Offshore Black Sea – a New World Class Frontier just opened for Business

AAPG & AAPG European Region Energy Conference and Exhibition (November 18-21, 2007) technical program included a session called; International Hot Spots – The Black Sea

I have compiled abstracts from these sessions from the AAPG conference in Athens 2007th Especially regions such as Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia were covered during the sessions. Some examples from the offshore and onshore Turkey was also covered during these sessions. The scope of explored Offshore Black Sea has gained more attention last year when more data have been collected. Especially offshore Ukraine, several generations of 2D seismic has revealed some potential offshore until now not been discovered. But since the mid 1990s there has been some interest because of the first generation of 2D seismic and some older CCCP seismic before the 1990s. With this collection we want to promote a greater interest in offshore Black Sea, we see this as an area for future as oil and gas legislation in the bounding box countries mature and become more open to international oil and gas companies, as well as investors.
Since the conference was held, there have been some big news about Ukraine offshore area.

The PRYKERCHENSKA Block in offshore Black Sea was awarded Vanco International Limited. That price marks the a new trend offshore Ukraine. The first time a Production Sharing Agreement has been developed by an international oil and gas company in Ukraine.
PSA of 12,960 km2, or 3.2 million acres of offshore land Ukrainian first Production Sharing Agreement was won by Vanco in April 2006; Final PSA negotiations have been completed in the 1st quarter of 2008. This PSA makes it allow Vanco to perform a new 3D seismic surveys and plan for a deepwater exploration well within the first three years of PSA.
Vanco has identified a number play models in the Miocene to Oligocene stratigraphy. Play models ranging from compressional anticlines located in front of the imbricated fold belt and cut traps within the same regimen. Trap types Slope fan deposits of semi-structural trapping mechanisms, aircraft compactional anticlines and stratigraphic traps are also defined in the Sorokin is deep section. Vanco has also identified high potential play models in the Eocene to Paleocene reefs, where they have identified several anticlinal structures. In addition they have identified the Upper Jurassic reef structures that could hold potential large quantities of hydrocarbons.
Vanco recognize a large unexplored deep-water area with multiple play concepts. The Prykerchenska Block can provide up to 6.4 billion barrels of oil – which makes it a 'World
Class' project. Many prospects exhibit direct hydrocarbon indicators and oil has been
available on trends in the vicinity of the block. ? Vanco will implement a work program to mature drilling locations in Sudak Fold Belt and Tetyaev Prospect. 3D seismic acquisition to begin in 2Q 2008 and shall be conducted in two areas during the Tetyaev Prospect and to be about 1238 km2. The other 3D proposed area is Sudak B prospect and to be about 1800 km2. Tetyaev proect believed to most likely be around 2091 mmbo and Sudak B-field prospects to be the most likely 1370 mmbo of hydrocarbons.
The Tetyaev prospect has an area extent of about 225 km2, and is believed to have a vertical closure of 700 meters. The water depth at the prospect location is around 2185 meters, and the prospect is 4800 meters.

At the high Andrusov second option was identified with a land extent of approximately 110 km2 and with a vertical closure of 700 meters. Mostl resource is expected to be 385 mmbo at a water depth of 2225 meters and the target depth is 5,400 meters.

Upper Jurassic Reefs in the western Caucasus-Crimea, hydrocarbons Implications for the Eastern the Black Sea
Li Guo1, Stephen J. Vincent 1, Samuel P. Rice 1, and Vladimir Lavrishchev2. (1) Casper, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, 181a Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DH, United Kingdom, Telephone: +44 1223 337068, li.guo @ casp.cam.ac.uk, (2) Kavkazgeols'emka, Ul. Kislovodskaya 203, Yessentuki, Russia
Widespread Upper Jurassic reefs are important potential reservoir facies in the eastern Black Sea region. Russian seismic reflection data from the northern Shatskiy Ridge indicates possible offshore reef-facies events up to 1-2 km thick and 10-20 km wide. Data from excellent onshore exposures of the Russian Western Caucasus and Crimea provide a reservoir analogue to offshore targets. A model Development and distribution of carbonate reefs are presented with regard to possible alternative tectonic settings for the Upper Jurassic North Tethyan Margin.
Outcrop of well-preserved Upper Jurassic coral reefs can be divided into coral-dominated siliceous sponge-microbial and microbial types. Dispersed and massive coral-dominated reefs formed in shallow water platform margins or in some limited deeper water in mid-shelf settings. Siliceous sponge-microbial and microbial reefs occur as lenses and mountains and is limited to deeper water in mid-outer shelf environments. The development of these reefs was controlled mainly by local variations in water depth, light, and the availability of nutrients.
Reef exhibit a complex pattern of porosity development reflects the independent diagenetic stories involving near-surface and deep-burial dissolution, dolomitization and dedolomitization. Porosity is particularly common in coral-dominated reefs facies and consists of both primary and secondary types.
Coral-dominated reefs similar to onshore outcrop in the Russian Western Caucasus must expected to occur along the northwestern margin of Yuzhnyi-Adler carbonate platform in the eastern Black Sea. Possible isolated deep-water coral reefs depicted on the northern Shatskiy Ridge could be largely composed of siliceous sponge-microbialite and microbialite facies. Similar reef facies may be present at the Mid Black Sea High.
Lithostratigraphy Upper Jurassic – Cretaceous Deposits and hydrocarbons perspectives in the Romanian Shelf of the Black Sea
Ovidiu Nicolae Dragastan, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, Bucharest University, Bulevardul N Balcescu no. 1, 010041 Bucharest Romania, phone: 0040729610876, ovidiud@geo.edu.ro
In the Romanian shelf of the Black Sea (offshore), Petr Omar Co. drilled and have been leaders in the Middle and Upper Jurassic-Cretaceous sediments and Paleogene and Neogene them. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposits, belonging to two main geological units: Northern Dobruja Orogenic Belt and Moesian Platform. In the offshore North Dobruja Orogenic belt three cycles of sedimentation have been identified: 1 A lower cross-border cycle corresponding to the compression phase of synrift 1 (Bajocian-Callovian?), the last possible stage corresponds to a "general" unconformity or a break up between 1 Middle and Upper Jurassic, with Calci black-and siltic turbidity (Heraclea Formation). 2. A central cross a compression phase consists of mudstones, claystones and siltstones (Pontus Formation), Upper Jurassic-Neocomian in age, which represents synrift 2, followed by a break of up to 2 Jura-Cretaceous boundary and within Neocomian covered various times sliding. 3. An upper large postal regulatory phase Albian to Senonian, continued during the Paleogene and Neogene. Many short and long gliding record includes Cretaceous sediments. Three source rocks may identification of hydrocarbon generation: – the black siliceous, siltic to sandstones of Heraclea Formation (Middle Jurassic in age), around 1000 meters in thickness.; – the black argillites by Pontus Formation (Neocomian) and – Oligocene-Miocene bituminous clay, clay and marl known more or less as Maikop beds.
Hydrocarbon accumulation in the Permo-Triassic reservoirs of Moesian Platform
Penis Constantin1, Niculescu Bogdan1 and Mitru Daniela2. (1) Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 6 Traian Vuia Street, Bucharest, RO – 020956, Romania, phone: +40 21 3181588, penec@gg.unibuc.ro, (2) TEI Kozani, TEI Kozani, 114, Ioanis, Kozani, Kozani, Greece
Romanian petroleum pools containing hydrocarbon fields in the Triassic reservoirs only in the north-west of Moesian platform and in the south found an "oil show". This distribution of oil and gas fields are somewhat enigmatic, because of their attitude towards Bals-Optasi sketching. Well logs, cores, some seismic profiles and maps lithophacies define depositional systems and spread patterns of reservoirs and seals in the Triassic formations. The Permo-Triassic deposits consists of three lithostratigraphic formations: Lower Red Detrital (LRD Fm) (Lower Triassic), Carbonatic-Evaporitic (CE Fm) (Middle Triassic) and Upper Red Detrital (URD Fm) (Upper Triassic). The lowest proportion of LRD and URD Fm Fm consists of multiple coarsening-upward parasequences deposited in deltaic and fluviatile environments in the lowstand systems tract during a forced regression. The upper part of LRD Fm consists of fine-upward parasequences that sugests a strong transgression. This development is the result of the Permo-Triassic riftogenesis. The main reservoir is a very well sorted sandstone ( "Bradesti sandstone"). The seal consists of marl associated with evaporitic rocks. Reservoirs of CE Fm is composed of limestone and dolomite, particularly in the lower part of this formation and seals are composed of evaporitic rocks. Analysis of the main Triassic reservoirs (Bradesti sandstone and dolomite and limestone in the CE-Fm) indicates that there are other potential areas for hydrocarbon accumulations in the southern Part of Bals-Optasi sketching.
Tectonic style and Oil and Gas Accumulation in the Moldavian Platform
Penis Constantin1, Negulescu Rodica2 and Coltoi Octavian1. (1) Faculty Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 6 Traian Vuia Street, Bucharest, RO – 020956, Romania, phone: +40 21 3181588, penec@gg.unibuc.ro, (2) Prospectiuni SA Prospectiuni SA Caransebes Street, 1, Bucharest, 020834, Romania
Moldova's platform represents the western part of the East European Platform. Seismic profiles well logs, cores and geological cross sections and maps show that during the Alpine orogeny, the western part of the platform was gradually underthrusted at the eastern Carpathian Orogene. This structural development pressed a monoclinal nature of deposits and the dip westwards under the Carpathians Is Deep (molasse) and Eastern Carpathians Flysch. The compressional tectonic regime accompanied by slow strike-slip movement, and punctuated by brief moments of renewal marked the main tectonic style of the Moldavian Platform. It is dominated by an error networks with predominantly two directions. A first system of major errors, almost parallel to the eastern Carpathians Orogene is NNW-SSE orientation (Paltinoasa Fault, West Paltinoasa errors and Siret Fault). The second system consists of small cross-faults (oriented EW), and it generated more tectonic block adjustments resulting from longitudinal fault traces. The older deposits than the upper Sarmatian them plunge step at the Eastern Carpathians along major fault. The tectonic blocks at each stage folded and generated Gently anticlines and faulted monoclines. The intense compressional regime and the high rate of subsidence of the Sarmatian deposits favored the formation of lithostratigrafic traps. Gas and Gas condensate is reservoired in Albian, Badenian and Sarmatian sandstone and marl and anhydrite seal them. The study of the tectonic development of the Moldavian Platform proposes new potential areas for gas and gas condensate in the pre-Badenian deposits.
Paleocene carbonate platform facies distribution (northern Black Sea Basin, offshore Ukrainian)
Sergii Vakarchuk, Department of Geology-Industrial Complex Researches, Scientific Research Institute of Oil and Gas Industry (Naukanaftogaz) Uritskogo Str, 45, Kiev, 03035, Ukraine, phone: 380445850219 fax: 380442487101, vakarchuk@naukanaftogaz.kiev.ua, Piter Chepil, Scientific Research Institute of Oil and Gas Industry (Naukanaftogaz) Uritskogo Str, 45 Kyiv, 03035, and Tetyana Dovzhok, Institute of oil and gas geology problems, Scientific Research Institute of Oil and Gas Industry (Naukanaftogaz) Uritskogo Str, 45, Kiev 03035, Ukraine.
This study aims to detailed facies classification and mapping of the Paleocene carbonates provided by several oil and gas discoveries recently have done in this sequence. The analysis is based on an integrated interpretation of core set and well logs for more than 40 deep wells drilled in different tectonic zones in the basin and regional and local seismic data. Carbonates of Paleocene occur at a depth of 500-6000 m and extends over most of the structural-tectonic zones in the Black Sea region. The thickness of these sediments changes 50-100 m to 600-900m. The investigation has revealed several facies zones in carbonate sediments of the Paleocene: coastline (alternation of skeletal wackestones and pack tone lime mudstones, marl, sand-and siltstones), Marl intra-shelf (skeletal wackestones and pack tone 60-70%, 10-20%, 5-15% limestone pelitomorphic, baundstones 3-5%, sales 10%), outer-shelf (skeletal wackestones and pack tone 30-40%, 20-30% Marl, pelitomorphic limestone 10%, sales 20%), mild slope (Marl 20-30%, wackestones and pack tone 10-15%, pelitomorphic limestone 20% Sale 30-50%) and pelvis (sales and Marlene with international calendar ring of pelitomorphic limestone). Four gas and gas condensate fields have been discovered within the Paleocene carbonate to date. All of them are located in the intra-shelf zone. Reservoirs are represented by skeletal wackestones. Reservoirs are porous and porous-fissured types. Open porosity – from 10 to 32%, permeability – 0,0005-0,045 mcm2.
South Akcakoca Gas: A Black Sea Discovery 30 years underway
Michael J. Fitzgerald, III1, Ed Ramirez1 William Moulton2, and Al Garcia3. (1) Toreador Resources Corp, 4809 Cole Ave, Suite 108, Dallas, TX 75205, telephone: 214-559-3933, fax: 214-559-3945, mfitzgerald@toreador.net, (2) Independent Consultant (3) Integral Technology Group
Six Eurasian countries surrounding the Black Sea. Of these six countries, the Republic of Turkey has the longest coastline 1595 km. of surrounding land. Before 2004 there had been only six well drilled in the Turkish Black Sea, four in the western Black Sea region and two in the west central area offshore from a small holiday town, Akcakoca.
The Akcakoca # 1 and # 2 wells were drilled in the mid-1970s designed to test the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments viewing country in outcrop and subsurface. Early seismic had indicated the presence of significant structures formed by compressional tectonics bounded by confidence errors. The Akcakoca # 1 well found gas shows in the Eocene clastics from 1000m to 1400m and tested 3.25mmcfpd in an open-hole DST. The Akcakoca # 2 well encountered gas shows, but no tests were conducted.
In 2000 Madison Oil Turkey, later merged with Toreador Resources, acquired a 962,000 hectare permit contained Akcakoca wells. Use of existing seismic and the original wells Toreador explorationists decided that the potential existed for a considerable backlog. A conventional 2-D seismic survey and follow-up high resolution 2-D surveys activated geophysics to map velocity anomalies that could be tied to the 1970 wells.
In 2004 Ayazli # 1 wildcat was drilled in a thrusted anticline 3 km south the original Akcakoca # 1 well. This well tested approximately 12.0mmcfgpd from four Eocene age sands. Drilling over the next two and a half years, so exploration group drilled 12 successful good out of 14 and open the first gas production in the Turkish Black Sea.
This paper will examine the geology and geophysics, who went into this effort.
Debunking myths Geology of the Crimea
Igor V. Popadyuk, Naukanaftogaz, Kyiv 03035 Ukraine, phone: 38 044 5852 764, fax: 38 044 2487 101, popadyuk@naukanaftogaz.kiev.ua
Crimean mountains are in the southernmost part of the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine hold the keys to understanding the Black Sea coast of Crimean peninsula spanning both Western and Eastern the Black Sea.
At least two myths in the regional stratigraphy could be debunked. Myth 1: Tauric Group is not Triassic-Early Jurassic in age. Based on published palaeontological data (Ammonites) it is likely Tauric Group to be younger, most likely Aptian-Early-Mid Albian in age. This means that the compressive strength event impacted basins in the Crimea region in the late the Albian, not Middle Jurassic. Myth 2: flysch and conglomerate succession widely developed in the eastern Crimea and often referred to the Upper Jurassic is Tertiary in age, as can be concluded based on published palaeontological (foraminifera) data. This means that the volume of clastics shed from the Crimean Mountains in the Tertiary uplift appears to have been significant.
Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous succession is incorporated into two large stack of plates, named as structurally declining Yayla Attitudes and Tauric stack. Yayla stack consists mainly of shallow marine carbonates of the Late Jurassic-Neocomian age. Tauric stack consists of Tauric flysch succession and similar siliciclastic deposits of Aptian – Early-Mid Albian age. Both these lines plates were transported north, probably in late Albian pulse and sealed by post-tectonic cover of the Cenomanian to the Late Eocene sediments. Crimean region was tectonically lifted and eroded by Late Eocene.
The tertiary Kamtchia Fluvio Estuary-Fan System of Eastern Bulgaria
Rudolf Dellmour, OMV Exploration & Production GmbH, Vienna, Austria, Rudolf.Dellmour @ Omv.com and Gian Gabriele Ori, IRSPS, c / o Univ d'Annunzio, Viale Pindaro 42, Pescara, 65127, Italy.
OMV Bulgaria hold "Varna Deep Sea" Exploration license in the near offshore from the town of Varna in eastern Bulgaria. The block covers a large Tertiary fan system derived from Balkanide and Carpathians.
The tectonic active Hinterland provided during Eocene to Miocene an enormous amount of siliciclastics eroded from crystalline and metamorphic rocks. These sediments were deposited in alluvial plains and alluvial fan aprons during relative high-stands and periods of tectonic quiescence. Relatively low-stands produced massive erosion of the remnants of which have been channeled through a pronounced Paleo-valley systems in the deep sea. This paleovalley system extends over large parts of the Paleogene and Neogene. Two major sequence boundaries have been identified along with several minor unconformities. Today "Paleo Kamtchia cut Valley" provides an impressive geomorphological features in the landscape south of Varna.
Recent geological field work during the past 3 years revealed sedimentary history from the Eocene to Pliocene. Field documentation of this clastic system includes Fluvial, tidal and estuarine sedimentary environments. This long living system of Paleo Kamtchia came to an end when the Danube finally broke through the Carpathians in the early Quaternary. After this event captured the Danube drainage area of Paleo Kamtchia reduce Kamtchia River system to a creek of less importance.
3D seismic data acquired in 2006 reveals a pronounced and complex deepwater fan affiliated to this "Paleo Kamtchia cut Valley." This fan system opens up a new player in the Bulgarian Black Sea is similar to that which has been chased by Explorationist's worldwide over the past 20 years.

The Moesian Platform: a critical piece of the Tectonic Puzzle of Black Sea Region
Gabor Tari, AllyGabor Geoscience 6719 Avenue B, Bellaire, TX 770401, phone: 832-724-1404, gabor@allygabor.com
Based on recent findings about the structure of Moesian platform and the Bohemian Massif segments of the European continental margin, a new model for development of these passive margins are outlined. The Moesian Platform interpreted as the upper plate, conjugate margin Bohemian segment of the European margin, rifted and drifted away in the middle and late Jurassic. Moesia, as a new microplate analysis, was separated from the European margin around the end of the Bathonian and began to run towards the SE. There are no restrictions on the number of the driving, but the Aptian Moesia must have reached its current position, least 600 km to the SE from its original position. Direction of driving can be inferred from the geometry of the biggest mistakes of NE from today Moesian platform in the broader Tornquist-Tesseyre fault zone For example Peceneaga-Camena fault bounding the Dobruja orogenic belt. To SW, projecting the northeastern edge of the Bohemian Spur during Pannonian Basin is mappable by reflection seismic data provides an additional geometric restriction on the separation of Moesia from Europe. The correct reconstruction of pre-Jurassic position Moesian platform has great importance for the paleogeography of the Black Sea prior to its opening. For example, the Triassic rift system Dobruja in Romania will be directly correlated with Strandzha rift sequence in the southernmost Bulgaria offers a paleogeographic scenario much simpler than previously thought.
The geological history of Istria 'Depression', Offshore Romania: Tectonic Control on Second Order Sequence Architecture
David Boote, Consultant, 12 Elsynge Road, London SW18 United Kingdom, Telephone: 0208 871 0069, davidboote@elsyngeroad.fsnet.co.uk
The Istrian 'Depression' or low on offshore Romania, located at the intersection of the Trans-European, Tornquist-Teisseyre 'Zone' and the Black Sea back arc basin, just outboard of the East Carpathian orogenic welt. The experienced an extraordinary multi-phase meters history of subsidence, sedimentation and sediment dramatic evacuation at the end of Mesozoic and Tertiary, which reflects the interaction between these three tectonic domains. It first developed as a trans-tensional rift in the Triassic-Jurassic to be compressed and deform under (?) Late Jurassic Cimmerian orogeny. Residual topography was occupied by a westward-Continental clastic evaporites sequence of Neocomian. This was terminated by uplift and doming associated with the Apto-Albian rifting and back-arc spreading in the western Black Sea. Post break-up subsidence and slope of the Black Sea rift margin, leading to the east evacuation of its early Cretaceous sedimentary fill by gravity-driven mass wasting. The margin was subsequently breached from the east with the deposition first settled in Istria for the open trough, and later expand into the bounding box highs. By the end of the Cretaceous, it had been completely buried, only partially evacuated again in the early Palaeocene and again quite spectacular in (?) late Eocene. The deeply cut canyon formed at the time, was quickly filled by Oligocene-Miocene sediments, but the late Miocene (Messinian?) pull down in the Black Sea region was reflected in a third term erosional incision. Continental margin outbuilding followed during the Plio-Pleistocene with the deposition of several rapidly prograding wedges. This was interrupted by a major impetus event and several stages of shelf-margin canyon incision and late phase of shelf margin listric Faulting, reflect the final docking of the Carpathian orogen.
Oil and Gas Prospects of the Ukrainian part of the western Black Sea
Oxana Khriachtchevskaia, Naukanaftogaz, Uritskogo Str, 45, Kiev 03035, Ukraine, phone: +38 (044) 5852762, hryaschevska@naukanaftogaz.kiev.ua and Sergiy Stovba, Naukanaftogaz, Uritskoga Str, 45, Kiev 03035, Ukraine.
Eight commercial gas-condensate fields have been discovered in the Odessa shelf (western part of the Ukrainian Black Sea) during the last three decades. The success factor of drilling is 0.5. The productive horizons situated in the Upper Cretaceous, Palaeocene, Eocene, Oligocene and Lower Miocene sequences. Today, exploration activity is focused on the head structural highs in shallow area (350 sq. km) of Tertiary and older sediments are further east in Sorokin Trough and Andrusov Ridge. In the easternmost part of the Ukrainian Black Sea a number of high-amplitude anticlines have been identified in shallow water depth and a huge Mesozoic structure of 400 sq. km in deep water (150-700 m). Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene sediments are regarded as source rocks with good generative potential for hydrocarbons. There are strong direct hydrocarbon indicators on seismic data. According to the experts assessment, each bigger lead formed in Upper Mesozoic-Cenozoic section in water depths of 100 m to 2000 m has an area of several hundred square kilometers km, with vertical closure of hundreds of meters, and has the potential to contain one hundred million barrels of recoverable oil. The drilling of Subbotina good up to 4300 m confirmed the high oil and gas potential in Kerch shelf. Lots of oil and gas reservoirs were established along the portion of the well. Some of them were tested in the lower part of the Oligocene sequence of success and commercial oil influx.
The tectonic ecology of Black Sea
Celal Sengor, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, tel: 90 212 285 6209, sengor@itu.edu.tr and Boris NatalIn.
The Black Sea is formed in a complicated area. It had two orogenic collages plastered against each other, and fragments of Gondwana-Land bound continental margin orogen: The Scythides, and the two parts of Cimmerides. It began opening as a consequence of Alpide subduction Neo-Tethyan sea bed in the Aptian-Albian interval, and least in the east, split clearly a continental margin arc. Eastwards it clearly did not connect with the older Flysch trough of the Greater Caucasus, nor it has any relation to the ongoing Cimmeride shortening so late as in Nish-Trojan trough formation. It disrupted a pre-existing structure, but it is remarkable that Andrusov Ridge corresponds exactly to the old Scythide / Cimmeride substance of an arc-echelon segments.
It evolved as a marginal basin in the Japan Sea-type and even in its history, behind-arc shorten it greatly resembles the current structure in Japan Sea. After Miocene Arabia / Eurasia final clashes began shortening Black Sea as far east as Zonguuldak. West of that was expanding north-south in the Community Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece.
It is remarkable how "continental" its behavior. We compare this with that in the Tarim Basin and suggests that the Tarim is perhaps a Palaeos-Black Sea.
Geological history and hydrocarbon potential in the eastern Black Sea region
Anatoly M. Nikishin, Geological Sciences, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119992, Russia, phone: (495) 939 49 31, fax: (495) 939 38 65, nikishin@geol.msu.ru and Aleksandr P. Afanasenkov, Yukos Oil Companies, Moscow, Russia.
The eastern Black Sea region emerged as a back-arc basin during Cretaceous times. Both western and eastern Black Sea region has been opened almost simultaneously during Cenomanian to Coniacian times. Shatsky Ridge was a carbonate platform and the zone of Pinnacle-type reefs in the late Jurassic. It was a platformal region since Cretaceous. The Tuapse, Guria and Sorokin pools originated at the Eocene-Oligocene transition in a bend is deep pools. Shatsky Ridge was influenced by flexural tectonics also at those times. Shatsky Ridge has a Miocene river system. Since the Pliocene only Shatsky ridge was put up to 2 km while folding key event in Tuaspe Basin. Hydrocarbon potential Shatsky Ridge, Sorokin and Tuapse Basin Basin is connected with: (1) Late Jurassic carbonate platform and system of large mountain-type Rev: (2) Possible Paleocene bioclastic limestone, (3) possible Nummulite Eocene limestone, (4) possible Oligocene turbitites with sandstone bodies (5) Miocene river system (6) Miocene and Pliocene horizons of sandstone.

Recent data for interpretation of geological Evolution and Petroleum System of the Eastern Black Sea Basin, offshore Georgia
Ryan J. Wilson, Neil Mountford, Paul Maguire, and Richard Hedley. Anadarko Algeria Corporation, 1 Harefield Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1YH, United Kingdom, Telephone: +44 (0) 1895 209400, ryan.wilson @ anadarko.com
Genesis and sediment-fill history of the Eastern Black Sea Basin, offshore Georgia has been largely understudied with little new data published since the Soviet era. Recent data obtained demonstrate the existence of a Tertiary petroleum system.
The Oligo-Miocene Maykop Formation is a widespread source rock, stretching from Romania to Turkmenistan. It has been identified as a source for hydrocarbons in the giant fields in the southern Caspian Sea and accumulations in both the western and eastern onshore basins in Georgia. Moreover collected oils and analyzed from active seeps offshore Georgia, directly above identified structural culminations, confirming the presence of a generative Maykop in the eastern Black Sea region.
Offshore Georgia can be divided into three tectonic provinces, one of which is characterized by high-amplitude anticlines that strike in a southwest-northeast direction as a result of shortening from Middle Miocene to the present. These fold and thrust anticlines range from classic to box folds overturned folds, with a common decollment in Maykop.
The primary reservoir sand is believed to be of Middle Miocene age, and is based on 3D seismic data, sandstone was deposited in deepwater channel-levee systems, which come from the north. Late Miocene to the present day depositional systems have a south-easterly provenance of volcanic / Lithic Origins.
In 2005, the first dybtvandssemisubmersibles well in the eastern Black Sea region was drilled offshore Turkey, but did not penetrate into the northern origin of reservoir system. Consequently, Georgia offshore petroleum system, with billion barrel potential, still untested.

Mud Volcanoes and Fluid Migration in the Sorokin Trough
Sebastian Krastel1, Michelle Wagner Friedrichs1, Volkhard Spiess1 Leonid Meisner2 Gerhard Borhmann3, and Michael Ivanov4. (1) Marine Technology – Environmental Research, Bremen University, Klagenfurt Strasse, Bremen, D-24359, Germany, Phone: +49-421-2184598, skrastel@uni-bremen.de, (2) Marine Geology and hydrocarbon potential department Okeangeofizika Research Institute, Krymskaja Str 18, Gelendzhik, 353470, Russia, (3) Marine Geology, Bremen University, Klagenfurter Strasse, Bremen 28359, Germany, (4) Moscow State University
The Sorokin Trough forms structural depression along the south-eastern margin of the Crimean peninsula. Compression strength deformation affects the growth of the diapiric ridges and facilitates fluid flow to the seabed and the development of mud volcanoes of diapirs. The main purpose of a high resolution multi-channel seismic survey conducted by the University of Bremen (Germany) was to investigate the evolution and formation of mud volcanoes correlated to gas / fluid migration and gas hydrates occurrences. We grouped mud volcanoes in the Sorokin trough in three areas. The different geological setting affects the development of individual mud volcanoes, and thus their morphology. Collapsed depressions dominate in area 1 in the western survey area. A 2.5D seismic data set was collected over Sevastopol Mud Volcano represents a typical collapsed depression located above a complex diapiric structure with two ridges. Bright spots in the immediate vicinity of the canal in the mud volcano is likely mark the bottom of the gas hydrate stability zone. We posit that overpressured fluids initiated an explosive eruption generating the collapsed depression in Sevastopol mud volcano and subsequent mud extrusions formed cones within for depression. The homogeneous fan deposits of Palaeos Don-Kuban Fan in the central and eastern Sorokin Trough is characterized by an increased permeability results in quiet effusive mud extrusions in Area 2 and 3 Mud volcanoes in the central zone 2 reach enormous dimensions, with diameters of up to 2000 m and a height of approximately 100 m, where errors with large displacements provides high mud flow.
Geology and Petroleum potential Shatsky Ridge (Black Sea)
Alexey L. Meisner, DCS, Schlumberger logelco Inc, 9 Taganskaya str., Moscow, Russia Moscow, Russia Phone: +7 916 868 61 84, ameisner@moscow.oilfield.slb.com and Leonid B. Meisner, Geology, Yuzhmorgeologiya, Krymskaya Str 18, Gelendzhik, Russia, Gelendzhik, Russia.
The Shatsky Ridge is an anticline structure consisting of Upper Mesozoic-Paleogene rocks. Anticlinels have dimensions up to 66 x 18 km. It is primarily at water depth around 2 km and stretches from the Georgia coast to the Mountain Crimea (Ukraine). The aim of this work was to research perspective Shatsky Ridge. Seismic and magnetic data have contributed to the recognition of the key geological features. There are no holes drilled in the ridge, and the analog data from western Georgia, and Crimea was used for lithology and reservoir prediction.
The lower sequence consists of Low Jurassic thick black clay, deposited on top of the Paleozoic basement. Magnetic anomalies caused most likely by the Middle Jurassic gabbro intrusion. Upper Jurassic-Eocene section consists mainly carbonate rocks. This section contains reservoir quality rocks. Limestone porosity varies between 5 – 20%, range of permeability is 10 to 40 mo. The presence of Upper Jurassic coral reefs, Eocene limestone nummulitic suggest a shallow marine sedimentation. These reservoirs are overlain the thick marine shale seals of the Oligocene-Quaternary ages.
A potential source rocks probably belong to the Jurassic and the Low Cretaceous rocks. It is also possible that hydrocarbons to migrate into Mesozoic reservoirs from sources of Eocene rocks and Maikop series of adjacent troughs.
Mud volcanoes and earthquakes anomalies "bright spot" indicate hydrocarbon accumulations in sedimentary cover Shatsky Ridge.
Reservoir prediction sizes of anticlines and hydrocarbon seeps to conclude that the Shatsky Ridge can contains undrilled prospects and provide a basis for future exploration.

Effects of Tectonics on Deposition in the Balkans in eastern Bulgaria
Michal Nemcok, Energy and Geoscience Institute, University of Utah, 423 Wakara Way, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, phone: 801-585-9829, fax: 801-585-3540, mnemcok@egi.utah.edu, Charles J. Stuart, EGI at the University of Utah, 423 Wakara Way, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, Dian Vangelov, Department of Geology at Sofia University, bul. Tzaz. Osvoboditel 15, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria, Eric R. Higgins, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, 6100 N. Western Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73118, Chelsea Welker, EGI at the University of Utah, 423 Wakara Way, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, and David Meaux, AOA Geophysics Inc., 11200 Westheimer, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77042.
E Balkan geometry during the Paleocene-Recent were marked by a plunge southeastward from the western Black Sea, caused by: 1) a combination of east-thinning of continental crust in the west, and oceanic crust in the east, 2) the rift thermal subsidence of the continental crust 3) rigid against Moesian platform in the west and not rigid in the east, and 4) northeastward advance of thrustbelt.
East-fading uplift and stiffness is illustrated by the following: 1) eastward decreasing amount of shortening along the constructed profiles, giving 30 km, 10.5 km, 11 km and 4 km from west to east, 2) eastward trend towards more complete stratigraphic sections and shallow erosional levels, and 3) eastward increase in the décollement depths, which is 3.7 kilometers, 3.8 kilometers, 9,5-13,5 km and 12.3, 14.1 kilometers. The last stack of age is now older eastward from the Middle Eocene through Late Eocene to Late Eocene / Oligocene. Onshore thrustbelt, there was significantly affected by the stiff against Moesian Platform exhibits stack, followed by gravitational collapse of the Late Eocene, Oligocene immobility and Neogene extension. Offshore thrustbelt exhibiting sting followed by Oligocene-Neogene extension. A Paleocene-Middle Eocene piggyback basin formed in the onshore portion of thrustbelt, centered in the eastern Balkans Zone, with a southeastward throws axis migrated northeastward with basin shortening and filling.
Sedimentology and timing of hydrocarbon seepage (Lower Eocene, Varna, Bulgaria)
Eva De overfed, Geology, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 E, 3001 Leuven, Belgium, telephone: +32 16 32 77 98, eva.deboever @ geo.kuleuven.be, Rudy Swen, Geology, KULeuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium, and Lyubomir Dimitrov, Institute of Oceanology, PO Box 152, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria.
In Pobiti Kamani area (Varna, NE Bulgaria) Lower Eocene sandy sediments that contain multiple clusters of up to 8m high calcite-cemented chimney structures. ? 13C values as low as -43 ‰ V-PDB shows a hydrocarbon seepage related origin. The depositional sequence of the shallow marine platform sediments are characterized by several cemented stratal surfaces that cut across the stack structures. In this contribution, the origin of the cemented surfaces are addressed based on sedimentological, petrographical and stable isotope geochemical data and the implications regarding the timing hydrocarbon seepage has been evaluated. Grain size measurements in two continuous vertical sections to differentiate between the two depositional sequences. A cross (TS) and maximum flooding (MFS) surfaces are characterized by extensive calcite cementation, which shows a sequence stratigraphic control on cementation. Different cement types have been recognized. Most stable isotope signature of these cements suggest precipitation from Lower Eocene marine pore fluids that are affected by the recent rapid reset. ? 13C depletion of the dominant pore cementation "mosaic" of cement as low as -20.6 ‰ V-PDB also supports a pre-compactional influence of hydrocarbon seepage, which reduces within the m-distance from the chimney clusters. The FSM near the top of Dikilitash Formation is partly transparent poikilotopic calcite cemented in Keystone vugs and type in interparticular porosity. A very early diagenetic origin? 13C depletion (-16 ‰ V-PDB) indicate that hydrocarbon-bearing fluid percolated through the sandy sediments near the seabed at the end of? Upper Ypresian. Other coarse-grained, 13C depleted (-26 ‰ V-PDB) concretionary horizons probably resulted from post-sedimentary lateral migration of seepage fluids.

About the Author

He has a background as civil engineer and geoscientist. He has worked mainly within the oil and gas industry from the mid 1980s. He has written some few fictional novels as well as author of some professional litterature within oil and gas sector, he is now an editor of some web sites, mainly within the travel business.
www.ec-ba.com/oilgas.html
www.lulu.com/stig

big impasto oil painting & our photographer arrives at SS art Studio