Development of West Caspian territory in relation to oil-and-gas potential

The paper considers development of West Caspian territory, which has significant oil-and-gas potential. The significant oil-and-gas potential of the West Caspian territory has been proven by the discovered and already being exploited oil-and-gas fields.

The paper analyzes physical and geographical issues, considers the territory geological setting, tectonic structure, terrain structure, and the features of hydrological regime. The study is based on the division of the Caspian Sea into three parts: northern, middle, and southern, and geographic borders between them are justified.

The chronology of the development of offshore oil production near the western coast of the Caspian Sea is considered. Active scientific research is required for discovering and developing oil and gas deposits in the Caspian region to ensure provision with hydrocarbon resources. In addition, diversification of the research areas, as well as stimulation of development and implementation of new innovative techniques is necessary. All this will allow detailed studying the processes of hydrocarbon formation and recommending prospecting and exploration for new and old oil-and-gas targets.

Geochemical uniqueness of the oil has been revealed and physicochemical properties of oil from the West Caspian formations (near western coast of the Caspian) are characterized. Relevancy of both continental and offshore oil and gas exploration, with priority of the offshore resources exploration in the near future, is substantiated. Issues related to exploration of both structural (anticline) and non-structural traps are considered. The choice of the exploration direction is governed by the varying degree of exploration maturity and level of preparation of the structures for exploration drilling. This issue is addressed in a differentiated manner. For example, prospecting and exploration is being carried out in the territory of the North Caspian for preparing target structures of these two types. In the Middle Caspian, due to the fact that significant part of the onshore promising structures has already been discovered and explored, offshore exploration has been intensified. In the southern part – Azerbaijan, where the structural traps have already been discovered, explored and prepared for oil production, the main trends are the exploration and preparation of non-structural traps for increasing oil reserves.

The issues of increasing oil reserves in all three Caspian basins are considered, as well as organizing prospecting and exploration both in new unexplored zones and old oil and gas producing areas (where well-developed infrastructure and labor surplus are available). These issues should be addressed using new scientifically substantiated concepts and progressive modern prospecting and exploration methods.

Development of oil and gas resources in the West Caspian (within the Caspian Sea continental shelf and adjacent territories) is currently a challenging issue, largely determining further increasing oil and gas reserves and production in the Caspian region.

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