Mechanisms and migration routes of hydrocarbons in the South Caspian basin

Background. The mechanisms and routes of hydrocarbon migration in the South Caspian basin are considered.

Aim. Assessment of hydrocarbon migration routes in the South Caspian basin.

Materials and methods. Statistical generalization and classification of data and materials from reference literature, geological reports, field data, and published works.

Results. The conducted numerical modeling of hydrocarbon systems in the South Caspian oil and gas basin allowed the mechanisms of hydrocarbon migration in this region to be determined. These included mud volcanoes, whose eruptive channels served as those for hydrocarbon migration, as well as stretching cracks created by the formation of diapiric structures. Almost all deposits in the South Caspian basin are located in the areas of mud volcanism and are complicated by their eruptive channels.

Conclusion. This indicates the role of vertical migration of hydrocarbons in filling the reservoirs of the productive stratum. The modeling results show that the critical moment and migration of hydrocarbons from the Eocene, Maikop, and Diatom oil and gas source strata occurred towards the end of the Surakhani time (3 million years ago), i.e., during the formation of the upper section of the productive stratum. In the oil and gas source stratum of the Tarkhan-Chokrak age, the critical moment completed only by the end of the Akchagyl time (2.2 million years ago).

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