscow State University. (In Russ.)

16. Patruno S., Helland-Hansen W. (2018). Clinoforms and clinoform systems: Review and dynamic classification scheme for shorelines, subaqueous deltas, shelf edges and continental margins. Earth-Science Reviews, 185, pp. 202–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2018.05.016

17. Pellegrini C., Patruno S., Helland-Hansen W., Steel R.J., Trincardi F. (2020). Clinoforms and clinothems: Fundamental elements of basin infill. Basin Research, 32, pp. 187–205. https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12446.

18. Salazar M., Moscardelli L., Wood L. (2015). Utilising clinoform architecture to understand the drivers of basin margin evolution: A case study in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand. Basin Research, 28(6), pp. 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12138

19. Schlager W., Adams E.W. (2001). Model for the sigmoidal curvature of submarine slopes. Geological Society of America. Geology, 29(10), pp. 883–886. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0883:MFTSCO>2.0.CO;2

20. Sharafutdinov V.F. (2003). Geological structure and development patterns of the Maikop deposits of the northeastern Caucasus in connection with oil and gas potential. Dr. Geol. and Min. Sci. Diss. Moscow, 366 p. (In Russ.)

21. Shelf sedimentary basins of the Russian Arctic: geology, geoecology, mineral resource potential. (2020) Edited by G.S. Kazanin; JSC «MAGE», Murmansk; St. Petersburg: «Renome», 544 p. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25990/dhw6-9x41

22. Stratigraphic Code of Russia, third edition, revised and supplemented. (2005). (In Russ.)

23. Volkonskaya A.L., Kerusov I.N., Konyukhov A.I., Karnyushina E.E., Krylov O.V., Kalmykov G.A. (2017). Model of the structure of upper Miocene productive deposits odoptu area of the Okhotsk sea. Moscow University Bulletin. Series 4. Geology. 4, pp. 48–53. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.33623/0579-9406-2017-4-48-53

24. Yandarbiev N.Sh., Fadeeva N.P., Kozlova E.V., Naumchev Yu.V. (2017). Khadum Formation of Pre-Caucasus region as potential source of oil shales: geology and geochemistry. Georesursy = Georesources, Special issue, pp. 208–226. (In Russ.) http://doi.org/10.18599/grs.19.21 http://doi.org/10.18599/grs.19.22