Exploration geology

The north-west corner of Mongolia has many beauties in summer. Its round-headed bluffs of dark shale, slashed with snow-drifts, rise from rolling downlands covered with a luxurious growth of short, yellow-green grass, brightened by brilliant patches of gentians, crocuses, edelweiss, and other Alpine flowers. Its innocent-looking, but treacherous, bogs give birth to sparkling streams, which form the numerous rivers that flow through barren foot-hills on to still more arid plains, and terminate in large saline lakes. Groups of the dome-shaped tents of the nomads are scattered over the plateaux, and, wherever grass is plentiful, along the edge of both river and lake; countless flocks and herds, the only wealth of their wandering owners, dot this matchless pasture-land, and from a cloudless sky a brilliant sun beats down upon plain and plateau.

@book{doi105962bhltitle28299,
    author = "Carruthers, Alexander Douglas Mitchell and Miller, Jack Humphrey",
    title = "Unknown Mongolia: a record of travel and exploration in north-west Mongolia and Dzungaria",
    year = "1914",
    booktitle = "Hutchinson eBooks",
    abstract = "The north-west corner of Mongolia has many beauties in summer. Its round-headed bluffs of dark shale, slashed with snow-drifts, rise from rolling downlands covered with a luxurious growth of short, yellow-green grass, brightened by brilliant patches of gentians, crocuses, edelweiss, and other Alpine flowers. Its innocent-looking, but treacherous, bogs give birth to sparkling streams, which form the numerous rivers that flow through barren foot-hills on to still more arid plains, and terminate in large saline lakes. Groups of the dome-shaped tents of the nomads are scattered over the plateaux, and, wherever grass is plentiful, along the edge of both river and lake; countless flocks and herds, the only wealth of their wandering owners, dot this matchless pasture-land, and from a cloudless sky a brilliant sun beats down upon plain and plateau.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.28299",
    doi = "10.5962/bhl.title.28299",
    openalex = "W1606831703"
}

@article{prozorovich1971sedimentary,
    author = "PROZOROVICH, G.E.",
    title = "SEDIMENTARY AND EPIGENETICAL TRENDS AIDING THE HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION IN WEST SIBERIA",
    year = "1971",
    journal = "Sedimentology",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.1971.tb01776.x",
    doi = "10.1111/j.1365-3091.1971.tb01776.x",
    number = "3-4",
    openalex = "W2072094486",
    pages = "233-239",
    volume = "17",
    references = "doi1013065ceae3eb16bb11d78645000102c1865d, doi1013065ceae5fb16bb11d78645000102c1865d"
}

The West Sulu Basin lies in the western portion of the Sulu Sea. Republic of the Philippines. It occupies an area in excess of 26,000 square miles (67,000 km2) and is bounded to the west and south by the cordilleran arc extending from the island of Palawan through Sabah and along the Sulu Archipelago to the island of Mindanao. To the north-east, the basin probably extends beyond the edge of the continental shelf in Philippine territorial waters. The basin may be broadly divided into a western platform and an eastern deep: the latter is subdivided by northeast-trending basement ridges into three sub-basins. Sediments deposited in these sub-basins are of Tertiary to Recent age and have been affected by several orogenies and by contemporaneous movements of fault-controlled blocks. This has resulted in truncation and the development of marked erosion surfaces and onlap within the Upper Tertiary section. Many anticlinal features mapped within the basin have resulted from drape over basement highs or from penecontemporaneous growth of these highs. Major unconformities associated with Upper Tertiary tectonic events have been recognized onshore. Extrapolation to offshore areas where these events can be seismically mapped has enabled an interpretative geologic model to be built up. Provisional identification of stratigraphic units and their nature have been made using this model. The Upper Tertiary section within the eastern deep is expected to consist of deltaic and paralic reservoir sands interbedded with, grading into and transgressed by deeper water shale and mudstone with good hydrocarbon source potential. Some limestone lenses may be present. The presence of Lower to Middle Miocene diapiric shale and Plio-Pleistocene intrusives coupled with data of variable quality makes seismic interpretation difficult in some areas. However, several large anticlinal features and a number of stratigraphic and combination traps have been located. A non-commercial discovery of oil and gas has been made in the basin.

@article{bell1974exploration,
    author = "Bell, R. M. and Jessop, R. G. C.",
    title = "EXPLORATION AND GEOLOGY OF THE WEST SULU BASIN, PHILIPPINES",
    year = "1974",
    journal = "The APEA Journal",
    abstract = "The West Sulu Basin lies in the western portion of the Sulu Sea. Republic of the Philippines. It occupies an area in excess of 26,000 square miles (67,000 km2) and is bounded to the west and south by the cordilleran arc extending from the island of Palawan through Sabah and along the Sulu Archipelago to the island of Mindanao. To the north-east, the basin probably extends beyond the edge of the continental shelf in Philippine territorial waters. The basin may be broadly divided into a western platform and an eastern deep: the latter is subdivided by northeast-trending basement ridges into three sub-basins. Sediments deposited in these sub-basins are of Tertiary to Recent age and have been affected by several orogenies and by contemporaneous movements of fault-controlled blocks. This has resulted in truncation and the development of marked erosion surfaces and onlap within the Upper Tertiary section. Many anticlinal features mapped within the basin have resulted from drape over basement highs or from penecontemporaneous growth of these highs. Major unconformities associated with Upper Tertiary tectonic events have been recognized onshore. Extrapolation to offshore areas where these events can be seismically mapped has enabled an interpretative geologic model to be built up. Provisional identification of stratigraphic units and their nature have been made using this model. The Upper Tertiary section within the eastern deep is expected to consist of deltaic and paralic reservoir sands interbedded with, grading into and transgressed by deeper water shale and mudstone with good hydrocarbon source potential. Some limestone lenses may be present. The presence of Lower to Middle Miocene diapiric shale and Plio-Pleistocene intrusives coupled with data of variable quality makes seismic interpretation difficult in some areas. However, several large anticlinal features and a number of stratigraphic and combination traps have been located. A non-commercial discovery of oil and gas has been made in the basin.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1071/aj73003",
    doi = "10.1071/aj73003",
    number = "1",
    openalex = "W2745863662",
    pages = "21-28",
    volume = "14"
}

@misc{fain1977exploration1,
    author = "Fain, Y. B. and Pogonyaylov, V. G. and Bikbulatov, B. M",
    title = "Exploration for oil and gas in West Siberia",
    year = "1977",
    howpublished = "Neftegazovaya Geologiya i Geofizika, v. 2, p. 12-14; English summary in Petroleum Geology, v.14, no.9, 1976, p.379, In Russian",
    note = "talkorigins\_source = {true}; raw\_reference = {Fain, Y. B., Pogonyaylov, V. G., and Bikbulatov, B. M., 1977, Exploration for oil and gas in West Siberia: Neftegazovaya Geologiya i Geofizika, v. 2, p. 12-14; English summary in Petroleum Geology, v.14, no.9, 1976, p.379, In Russian.}"
}

@article{openalexw2241217916,
    author = "Kornev, B. V. and Fain, Yu. B. and Ishayev, U. G. and Kozlova, M. I. and Bikbulatov, B. M.",
    title = "Main Results of Geological Exploration in the Commercial Regions of West Siberia in 1971-75 and Future Plans",
    year = "1977",
    url = "https://openalex.org/W2241217916",
    openalex = "W2241217916"
}

@article{openalexw2204137787,
    author = "Khabarov, V. V. and Nelepchenko, O. M. and Volkov, Yu. N. and Bartashevich, O. V.",
    title = "Uranium, Potassium, and Thorium in Bituminous Rocks of the Bazhenov Formation of West Siberia",
    year = "1979",
    journal = "Sovetskaya Geologiya",
    openalex = "W2204137787"
}

Petroleum exploration is an expensive and increasingly difficult but necessary operation. It requires the use of sophisticated technology and an understanding of the various chemical and geological processes involved in the generation of petroleum from the accumulated organic matter in the source rocks, via organic maturation and migration to the ultimate accumulation of hydrocarbons in the reservoir rocks. During the last decade there has been particular progress made in the study of hydrocarbon source rocks, orqanic maturation and the generation, occurrence and properties of petroleum. These advances and applications are reflected in the present volume. The main aim of Organic Maturation Studies and Fossil Fuel Exploration is to provide a platform for current research, developments, applications and discussion on organic maturation of sedimentary organic matter presented against the ever increasing requirements of petroleum exploration. The book contains papers by geologists, geochemists, chemists and palvnologists, presented at an international symposium held at the University of Cambridge in July 1980. An interdisciplinary approach was adopted and the book contains papers by acknowledged acadernic and industrial experts concerned with organic maturation and petroleum exploration.

@book{openalexw364087571,
    author = "Brooks, James R.",
    title = "Organic maturation studies and fossil fuel exploration",
    year = "1981",
    booktitle = "Academic Press eBooks",
    abstract = "Petroleum exploration is an expensive and increasingly difficult but necessary operation. It requires the use of sophisticated technology and an understanding of the various chemical and geological processes involved in the generation of petroleum from the accumulated organic matter in the source rocks, via organic maturation and migration to the ultimate accumulation of hydrocarbons in the reservoir rocks. During the last decade there has been particular progress made in the study of hydrocarbon source rocks, orqanic maturation and the generation, occurrence and properties of petroleum. These advances and applications are reflected in the present volume. The main aim of Organic Maturation Studies and Fossil Fuel Exploration is to provide a platform for current research, developments, applications and discussion on organic maturation of sedimentary organic matter presented against the ever increasing requirements of petroleum exploration. The book contains papers by geologists, geochemists, chemists and palvnologists, presented at an international symposium held at the University of Cambridge in July 1980. An interdisciplinary approach was adopted and the book contains papers by acknowledged acadernic and industrial experts concerned with organic maturation and petroleum exploration.",
    openalex = "W364087571"
}

This book presents papers given at a conference on unconventional methods in exploration for petroleum and natural gas. Topics include the following: historical aspects of unconventional methods; the future of methane as an energy source; the use of fluorescence techniques in exploration; gravity surveys for prospecting; elctromagnetic surveys; and remote sensing in oil and gas exploration.

@book{openalexw206203613,
    author = "Davidson, M. J. and Gottlieb, B.M.",
    title = "Unconventional Methods in Exploration for Petroleum and Natural Gas III",
    year = "1984",
    abstract = "This book presents papers given at a conference on unconventional methods in exploration for petroleum and natural gas. Topics include the following: historical aspects of unconventional methods; the future of methane as an energy source; the use of fluorescence techniques in exploration; gravity surveys for prospecting; elctromagnetic surveys; and remote sensing in oil and gas exploration.",
    openalex = "W206203613"
}

@article{doi1010160040195186901472,
    author = "Artyushkov, E. V. and Baer, Michael A.",
    title = "Mechanism of formation of hydrocarbon basins: the West Siberia, Volga-Urals, Timan-Pechora basins and the Permian Basin of Texas",
    year = "1986",
    journal = "Tectonophysics",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(86)90147-2",
    doi = "10.1016/0040-1951(86)90147-2",
    openalex = "W2042271930",
    references = "openalexw2417266870"
}

ABSTRACT The 66 fields discovered since the 1960s in the northern West Siberian basin contain at least 22 trillion m3 (777 tcf) of proved gas, almost one-third of the world’s reserves. Half of these fields are giants (> 85 billion m3 or 3,000 bcf of reserves). These include the largest and second-largest gas fields in the world—Urengoy (8.099 trillion m3 or 286 tcf of gas) and Yamburg (4.81 trillion m3 or 170 tcf of gas)—as well as most of the other ten largest gas fields in the world. The West Siberian basin occupies a 3.4-million km2 (1.31-million mi2) arctic lowland immediately east of the Ural Mountains, extending north under the Kara Sea. It is a composite basin, with Mesozoic-Cenozoic basin fill on top of a Paleozoic basin that overlies a crystalline Archean-Proterozoic framework. The productive zones in the northern basin are principally in the Neocomian section (at an average depth of 2,800 m or 9,200 ft) and the Cenomanian section (at an average depth of 1,100 m or 3,600 ft). The former contains reservoirs with gas, condensate, and oil; the latter contains two-thirds of the region’s gas. Gas in Cenomanian reservoirs is almost pure methane. Hydrocarbons in Neocomian reservoirs were generated by thermal maturation of sapropelic organic matter contained principally in the Tithonian Bazhenov shale. Methane in the Cenomanian section appears to be a combination of thermogenic gas from the Bazhenov Suite (or deeper) and biogenic gas generated in the Cenomanian section itself, although workers disagree over how much gas came from each source. Continental glaciation during the Pleistocene may have been important in concentrating the methane in Cenomanian reservoirs. Regional petroleum geology of the northern basin is reviewed, with detailed descriptions of the largest fields: Urengoy, Yamburg, Bovanenko, Zapolyarnoye, and Medvezh’ye. Analyses of the size/frequency distributions and discovery rates of Neocomian and Cenomanian pools indicate that future discoveries will probably be much smaller than in the past, with new giants most likely to be found in remote areas, which are presently untested for transportation and technical reasons. Into the 1990s, the most severe constraint on production from the region will be imposed by available pipeline capacity.

@article{doi10130694886358170411d78645000102c1865d,
    author = "Grace, John D. and Hart, George F.",
    title = "Giant Gas Fields of Northern West Siberia",
    year = "1986",
    journal = "AAPG Bulletin",
    abstract = "ABSTRACT The 66 fields discovered since the 1960s in the northern West Siberian basin contain at least 22 trillion m3 (777 tcf) of proved gas, almost one-third of the world’s reserves. Half of these fields are giants (\> 85 billion m3 or 3,000 bcf of reserves). These include the largest and second-largest gas fields in the world—Urengoy (8.099 trillion m3 or 286 tcf of gas) and Yamburg (4.81 trillion m3 or 170 tcf of gas)—as well as most of the other ten largest gas fields in the world. The West Siberian basin occupies a 3.4-million km2 (1.31-million mi2) arctic lowland immediately east of the Ural Mountains, extending north under the Kara Sea. It is a composite basin, with Mesozoic-Cenozoic basin fill on top of a Paleozoic basin that overlies a crystalline Archean-Proterozoic framework. The productive zones in the northern basin are principally in the Neocomian section (at an average depth of 2,800 m or 9,200 ft) and the Cenomanian section (at an average depth of 1,100 m or 3,600 ft). The former contains reservoirs with gas, condensate, and oil; the latter contains two-thirds of the region’s gas. Gas in Cenomanian reservoirs is almost pure methane. Hydrocarbons in Neocomian reservoirs were generated by thermal maturation of sapropelic organic matter contained principally in the Tithonian Bazhenov shale. Methane in the Cenomanian section appears to be a combination of thermogenic gas from the Bazhenov Suite (or deeper) and biogenic gas generated in the Cenomanian section itself, although workers disagree over how much gas came from each source. Continental glaciation during the Pleistocene may have been important in concentrating the methane in Cenomanian reservoirs. Regional petroleum geology of the northern basin is reviewed, with detailed descriptions of the largest fields: Urengoy, Yamburg, Bovanenko, Zapolyarnoye, and Medvezh’ye. Analyses of the size/frequency distributions and discovery rates of Neocomian and Cenomanian pools indicate that future discoveries will probably be much smaller than in the past, with new giants most likely to be found in remote areas, which are presently untested for transportation and technical reasons. Into the 1990s, the most severe constraint on production from the region will be imposed by available pipeline capacity.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1306/94886358-1704-11d7-8645000102c1865d",
    doi = "10.1306/94886358-1704-11d7-8645000102c1865d",
    openalex = "W2149538473"
}

Based on a 1984 conference, this volume is a compilation of 31 of the papers presented at that conference. These articles address the challenging questions of where the world's explorationists must search for petroleum. Potential and prospective areas discussed include: Antarctica, Circum-Arctic, Alaska, Arctic basins of Canada, Eastern Canada, Amazon, Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Atlantic margin, Arabia, Mozambique, Ghana, Australia, northwestern China, Philippine Islands, west Siberia, Mediterranean, Sicily, North Sea, Norway, Greenland sea, and the Barents sea.

@incollection{doi101306m40454c23,
    author = "Rigassi, Danilo A.",
    title = "Wrench Faults as a Factor Controlling Petroleum Occurrences in West Siberia",
    year = "1986",
    booktitle = "American Association of Petroleum Geologists eBooks",
    abstract = "Based on a 1984 conference, this volume is a compilation of 31 of the papers presented at that conference. These articles address the challenging questions of where the world's explorationists must search for petroleum. Potential and prospective areas discussed include: Antarctica, Circum-Arctic, Alaska, Arctic basins of Canada, Eastern Canada, Amazon, Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Atlantic margin, Arabia, Mozambique, Ghana, Australia, northwestern China, Philippine Islands, west Siberia, Mediterranean, Sicily, North Sea, Norway, Greenland sea, and the Barents sea.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1306/m40454c23",
    doi = "10.1306/m40454c23",
    openalex = "W2060671008"
}

The West Siberian oil-gas province comprises the largest flat land area in the world (3.5 million km, or 1.3 million mi). Over most of the region, elevations rarely exceed 100 m (330 ft). The basin is bounded on the west by the Uralian and Novaya Zemlya uplifts, on the east by the Siberian craton and Taymyr uplift, on the south by the Kazakh and Altay-Sayan uplifts, and on the north by the North Siberian sill. Structurally, the basin is a broad, relatively gentle downwarp filled with 3-10 km (10-33,000 ft) of post-Paleozoic marine, nearshore marine, and continental clastic sedimentary rocks. The basement is composed of Precambrian and Paleozoic fold systems with large areas of partly metamorphosed Paleozoic carbonate and clastic rocks and numerous areas of Paleozoic or older granitic and mafic igneous bodies. In the central part of the basin, the basement is cut by an extensive, northerly-oriented Triassic rift system.

@article{doi103133ofr89192,
    author = "Peterson, James A. and Clarke, James W.",
    title = "West Siberian oil-gas province",
    year = "1989",
    journal = "Antarctica A Keystone in a Changing World",
    abstract = "The West Siberian oil-gas province comprises the largest flat land area in the world (3.5 million km, or 1.3 million mi). Over most of the region, elevations rarely exceed 100 m (330 ft). The basin is bounded on the west by the Uralian and Novaya Zemlya uplifts, on the east by the Siberian craton and Taymyr uplift, on the south by the Kazakh and Altay-Sayan uplifts, and on the north by the North Siberian sill. Structurally, the basin is a broad, relatively gentle downwarp filled with 3-10 km (10-33,000 ft) of post-Paleozoic marine, nearshore marine, and continental clastic sedimentary rocks. The basement is composed of Precambrian and Paleozoic fold systems with large areas of partly metamorphosed Paleozoic carbonate and clastic rocks and numerous areas of Paleozoic or older granitic and mafic igneous bodies. In the central part of the basin, the basement is cut by an extensive, northerly-oriented Triassic rift system.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr89192",
    doi = "10.3133/ofr89192",
    openalex = "W608168198",
    references = "doi1010160040195186901472, doi101017s0016756800033252, doi101029gd001p0053, doi10108000206817609471344, doi101130001676061970812553tuatmo20co2, doi10130694886358170411d78645000102c1865d, doi101306m40454c23, openalexw1492451068, openalexw2202664936, openalexw2204137787, openalexw2241217916"
}

This paper is based on the multiple voices of bards of different ethnic groups, visited during fieldwork in West Mongolia in 1989 and 1990. It looks briefly at the brutal demise of heroic epic performance under the Soviet regime (1921–90) and questions Vladimirtsov's contention that the steppe aristocracy was the creator, bearer, preserver and disseminator of Oirad epics. It suggests instead that epic performance was a ritual and magical activity within the homes of ordinary Mongolian herders as well as in monasteries. This paper presents for the first time the folk and shamanist beliefs and activities surrounding the performance of West Mongolian epics, as well as the power of the epic text, the musical instrument (tovshuur) and the bard. It looks at the religious syncretism within the texts—the object of bowdlerisation by the communists—and at worship of the epic hero as deity. Finally, it contributes to the oral and textual traditions debate by considering the ritual performance of epic texts.

@article{doi10108009681229508567239,
    author = "Pegg, Carole",
    title = "Ritual, religion and magic in West Mongolian (Oirad) heroic epic performance",
    year = "1995",
    journal = "British Journal of Ethnomusicology",
    abstract = "This paper is based on the multiple voices of bards of different ethnic groups, visited during fieldwork in West Mongolia in 1989 and 1990. It looks briefly at the brutal demise of heroic epic performance under the Soviet regime (1921–90) and questions Vladimirtsov's contention that the steppe aristocracy was the creator, bearer, preserver and disseminator of Oirad epics. It suggests instead that epic performance was a ritual and magical activity within the homes of ordinary Mongolian herders as well as in monasteries. This paper presents for the first time the folk and shamanist beliefs and activities surrounding the performance of West Mongolian epics, as well as the power of the epic text, the musical instrument (tovshuur) and the bard. It looks at the religious syncretism within the texts—the object of bowdlerisation by the communists—and at worship of the epic hero as deity. Finally, it contributes to the oral and textual traditions debate by considering the ritual performance of epic texts.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1080/09681229508567239",
    doi = "10.1080/09681229508567239",
    openalex = "W2173176519",
    references = "doi101001jama196403070170143037, doi1043249780203036822, doi105962bhltitle28299, openalexw1511912227, openalexw1520701478, openalexw1559812348, openalexw1562870502, openalexw1574752054, openalexw2025890618"
}

The development of petroleum geochemistry and geology carbon and origin of life petroleum and its products how oil forms - natural hydrocarbons how oil forms - generated hydrocarbons modeling petroleum generation the origin of natural gas migration and accumulation abnormal pressures the source rock coals, shales, and other terrestrial source rocks petroleum in the reservoir seeps and surface prospecting a geochemical program for petroleum exploration crude oil correlation prospect evaluation.

@book{openalexw1558677347,
    author = "Hunt, John M.",
    title = "Petroleum Geochemistry and Geology",
    year = "1995",
    abstract = "The development of petroleum geochemistry and geology carbon and origin of life petroleum and its products how oil forms - natural hydrocarbons how oil forms - generated hydrocarbons modeling petroleum generation the origin of natural gas migration and accumulation abnormal pressures the source rock coals, shales, and other terrestrial source rocks petroleum in the reservoir seeps and surface prospecting a geochemical program for petroleum exploration crude oil correlation prospect evaluation.",
    openalex = "W1558677347"
}

Chronicling the British pursuit of the legendary El Dorado, this work tells the story of geography, cartography, and scientific exploration in Britain's South American colony, Guyana.

@article{doi105860choice382866,
    title = "Masters of all they surveyed: exploration, geography, and a British El Dorado",
    year = "2001",
    journal = "Choice Reviews Online",
    abstract = "Chronicling the British pursuit of the legendary El Dorado, this work tells the story of geography, cartography, and scientific exploration in Britain's South American colony, Guyana.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.38-2866",
    doi = "10.5860/choice.38-2866",
    openalex = "W621213267"
}

@article{doi101016s0166516203000296,
    author = "Katz, Barry J. and Robison, Coleman R. and Chakhmakhchev, Alexander",
    title = "Aspects of hydrocarbon charge of the petroleum system of the Yamal Peninsula, West Siberia basin",
    year = "2003",
    journal = "International Journal of Coal Geology",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1016/s0166-5162(03)00029-6",
    doi = "10.1016/s0166-5162(03)00029-6",
    openalex = "W2107649869",
    references = "doi103133ofr89192"
}

Abstract The relationship between the petroleum potential of the West Siberian province and the Mesozoic to Cenozoic tectonic processes is analyzed. The studies were based on structural and isopach maps of seismogeologic megacomplexes compiled from generalized geological and geophysical data on the province at the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics as well as on the results of interpretation of regional seismic CDP (common depth point) profiles. The main stages of formation of structures of different ranks and faults have been established. It is shown that the petroleum potential of the province was determined mainly by its structure and tectonic processes at the Cenozoic stage of evolution. At that time, the Koltogory–Urengoi megatrench formed, which became the main zone of hydrocarbon generation, as well as large positive structures—petroleum accumulation zones. Also, disjunctions originated, which served as channels for hydrocarbon migration from the oil source rocks of the Bazhenovo Formation to the main Neocomian and Aptian–Albian–Cenomanian petroleum reservoirs of the province.

@article{doi101016jrgg200903012,
    author = "Kontorovich, Vladimir",
    title = "The Meso-Cenozoic tectonics and petroleum potential of West Siberia",
    year = "2009",
    journal = "Russian Geology and Geophysics",
    abstract = "Abstract The relationship between the petroleum potential of the West Siberian province and the Mesozoic to Cenozoic tectonic processes is analyzed. The studies were based on structural and isopach maps of seismogeologic megacomplexes compiled from generalized geological and geophysical data on the province at the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics as well as on the results of interpretation of regional seismic CDP (common depth point) profiles. The main stages of formation of structures of different ranks and faults have been established. It is shown that the petroleum potential of the province was determined mainly by its structure and tectonic processes at the Cenozoic stage of evolution. At that time, the Koltogory–Urengoi megatrench formed, which became the main zone of hydrocarbon generation, as well as large positive structures—petroleum accumulation zones. Also, disjunctions originated, which served as channels for hydrocarbon migration from the oil source rocks of the Bazhenovo Formation to the main Neocomian and Aptian–Albian–Cenomanian petroleum reservoirs of the province.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rgg.2009.03.012",
    doi = "10.1016/j.rgg.2009.03.012",
    openalex = "W2050720246"
}

This is an account of the thorough study of the area that the author surveyed in 1910 and 1911. The area that he describes is located south of Siberia, North of the Tien Shan Mountains West of the Gobi desert and East of Russian Turkistan. Effectively it is the habitat of the Western Mongolian tribes and the plains of Dzungaria. These were the days when the colonizing race between Russia and England was on, and each was looking to extend the sphere of their influence where ever they could. Unlike other adventures, Caruthers does not rush into his travel with the spirit of a dare-devil, rather the travels with a large caravan which include a trained surveyor and equipped with the means of investigating and collecting the flora and fauna, the geology and zoology.The book is in 2 volumes contains 20 chapters and 5 appendices. There are 6 photograph and 5 maps of the areas that he traveled in. Dogulas Caruthers was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society for this exploration.

@book{openalexw1511912227,
    author = "Carruthers, Douglas",
    title = "Unknown Mongolia: A Record of Travel and Exploration in North-West Mongolia and Dzungaria",
    year = "2009",
    journal = "Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information (Royal Gardens Kew)",
    abstract = "This is an account of the thorough study of the area that the author surveyed in 1910 and 1911. The area that he describes is located south of Siberia, North of the Tien Shan Mountains West of the Gobi desert and East of Russian Turkistan. Effectively it is the habitat of the Western Mongolian tribes and the plains of Dzungaria. These were the days when the colonizing race between Russia and England was on, and each was looking to extend the sphere of their influence where ever they could. Unlike other adventures, Caruthers does not rush into his travel with the spirit of a dare-devil, rather the travels with a large caravan which include a trained surveyor and equipped with the means of investigating and collecting the flora and fauna, the geology and zoology.The book is in 2 volumes contains 20 chapters and 5 appendices. There are 6 photograph and 5 maps of the areas that he traveled in. Dogulas Caruthers was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society for this exploration.",
    url = "https://openalex.org/W1511912227",
    openalex = "W1511912227"
}

Abstract Approximately 1700 tcf (∼48 trillion m3) of dry gas (>99% methane) reserves and resources occur in western Siberia, mostly in shallow (<1500 m [<4921 ft]) Cenomanian pools in the northern part of the basin. This dry gas constitutes about 11% of the world's conventional gas endowment and about 17% of the annual gas production. The origin of the dry gas has been debated extensively over the last 45 yr but remains controversial. Widely discussed hypotheses on the origin include early-mature thermogenic gas from coal, primary microbial gas from dispersed organic matter or coal, and thermogenic gas from deep source rocks. However, all these hypotheses are in some ways inconsistent with the molecular or isotopic composition of the gases or the results of basin and petroleum systems modeling. Here, I present geochemical and geological evidence that a significant (although yet not quantified) part of the shallow dry gas in the northern West Siberian Basin originated from methanogenic biodegradation of petroleum. Circumstantial evidence includes the occurrence of heavily biodegraded oil legs and residual oil in many Cenomanian gas pools, as well as geochemical evidence of heavy to slight biodegradation in Jurassic–Albian reservoirs commonly underlying the Cenomanian pools. Direct evidence includes, most importantly, 13C-enriched CO2 in pools with biodegraded oil (although data are limited), which indicates 40–70 wt.% conversion of oil-derived CO2 to secondary microbial methane. Distinctive hydrocarbon molecular and isotopic compositions of most gases in Cenomanian pools (average dryness C1/(sum C1-C5) is 0.9976; average δ13C of methane is −51.8‰) suggest that they represent mixtures of biodegraded thermogenic gases from deep, mainly Jurassic, source rocks and secondary microbial methane with an occasional small addition of primary microbial methane. Contribution of early-mature coal-derived gas is possible in areas with the most significant thermal stress of Hauterivian–Aptian sediments but remains speculative. Review of petroleum habitats of five representative oil-gas-condensate fields in western Siberia (including the world's second largest gas field, Urengoyskoe) suggests that methanogenic biodegradation may best explain the observed distribution and properties of fluids in the shallow reservoirs of those fields. Recognition of secondary microbial gas in western Siberia helps explain the observed dominance of gas in the shallow, cool northern part of the basin, where conditions were more favorable for prolonged petroleum biodegradation than in the central and southern parts of the basin. Secondary microbial gas has been recognized worldwide and may (1) represent a volumetrically significant exploration target in shallow reservoirs (perhaps more significant than primary microbial gas) and (2) indicate effective thermogenic petroleum systems in the deeper sections. Large volumes (up to ∼66,500 tcf [∼1884 trillion m3]) of secondary microbial methane could have been generated from biodegraded petroleum accumulations worldwide. Although a part of that gas accumulated as oil-dissolved, free, and hydrate-bound gas, most gas apparently escaped into the overburden, atmosphere, and ocean and could have affected global climate in the geologic past.

@article{doi10130601051009122,
    author = "Milkov, Alexei V.",
    title = "Methanogenic biodegradation of petroleum in the West Siberian Basin (Russia): Significance for formation of giant Cenomanian gas pools",
    year = "2010",
    journal = "AAPG Bulletin",
    abstract = "Abstract Approximately 1700 tcf (∼48 trillion m3) of dry gas (\>99\% methane) reserves and resources occur in western Siberia, mostly in shallow (\<1500 m [\<4921 ft]) Cenomanian pools in the northern part of the basin. This dry gas constitutes about 11\% of the world's conventional gas endowment and about 17\% of the annual gas production. The origin of the dry gas has been debated extensively over the last 45 yr but remains controversial. Widely discussed hypotheses on the origin include early-mature thermogenic gas from coal, primary microbial gas from dispersed organic matter or coal, and thermogenic gas from deep source rocks. However, all these hypotheses are in some ways inconsistent with the molecular or isotopic composition of the gases or the results of basin and petroleum systems modeling. Here, I present geochemical and geological evidence that a significant (although yet not quantified) part of the shallow dry gas in the northern West Siberian Basin originated from methanogenic biodegradation of petroleum. Circumstantial evidence includes the occurrence of heavily biodegraded oil legs and residual oil in many Cenomanian gas pools, as well as geochemical evidence of heavy to slight biodegradation in Jurassic–Albian reservoirs commonly underlying the Cenomanian pools. Direct evidence includes, most importantly, 13C-enriched CO2 in pools with biodegraded oil (although data are limited), which indicates 40–70 wt.\% conversion of oil-derived CO2 to secondary microbial methane. Distinctive hydrocarbon molecular and isotopic compositions of most gases in Cenomanian pools (average dryness C1/(sum C1-C5) is 0.9976; average δ13C of methane is −51.8‰) suggest that they represent mixtures of biodegraded thermogenic gases from deep, mainly Jurassic, source rocks and secondary microbial methane with an occasional small addition of primary microbial methane. Contribution of early-mature coal-derived gas is possible in areas with the most significant thermal stress of Hauterivian–Aptian sediments but remains speculative. Review of petroleum habitats of five representative oil-gas-condensate fields in western Siberia (including the world's second largest gas field, Urengoyskoe) suggests that methanogenic biodegradation may best explain the observed distribution and properties of fluids in the shallow reservoirs of those fields. Recognition of secondary microbial gas in western Siberia helps explain the observed dominance of gas in the shallow, cool northern part of the basin, where conditions were more favorable for prolonged petroleum biodegradation than in the central and southern parts of the basin. Secondary microbial gas has been recognized worldwide and may (1) represent a volumetrically significant exploration target in shallow reservoirs (perhaps more significant than primary microbial gas) and (2) indicate effective thermogenic petroleum systems in the deeper sections. Large volumes (up to ∼66,500 tcf [∼1884 trillion m3]) of secondary microbial methane could have been generated from biodegraded petroleum accumulations worldwide. Although a part of that gas accumulated as oil-dissolved, free, and hydrate-bound gas, most gas apparently escaped into the overburden, atmosphere, and ocean and could have affected global climate in the geologic past.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1306/01051009122",
    doi = "10.1306/01051009122",
    openalex = "W2102194559",
    references = "doi1010160009254188901088, doi1010160264817288900037, doi101016026481729598381e, doi101016s0009254199000923, doi101017cbo9780511524868, doi10103845777, doi101038nature02134, doi101038nature06484, doi101144petgeo34343, doi1013062f91976516ce11d78645000102c1865d, doi101306a25fe3dd171b11d78645000102c1865d, doi101306ad46094a16f711d78645000102c1865d"
}

On the Russian, West Siberian and some other platforms, sedimentation began with the formation of major grabens (aulacogens). Structures of this type are apparently most common during the initial stages of platform development. The aulacogen and geosynclinal downwarping is associated with epochs of major transgressions while tectonic inversion of aulacogens and orogeny are associated with regressions. Different size platform structures of ancient and young platforms suggest an increase in growth rate during the beginning of transgressions and decrease in growth rate during regressions. All this implies the existence of uniform periodical tectonic processes that may be operative over vast areas of the globe. Average growth rates of platform structures are very low, i.e., 0.15–5 m per Ma. On the ancient Russian platform, such rates were smaller than those on the young West Siberian platform. The duration of structural growth can be rather long. On the young West Siberian as well as on the more ancient Russian platform, structures continue to grow and today many of them are reflected in the topography. This suggests that deep-seated loci of tectonic movements are persistent both in time and with respect to platforms. Major fractures have an even longer duration, often extending over 25 percent of the earth's age. Fractures on the platforms discussed in this paper are most widespread near the top of the basement. They decrease in number in the upper parts of the sedimentary cover and apparently in the lower crust. Deep seismic soundings clearly show that the loci of tectonic movements responsible for the formation of the major and biggest structures on both ancient and young platforms lie below the earth's crust. Their evolution should be concurrent with those of lithosphere plates. The presence of steep fractures is another argument against permanent and considerable horizontal displacements in the earth's crust.

@incollection{doi101029gd001p0053,
    author = "Aleinikov, A. L. and Bellavin, O. V. and Bulashevich, Yu.P. and Tavrin, I. F. and Maksimov, E. M. and Rudkevich, M. Ya. and Nalivkin, V. D. and Shablinskaya, N. V. and Surkov, V. S.",
    title = "Dynamics of the Russian and West Siberian Platforms",
    year = "2011",
    booktitle = "Geodynamics series/Geodynamic series",
    abstract = "On the Russian, West Siberian and some other platforms, sedimentation began with the formation of major grabens (aulacogens). Structures of this type are apparently most common during the initial stages of platform development. The aulacogen and geosynclinal downwarping is associated with epochs of major transgressions while tectonic inversion of aulacogens and orogeny are associated with regressions. Different size platform structures of ancient and young platforms suggest an increase in growth rate during the beginning of transgressions and decrease in growth rate during regressions. All this implies the existence of uniform periodical tectonic processes that may be operative over vast areas of the globe. Average growth rates of platform structures are very low, i.e., 0.15–5 m per Ma. On the ancient Russian platform, such rates were smaller than those on the young West Siberian platform. The duration of structural growth can be rather long. On the young West Siberian as well as on the more ancient Russian platform, structures continue to grow and today many of them are reflected in the topography. This suggests that deep-seated loci of tectonic movements are persistent both in time and with respect to platforms. Major fractures have an even longer duration, often extending over 25 percent of the earth's age. Fractures on the platforms discussed in this paper are most widespread near the top of the basement. They decrease in number in the upper parts of the sedimentary cover and apparently in the lower crust. Deep seismic soundings clearly show that the loci of tectonic movements responsible for the formation of the major and biggest structures on both ancient and young platforms lie below the earth's crust. Their evolution should be concurrent with those of lithosphere plates. The presence of steep fractures is another argument against permanent and considerable horizontal displacements in the earth's crust.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1029/gd001p0053",
    doi = "10.1029/gd001p0053",
    openalex = "W1589124925"
}

@article{crossref2014integrated,
    title = "INTEGRATED ELECTROMAGNETIC AND GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS FOR PETROLEUM EXPLORATION IN WEST SIBERIA",
    year = "2014",
    journal = "Геология и геофизика",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.15372/gig20140518",
    doi = "10.15372/gig20140518",
    number = "5",
    openalex = "W4253749639",
    volume = "55",
    references = "doi101306m66606"
}

Electromagnetic soundings with controlled and natural sources (TEM and MT, respectively) integrated with IP and geochemical surveys have been tested for petroleum exploration in West Siberia. The TEM method, with loop sizes smaller than the depth to the target, provide high resolution, sufficient penetration depth, and data locality. The MT method sounds deeper earth and can place constraints on the Paleozoic basement structure and its electrical properties. The petroleum implications of IP and geochemical data are associated with secondary alteration (mineralization) of rocks over oil traps.

@article{epov2014integrated,
    author = "Epov, M.I. and Antonov, E.Yu. and Nevedrova, N.N. and Olenchenko, V.V. and Pospeeva, E.V. and Napreev, D.V. and Sanchaa, A.M. and Potapov, V.V. and Plotnikov, A.E.",
    title = "Integrated electromagnetic and geochemical surveys for petroleum exploration in West Siberia",
    year = "2014",
    journal = "Russian Geology and Geophysics",
    abstract = "Electromagnetic soundings with controlled and natural sources (TEM and MT, respectively) integrated with IP and geochemical surveys have been tested for petroleum exploration in West Siberia. The TEM method, with loop sizes smaller than the depth to the target, provide high resolution, sufficient penetration depth, and data locality. The MT method sounds deeper earth and can place constraints on the Paleozoic basement structure and its electrical properties. The petroleum implications of IP and geochemical data are associated with secondary alteration (mineralization) of rocks over oil traps.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rgg.2014.05.019",
    doi = "10.1016/j.rgg.2014.05.019",
    number = "5-6",
    openalex = "W2003435269",
    pages = "763-774",
    volume = "55",
    references = "doi101016jrgg200903012, doi10130600aa9a34173011d78645000102c1865d, doi101306m66606c6, openalexw206203613"
}

@article{crossref2015west,
    title = "West Siberia frontier areas exploration via modified seismic velocity analysis",
    year = "2015",
    journal = "Технологии сейсморазведки",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.18303/1813-4254-2015-4-109-120",
    doi = "10.18303/1813-4254-2015-4-109-120",
    number = "4",
    openalex = "W4253036376"
}

The West Siberian Basin Province is one of the largest sedimentary basins in the world, with an area of 2.6 million square kilometers, and the basin ranks first in the world with more than 400 billion barrels of oil-equivalent discovered petroleum. For the 2008 Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal, the U.S. Geological Survey defined a Northern West Siberian Mesozoic Composite Total Petroleum System (TPS) and two geologic assessment unit (AUs) within this composite TPS that are north or partially north of the Arctic Circle. The Northern West Siberian Onshore Gas AU was defined to encompass all potential structures, traps, and reservoirs in the onshore part of the Composite TPS. The South Kara Sea Offshore AU was defined to include all potential structures, traps, and reservoirs within the thick sedimentary section that extends offshore from the Northern West Siberian Onshore Gas AU.

@article{doi103133pp1824q,
    author = "Schenk, Christopher J.",
    title = "Geology and assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the Northern West Siberian Mesozoic Composite Total Petroleum System of the West Siberian Basin Province, Russia, 2008",
    year = "2018",
    journal = "USGS professional paper",
    abstract = "The West Siberian Basin Province is one of the largest sedimentary basins in the world, with an area of 2.6 million square kilometers, and the basin ranks first in the world with more than 400 billion barrels of oil-equivalent discovered petroleum. For the 2008 Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal, the U.S. Geological Survey defined a Northern West Siberian Mesozoic Composite Total Petroleum System (TPS) and two geologic assessment unit (AUs) within this composite TPS that are north or partially north of the Arctic Circle. The Northern West Siberian Onshore Gas AU was defined to encompass all potential structures, traps, and reservoirs in the onshore part of the Composite TPS. The South Kara Sea Offshore AU was defined to include all potential structures, traps, and reservoirs within the thick sedimentary section that extends offshore from the Northern West Siberian Onshore Gas AU.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1824q",
    doi = "10.3133/pp1824q",
    openalex = "W2898526643",
    references = "doi103133ofr89192"
}

This paper focuses on the gas composition and carbon isotopic variation during gas desorption from the shale in Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Silurian Longmaxi Formation. The results show that the desorbed shale gases are predominately comprised of methane (content: 98.36–98.76%) and thus are typical dry gas. As the desorption proceeded, the content of methane gradually decreased, and the drying coefficient (C1/C1-5) of the desorbed shale gases also gradually decreased. The drying coefficient decreased from 98.58 to 99.04% (98.81% on average) of the initial desorbed samples to 88.72–96.78% (94.15% on average) of the final desorbed samples. Based on the variation patterns of gas component ratios during the shale gas desorption, the order of the shale's absorption capacity for different gas components is determined as CO2 > H2 > C3H8 > C2H6 > CH4 > He. The drying coefficient of the shale gas is negatively correlated with the total shale gas content due to the different adsorption capability of shale for gaseous hydrocarbons. The δ13C values tended to become heavier during desorption in general. The δ13C1 values of the initial desorbed samples were the lowest, ranging from −30.71‰ to −25.63‰. In detail, the δ13C values of methane increased by 5.41–25.93‰, while those of ethane increased within a relatively smaller range. The carbon isotopic fractionation is mainly ascribed to diffusion and adsorption/desorption. Moreover, the carbon isotopic fractionation degree of methane was correlated with the shale gas content during the field desorption, suggesting that the carbon isotopic fractionation degree of methane is a potential tool for the identification and selection of favorable sweet spots of shale gas. In addition, the shale gas from Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in west Hubei consists of highly mature oil-cracking gas and kerogen-cracking gas. All of the desorbed shale gas is characterized by isotopic reversal and the extent of the isotopic reversal increased as desorption continued. This is primarily caused by the mixing of the gas from thermal degradation of kerogen with the gas from residual oil cracking and wet gas as well as the diffusion of the shale gas. The carbon isotope reversal of methane and ethane is not directly related to shale gas content.

@article{doi101016jjngse2020103777,
    author = "Li, Shizhen and Meng, Fanyang and Zhang, Xiaotao and Zhou, Zhi and Shen, Bin and Wei, Siyu and Zhang, Shousong",
    title = "Gas composition and carbon isotopic variation during shale gas desorption: Implication from the Ordovician Wufeng Formation - Silurian Longmaxi Formation in west Hubei, China",
    year = "2020",
    journal = "Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering",
    abstract = "This paper focuses on the gas composition and carbon isotopic variation during gas desorption from the shale in Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Silurian Longmaxi Formation. The results show that the desorbed shale gases are predominately comprised of methane (content: 98.36–98.76\%) and thus are typical dry gas. As the desorption proceeded, the content of methane gradually decreased, and the drying coefficient (C1/C1-5) of the desorbed shale gases also gradually decreased. The drying coefficient decreased from 98.58 to 99.04\% (98.81\% on average) of the initial desorbed samples to 88.72–96.78\% (94.15\% on average) of the final desorbed samples. Based on the variation patterns of gas component ratios during the shale gas desorption, the order of the shale's absorption capacity for different gas components is determined as CO2 > H2 > C3H8 > C2H6 > CH4 > He. The drying coefficient of the shale gas is negatively correlated with the total shale gas content due to the different adsorption capability of shale for gaseous hydrocarbons. The δ13C values tended to become heavier during desorption in general. The δ13C1 values of the initial desorbed samples were the lowest, ranging from −30.71‰ to −25.63‰. In detail, the δ13C values of methane increased by 5.41–25.93‰, while those of ethane increased within a relatively smaller range. The carbon isotopic fractionation is mainly ascribed to diffusion and adsorption/desorption. Moreover, the carbon isotopic fractionation degree of methane was correlated with the shale gas content during the field desorption, suggesting that the carbon isotopic fractionation degree of methane is a potential tool for the identification and selection of favorable sweet spots of shale gas. In addition, the shale gas from Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in west Hubei consists of highly mature oil-cracking gas and kerogen-cracking gas. All of the desorbed shale gas is characterized by isotopic reversal and the extent of the isotopic reversal increased as desorption continued. This is primarily caused by the mixing of the gas from thermal degradation of kerogen with the gas from residual oil cracking and wet gas as well as the diffusion of the shale gas. The carbon isotope reversal of methane and ethane is not directly related to shale gas content.",
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2020.103777",
    doi = "10.1016/j.jngse.2020.103777",
    openalex = "W3114040604",
    references = "doi101016jorggeochem2020103997"
}

Despite the modern trends for the decarbonization of power engineering, transportation, and industry, fossil fuels remain in high demand. On the other hand, the gas and oil industries are also interested in energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Drilling of the wells is one of the most environmental danger processes, and reducing the number of wells is an important task that also provides an increase in the overall energy efficiency of the oil/gas mining technological process. Deposit exploration is a necessary part of the petroleum mining industry that determines the presence of fuel resources. The reliable and fast identification of the oil/gas deposits allows for a decrease in the number of drilled research holes. The authors of this article investigated the depth distribution of the hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon components of dispersed gas sampled from the cores of West Siberia shallow wells to quickly refine the boundaries of the layers using a priori information in the form of geochemical correlation. The correlations were established based on the amount of methane, the sum of homologs of methane, hydrogen, and olefines. The results show a decrease in the concentrations of gas components at the boundaries of layers with different lithologies. The term "geochemical seal" is introduced to describe such a phenomenon.

@article{doi101615interjenercleanenv2022047081,
    author = "Naumenko, Vitaliya O. and Ponomarev, Andrey and Kadyrov, Marsel and Tugushev, Oskar A. and Drugov, Denis A. and Nurullina, Tatiana S.",
    title = "GEOCHEMICAL PATTERNS OF DISTRIBUTION OF DISPERSED GAS COMPONENTS IN THE SHALLOW SUBSURFACE OF WEST SIBERIA",
    year = "2022",
    journal = "International Journal of Energy for a Clean Environment",
    abstract = {Despite the modern trends for the decarbonization of power engineering, transportation, and industry, fossil fuels remain in high demand. On the other hand, the gas and oil industries are also interested in energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Drilling of the wells is one of the most environmental danger processes, and reducing the number of wells is an important task that also provides an increase in the overall energy efficiency of the oil/gas mining technological process. Deposit exploration is a necessary part of the petroleum mining industry that determines the presence of fuel resources. The reliable and fast identification of the oil/gas deposits allows for a decrease in the number of drilled research holes. The authors of this article investigated the depth distribution of the hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon components of dispersed gas sampled from the cores of West Siberia shallow wells to quickly refine the boundaries of the layers using a priori information in the form of geochemical correlation. The correlations were established based on the amount of methane, the sum of homologs of methane, hydrogen, and olefines. The results show a decrease in the concentrations of gas components at the boundaries of layers with different lithologies. The term "geochemical seal" is introduced to describe such a phenomenon.},
    url = "https://doi.org/10.1615/interjenercleanenv.2022047081",
    doi = "10.1615/interjenercleanenv.2022047081",
    openalex = "W4312905550",
    references = "epov2014integrated"
}