Generation and expulsion of hydrocarbons from the riphean complex of the Anabar-Lena marginal system: probabilistic estimate using the volumetric-genetic approach

Background. The Anabar- Lena marginal system exhibits conditions favorable for the hydrocarbon prospectivity of Riphean sedimentary deposits. In this regard, the question about the presence of a sufficiently rich oil-and-gas source to form hydrocarbon deposits here is most acute. Poor knowledge of the Precambrian part of the section prevents using more accurate methods for estimating the volume of hydrocarbons generated and expelled from the source rocks. In this case, a probabilistic volumetric-g enetic analysis is appropriate for estimating the range of hydrocarbon volumes that could be generated by organic-rich deposits.

Aim. To estimate the magnitude of generation and expulsion of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons from the Mukun and Billiakh series, as well as the Riphean Khastakh formation.

Materials and methods. The probabilistic estimate of hydrocarbons generated and expelled from the source rocks of the Anabar-L ena marginal system was performed using the volumetric-genetic  method.

Results. In total, the Riphean source rocks of the northern marginal system of the Siberian Platform could have generated about 33.1–86.5 billion t of oil and 57.7–174.2 trillion m³ of gas.

Conclusion. The performed analysis suggests that the Riphean source rocks may have generated a significant volume of hydrocarbons capable of forming oil-and-gas accumulations. In this regard, the most relevant and controversial issue may be the assessment of hydrocarbon preservation in traps, i. e., sites of their final expulsion, as well as and the methodology for their detection.

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