MARGINAL TROUGHS OF THE SOUTHERN SIBERIAN PLATFORM AND THE METHODS OF THEIR GEOLOGICAL STUDY WITH THE AIM OF BUILDING UP HYDROCARBON RESOURCE BASE IN THE IRKUTSK REGION

A. G. Vakhromeev1, A. V. Pospeev2, O. E. Kravchuk3, D. P. Gladkochub1

1Institute of the Earth’s Crust SB RAS, Irkutsk, 2The Irkutsk Scientific Center SB RAS, Irkutsk, 3Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Irkutsk Region, Irkutsk

Major explored oil fields of the Lena-Tunguska petroleum province are put into production. Gas fields in the province are rapidly prepared to production. At the same time, subsurface users are getting less interested in the Irkutsk Region, and geological exploration rates decrease there. The authors suggest shifting of exploration for hydrocarbons from the central regions of the Siberian Platform to its periphery: the marginal (pericratonic) troughs and zones of their junction to the explored petroleum regions (Angara-Lena and Nepa-Botuoba). The methodology involves critical rethinking of the paradigm of formation of oil accumulation zones in the region, on the one hand, and new algorithms to use and integrate geological and geophysical tools, taking into account the new technology level of geological exploration, on the other hand. A fundamental change in the approach to geological study of pericratonic troughs is assumed to increase the exploration rate of hydrocarbon resources and reserves and support the project base of the Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean oil pipeline, as well as the development of advanced oil and gas refining at oil refinery plants in the south of the Irkutsk Region.

Key words: oil and gas fields, exploration for hydrocarbon pools in the Siberian Platform, geological exploration technologies, natural Riphean-Vendian-Cambrian reservoirs.

DOI 10.20403/2078-0575-2016-4-75-83