Reference object on the continent - step on the Arctic shelf
Problem statement. To study the Arctic shelf of the Russian Federation, it is necessary to identify a reference object on the continent, similar in geological structure and sufficiently well studied for forecasting and reasonable assessment of oil and gas bearing objects. Research objectives and tasks are to develop recommendations, based on the data on the reference object, that reduce geological risks during geological exploration both in new promising areas and in areas with confirmed oil and gas potential on the RF Arctic shelf. Methods of research include analysis of geological and geophysical information, lithochemical, X-ray diffraction, electron microscopic studies of mineral paragenesis and variations in the composition of oil and gas bearing strata Results. Based on the analysis of the history of the geological development of the West Siberian Plate and its continuation in the Kara Sea shelf on the continent, a reference object was identified - the North Tazovskaya depression - a structure of the second order of the Bolshekhetskaya megasyneclise. Rock complexes and productive horizons transformation signs have been established based on the study of the North-Tazovskaya depression fluid-active area zoning. The presence of established lithogeochemical, mineral and other parameters of the productive horizon makes it possible to predict reservoir rocks or fluid seals, the distribution of which depends on the degree of secondary changes in predominantly layered silicates, which are indicators of fluid dynamic systems with certain thermobarogeochemical parameters. Scope of results. The North-Tazov basin objects study allows to consider this region as a reference object for the Kara Sea shelf. The study of the reference object oil and gas content requires an integrated approach, which, in addition to geophysical methods, also includes methods for studying hydrothermal-metasomatic transformations of rocks and minerals, which will make it possible to carry out geological exploration work more efficiently in the hard-to-reach conditions of the Arctic shelf.