South Caspian Apsheron trend Geology overview

South Caspian Apsheron
trend Geology
Dr. Arzu Javadova

2
South Caspian
Generlised Pliocene
Paleogeography

Apsheron Trend source rock supplier
• It is the land, located to the north from Apsheron peninsula. That source
was the supplier of coarse quartz material with insignificant admixture of
potassic feldspar (orthoclase and microcline) having the subordinate
meaning. The sedimentary material was removed mainly by PaleoVolga
and PaleoSamur.
• The 2nd source are the Mesozoic rocks of the Greater Caucasus. They
supplied mainly the feldspars expressed by acid plagioclases as well as
the clayey shales, vein quartzes. The material was supplied by
PaleoSumgayit and PaleoKura.
• The 3rd source of feeding – the Lesser Caucasus (Talish mountain
system) – had appeared in the second half of the Productive Series. The
typical component of that source were the fragments of effusive,
volcanic glass; the main supplier of the 4th source were PaleoAmudarya
and PaleoUzboy.

South Caspian
Basin.
Middle Pliocene
Location of Paleo
Delta, Shelf &
Slope Complexes

South Caspian Basin.
Middle Pliocene Location of Paleo Delta, Shelf &
Slope Complexes
• Results of the paleotectonic analysis allows supposing the migration of
PaleoVolga southward during the Jurassic- Cretaceous and Neogene
time. The Upper Paleo Volga located on the Russian Plain, and the mouth
parts (i.e. those basins where paleovalley flew into) were located within
the South Caspian megadepression
• The presence of wide delta front beyond the shelf edge points
unambiguously to presence of deep-water tectonic depression on its the
western – southwestern edge. Judging form the width of delta front
complex on the initial phase of the slope built-up, the depth of
depression was approx. 500-700 m and more. It was inherited from the
Pontial relict Parathetis. To the end of the Early Pliocene it expressed a
closed noncompensated basin framed everywhere by great mountain
constructions and abrasion-denudation peneplain plains

South Caspian
Facies-Distribution-Systems

South Caspian
Facies-Distribution-Systems
•Proceeding from the lithofacial and paleotectonic peculiarities of
the MesoCenozoic deposits one can suppose on presence of delta of
PaleoSamur, PaleoKura in the Mesozoic time, PaleoAmudarya and
PaleoUzboy in the Pliocene time on the south.
•In the eastern part of Apsheron archipelago – in Apsheron-
Krasnovodsk anticlinal zone – the uplift of Apsheron-Pribalkhan
zone is observed clearly enough; the uplift is typical for the
miogeosynclinal area that make an independent tectonic stage on
the whole. Here the thickness of Pliocene-Miocene-Paleogene
deposits reduces with high hypsometric and stratigraphic levels of
folding mirror and its gradual fading in the northeastern direction
towards the Epihercian platform.

WIAG Focus Area
Deep FaultAp
sno
sheron Kra
vodsk Anticlin
one
al Z
Krasnovodsk
Trough
Pre Cheleken Anticlinal Zone
Pre
Apsheron
Antic nal Zone
liAnticlinal Zone
Fatm
ai Zykh Shakh Deniz
Shab
andag
Lokb
atan
G
aradag
Anticlinal Zone
(Ring
Zone)
Kusar
Kelkor
Trough
Lenkoran - Gorgan
Mil - Chikishlyar
Apsheron
JeyrankechmezS
or
WBderofEpyn
ersen Platform
WIAG Well
Lenkoran
-Talysh
GEORGIA
IRAN
ARM
ENIA
RUSSIA
KAZAKHSTAN
4000 800km
AZERBAIJAN
CASPIAN
SEA
TURKMENISTAN
South Caspian
Facies
Shallow water Apsheron
trend

Apsheron Trend General geology
• As increasing the rate of downwarping of the basin floor the outlines
of basin of the Productive Series were expanded; the sea flooded a
significant part of land on its flanks. The boundaries of basin moved
further to the northwest. At the same time the deltas of PaleoVolga and
other paleo rivers stepped back. Analysis of actual material on the
Absheron archipelago shows that among the presence variety of
facies the great accumulations of oil and gas in the bottom suites of
Productive Series are mainly corresponded to the sand-silt sediments
of alluvial-deltaic and coastal marine genesis.
• In this connection the structures like Sevinj, Mayskiy, Dan Ulduzu,
Yakubov, etc. can be regarded as high perspective with small
concentration of HC. These structures locate in zones of development
of mapped nearentry and deltaic systems in Kalin and Lower Kirmaki
times, as well as along the coastal and littoral (regressive,
transgressive) bars - in following times of the first half of the Middle
Pliocene. The traps in lagoon (lacustrine and alluvial-riverbed facies of
Kirmaki suite and Upper Kirmaki Clayey on the north of Apsheron
zone) could be the oil-and-gas bearing also.

South Caspian
Facies
• Within Apsheron Trend the seismic survey had determined the presence
of 2 anticlinal zones: Apsheron-Krasnovodsk – relatively calm, gentle,
transitional to platform; and Absheron-Cheleken – sharply dislocated,
typically geosynclinal and divided by Kusar-Kelkorian synclinorium
• Local structures in the part of Apsheron-Krasnovodsk zone of uplifts are
grouped into 3 anticlinal lines. The northern – anticlinal line begins from
the anticlinal terrace of Apsheronskaya bank, stretches further the
southeast and includes such folds like Khazri, Gilavar, Dan Ulduzu,
Ashrafi, Karabagh; the Central – anticlinal line starts from fold West-
Apsheron and stretches to the structural protrusion Khali-2 through folds
Apsheronskaya bank Central, East-Apsheron, Khazri, Khazri-2, Novkhani;
the Southern - anticlinal line joins such local uplifts like Kamni Dva Brata,
Tsurupa, Mardakani-more;

Explanation of Regional Seismostratigraphic section
• This slide demonstrates the paleoreconstruction of the section transversely the bar-like structure on the
slope of Karabogaz arch. Their correlation with the elementary scheme of forming of the asymmetric
structures allows to clear up the mechanism of forming of the sedimentary cover flexure over the protruded
edges of blocks of Apsheron facies.
• Anticlines with steep south sides reflect the fault scarps of Apsheron facies. Here as a result of dynamic
pressure and protrusion of the Oligocene - Miocene plastic clays the asymmetric folds had formed. The
negative structure – Kelkorian trough – was forming over the subsided blocks. So, the positive and negative
structures of the sedimentary cover on the northeastern near-flank zones of the South Caspian depression
are even-aged and conjugated in development owing to replacement and turn of basement blocks in the
Neotectonic time. In the Paleogene time the intermediate massif (Godin protrusion) was keeping on
submersion although it occupied a relatively high position with respect to mobile blocks of the Earth crust.
Thus, from the seismic analysis and paleotectonic reconstructions it follows that in site of dissection of basin
floor and drying out of the peripheral parts of the Lesser Caucasian, Elburs and Kopetdagh geosynclines, the
territories of the Lower Kura, South Caspian and Western Turkmenian depressions represented a deep-water
basin of the compensated sagging on the oceanic crust from the Upper Jurassic till the Eocene.
• The basin was formed on the stage of extension and riftogenesis. The boundary of the Paleogene and
Neogene epochs is expressed by the significant manifestation of Alpine phase of folding. The beginning of
general inversion, excavation of the outcoming surface of smoothing and transformation of the Alpine –
Kopetdagh geosyncline to the orogenic development are related with mentioned above. The initial outlines
of the modern mountain constructions were founded at that time.
• Areas of sediments turned into the areas of remove. Anticlinal structures of the North Apsheronian belt,
partially came out from the sea level to the Late Miocene, had played a role of natural barrier for the
turbidite flows reducing their penetration into the South Caspian depression.

Apsheron Trend Structurtal evaluation overview
• The cores of future anticlinal structures had been already formed to the beginning of the
Middle Pliocene time.
• Anticlinal structures and disjunctive dislocations had consedimentray type of evolution in the
Middle Pliocene time.
• More intensive process of folding had appeared at the end of Akchagilian time and the
Lower Apsheronian time; to the end of Apsheronian time the structural plan of zone had
changed, the structures had more stand apart. The most submerged structure of that time
became Kapaz fold (unlike the time of sedimentation of the upper part of the Pliocene, where
the most submerged were the folds named after Barinova – Block 1).
• Large longitudinal and cross ruptures, recorded in the arch parts of all structures had
influenced upon the lithofacial and capacity peculiarities of sedimentation process of the
Pliocene – Quaternary complex of deposits.
• The process of folding keeps on at present too. The factors such as mud volcanism (Livanov
bank, Guneshli), gas eruptions (Zhdanov bank and LAM bank), data of test drilling that
revealed the thinning of recent sediments to the arch parts of the local uplifts, erosion of
the root rocks in the arch parts of the structures testify the mentioned process.

Apsheron Trend Tectonic overview
• The tectonic activity in the South Caspian depression reaches its apogee in
the Quaternary time. The range of vertical tectonic movements increases to
1000-1500 m.
• The structures of depression feel the most dislocation near its outer framings,
where the angles of sides incline increased to 60-70°, and the core of folds is
complicated by diapirs form the clayey Oligocene-Miocene deposits.
• The intensive downwarping of the middle part of the depression draws into
submersion the structures near the edge of the recent shelf. As a result they
avoided the denudation and crushing, on the contrary here the traps are
relatively gentle, have less complex structure and firm fluid trap caps.
• The folds such as diapir, cryptodiapir, nearfault, overfault, general
crumping, buried and of inherited type had got the development in the
Pliocene – Quaternary structural stage.
• Some structures, directed by one side to nearby outer framing, were
developing as typical nearfault structures on the initial stage of their
forming. Over them the typical brachyanticlinal folds had acquired the
development in the Late Pliocene deposits.

Apsheron Trend Tectonic overview
Continuation
• The most intensive orogenesis of the Lower Pliocene end during the Neogene’s
period had brought to the rapid shallowing and significant narrowing of the
Pontian Sea to the beginning of the Middle Pliocene (Pontian + Productive Series)
and reanimation of the Miocene and more ancient breaks. At the same time the
appearance of mountain massifs had promoted the widening of hydrographic
network and increasing of volume of the incoming water flow into the sedimentation
basin. As a result the Caspian Sea depression was down warping intensively, it was
the reason of sea narrowing under the increased volume of river water.
• The discontinuation of strong multiphase reflection is observed on great depths (8.5-
9 km) oriented transversely the strike of structures of the tectonic belt. The
reflection is corresponded to the denudation surface of the Apsheron facies
submerging southwestward. The upward swelling of the Mesozoic layers typical for
the technical inversion is observed in the mentioned structures of the Apsheron
Trend. It is obvious that in the present region the Apsheron facies is sinking under
the Mesozoic geosynclinal megacomplex

Azerbaijan Apsheron Trend. Regional
•In zone Apsheronskaya bank – Gilavar – Khazri the Mesozoic folds sink under the Sumgayit superposed
trough filled with the Tertiary deposits. It makes difficult to correlate this zone of uplifts with large
elements of the southeastern submersion of the Greater Caucasus. The North Apsheronian group of
uplifts with their northern terrace-like undulations are the diverse structures and reflect the plan of
folding of various stratigraphical complexes. Apsheronskaya bank and other North Apsheronian
structures have obviously inverse nature with respect to the Absheron facies.
• As for the eastern structures their origin and development is imagined somewhat different on the base of
seismic-stratigraphic analysis. In particular, along the surface of the Apsheron facies in the southern and
southwestern near-slope zones of Karabogaz arch a horst-like (bar-like) structure is distinguished and
uplifts Garadashlig (Turkmenian secor), Vurgun, Karabagh, Galaba, Khamdem, mapped along the
seismic horizon 4 (Jurassic tops) are the inherited from blocks of that structure. Here, under the
laminated series a tectonically crashed substratum (deposits) is distinguished from the surface of which
the intensive diffracted waves are formed.

Apsheron Trend, Main Stratigraphy units overview
Kalin time (Ка) – the sea floor of Kalin Sea expressed a poor dissected plain surface like in Pontian time.
Paleoislands and shallow water existed in sea; they were the extra source of sedimentary material remove.
On the Absheron Trend the sand content of Kalin time in the western part of the trend is more than on its
eastern part. In some cases the general Pliocene structural stage is not corresponded to the Miocene one.
It is related with that the displacement of the Pliocene arches of structures relatively the Paleogene-
Miocene one occurs from depression flanks to its center.
Lower Kirmaki time (PK) – The sea widened and in some cases the PK lies on deposits (Oligocene-
Miocene) more ancient than the Productive Series. At that time new coastal islands like Apsheronskaya
bank, Mardakani-more,etc. appear. In the Apsheron Trend in PK the sand content increases from the west
to the east as moving away from the Caucasian source of terrigenous materials remove. On the whole the
thickness of that suite increases from south than West Apsheron, Darvin bank to the center till Kapaz and
the south to Bakhar.
Kirmaki time (KS) – the sea keeps one widening. The down warping of the South Caspian continuous as
well. In the Apsheron Trend the lowers of KS are expressed by more sand content than its whole upper
part. The general sharp increase of thickness from the south to Apsheron Trend is explained that that time
the tectonic movements were more active that positively promoted the sedimentation. In Apsheron Trend
the thickness is stable, and the sand content is greater than in Baku archipelago.

Apsheron Trend, Main Stratigraphy units overview
Upper Kirmaki Sandy Suite (NKP) – In Absheron Trend it characterizes by 40-80% of sand content of the
total thickness. This suite is more clayey in Baku archipelago than in Apsheron Trend.
During Upper Kirmaki Clayey Suite (NKG) the sea widens and deepens, it promotes to accumulation of
clayey series. The geotectonic regime of the area was clam
During the sedimentation of "Pereriva" suite the basin shallowing occurs due to regional rise of the basin
floor. But the sea boundaries stay nearly fixed. It is explained that shallowing took place in the coastal
water area parts. As a result everywhere the transition to "pereriva" suite was characterized by
interformational wash-outs on account of mentioned regional rise of basin floor. The suite thickness
increases from 150-200 m, about 80-90 m in the peripheral part. All parameters of reservoir properties of
that suite towards Apsheron archipelago are improved.
On arches of major structures of Apsheron Trend the upper group of the Productive Series is eroded and
from viewpoint of oil-and-gas content has the practical interest on those fields where that group is
screened by large breaks or closed and the Upper Pliocene deposits (Surakhani, Sabunchi and Balakhani).
Unlike Baku archipelago the deposits of Surakhani and Sabunchi are clayey in all sections of Apsheron
Trend.

Azerbaijan North Apsheron part.Regional
(After P.Mamedov)

Azerbaijan North Apsheron part.Regional
•On arches of major structures of Apsheron Trend the upper group of the Productive Series is
eroded and from viewpoint of oil-and-gas content has the practical interest on those fields
where that group is screened by large breaks or closed and the Upper Pliocene deposits
(Surakhani, Sabunchi and Balakhani). Unlike Baku archipelago the deposits of Surakhani and
Sabunchi are clayey in all sections of Apsheron Trend.
•The North, Central and South anticlinal zone by the example of Khazri – Sevinj – Novkhani –
Ashrafi - Karabagh, is separated by the vast Kusar-Artem-Kelkorian trough from the
anticlinal zone Khali - Neft Dashlari - Guneshli. The thinning of some horizons of Kalin and
Lower Kirmaki suites of the Productive Series lowers is clearly observed on the northeastern
flank of that though on the periclinal and side parts of the buried structures. It allowed
distinguishing here the stratigraphical traps favorable for oil and gas deposits preservation.
But it is not excluded that on some structures (except the Productive Series) the sections of the
Miocene and the Upper Cretaceous also will be the oil-and-gas bearing ones.

Azerbaijan
North
Apsheron zone
Regional
(After P.Mamedov)

Azerbaijan North Apsheron zone. Regional
•According to drilling data within Apsheron-Pribalkhan zone (that includes a part of shallow
Transitional zone by the example of Absheronskaya bank, Khali, Chilov, Neft Dashlari, and
further Guneshli, etc.) a wide distribution of deposits of Kirmaki, Lower Kirmaki and Kalin
suite with commercial oil and gas deposits are determined.
•The regional and local decrease of thickness of the Pliocene and Miocene-Oligocene deposits is
observed in the northwestern direction of Transitional zone in region of Kamni Dva Brata.
Here on the Mesozoic bed the adjacency of the Miocene-Oligocene layers transgressively
overlapped by the Pliocene deposits is clearly observed. Here the presence of the lithologic-
stratigraphical traps is not excluded.
•Some structures the Mesozoic deposits with the Middle Pliocene (Tsurupa bank), Eocene –
Oligocene (Apsheronskaya bank), Maikopian deposits (Khazri)

Azerbaijan North Apsheron zone. Regional
(After P.Mamedov)

Azerbaijan-North Apsheron zone.Regional
• The drilled wells 1 and 2 on arch of structure Khazri had entered the underlying (Miocene)
deposits from the upper part of Kirmaki suite and did not discover the oil-and-gas bearing
objects of Kalin and Lower Kirmaki suites in its section. Only due to detail seismic surveys it
was possible to determine the thinning zone and stratigraphic traps in the examined water
area.
• This slide also shows the fragments of time sections, illustrating the fragmentation, stretch
along the ruptures of basement, displacement and subsidence of its blocks in zone of joint of
the EpiPaleozoic platform and the Alpine geosyncline. The fragmentation with horizontal
dimensions of blocks is typical for the Apsheron facies on the south slopes of Karabogaz arch.

Azerbaijan North Apsheron zone
Top Cretaceous structure map
(After P.Mamedov)

Top Cretaceous
(After P.Mamedov)

Top Cretaceous.Seismic
• On the steep slopes of the Cretaceous surface the signs typical for denudation and landslide slopes are observed. On the arches of the
mentioned structures the Mesozoic deposits contact with the Middle Pliocene (Tsurupa), Eocene – Oligocene (Apsheronskaya bank) and
Maikopian (Gilavar - Khazri) deposits. The Neocomoian barrier reef is forecasted within PriBalkhanian tectonic zone on Monduklin
field. On the base of geomorphological analogy of the South Caspian depression with the Gulf of Mexico and PriCaspian depressions the
oil-and-gas presence of reefogeneous formations of the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous is revealed on the marine continuation of
Tengiz-Beshbarmag anticlinorium. Reefogeneous objects had been revealed on Apsheronskaya bank. Tectonically, the examined field is
corresponded to the northeastern margin of shelf and basin slope of the Mesozoic paleoland that orogenically was distinguished as a
peninsula within the North Apsheron water area. But the platform zone of downwarping on the north in the area of eastern structures
(Guneshli, Dan Ulduzu, Neft Dashlari) and Apsheron Peninsula in the Mesozoic and Early Paleogene time was under the water and
expressed the sedimentation areas. The southeastern continuation of that paleoland passes into the narrow stripe of the Mesozoic
carbonate clinoform scarp the surface reflection of which is Apbsheron trough.
• Seismic points how the flooded river valleys and riverbeds on shelf are one of the more typical examples of the exogenous relief. These
valleys are filled with series of terrigenous deposits forming the accumulative forms of the floor relief. So, for example the terrigenous
sediments filled the wide (to 5-10 km) and deep (to 0.5 km) cuts of PaleoVolga (on the Cretaceous and Eocene deposits) on the Middle
Caspian have the accumulative form of the submeridional strike with dimensions 17 х 7 km, amplitude as 100 m. The presence of
shallow cuts on the eastern part of the South Caspian is typical for the Pliocene branching riverbeds and channels of fan deltas of
PaleoUzboy. The cuts are filled with crossbedded sands (thickness to 50-100 m). The glacial deepenings with erosion nature are
distinguished with great depth (to 0.5-0.8 km) and width (to 10-20 km) as well. One of such deepenings is traced in the upper section in
lowers of the Quaternary deposits in region of structures Arzu – Khazri of North Apsheron Trend.

Azerbaijan-North Apsheron zone.Seismic
• This Seismic mentions that the stoppage of reflections along the scheme of erosion cut is
observed on slopes of the Mesozoic protrusions.
• It testifies to denudation processes and submarine erosions during the long-term break. Here
the Mesozoic protrusions are observed in relief. The stepwise submersion of the Mesozoic
deposits in the southeastern direction is also observed.
• The forecasted depth of its surface on Khazri (4500 m) and Arzu (4000 m) had been
confirmed by the following drilling of wells on that structures. On arches of some structures
the Mesozoic deposits contact with the Middle Pliocene (Tsurupa), Eocene – Oligocene
(Apsheronskaya bank), Maikopian deposits (Khazri)

Azerbaijan Apsheron Transition zone .Seismic
The seismic-stratigraphic analysis shows that on field of studies the Upper Mesozoic deposits are stated
along the flexure-shaped bend of layers. The Cretaceous flexure is the inherited from the older. It is
known that the flexures are the key structural elements of oil-and-gas bearing provinces controlling the
zones of development of barrier reefs on flanks of noncompensated paleodepressions. Reef А (occurs on
depth 3.3-5 km) with a great thickness is traced in the northwestern – southeastern direction for 8 km
with 1.5-2 km width. This reef is elongated on the old terrace and overlapped by the laminated deposits of
the Cretaceous age and represented as subparallel intensive reflections on the time sections
•The localized zone of reduced thickness is clearly observed in upper-reef series. Reef А is of the Upper
Jurassic age. Reef В is distinguished within the Cretaceous deposits. The subparallel configuration of
deposits in the shallow back-arch zone and crossbedded configuration in the deep-water pre-reef zone
points to the presence of marginal reef here. One of the effective means to reveal the reefs is the analysis
of rates. The calculation of interval rates and correlation of series according to rate parameters had been
performed on the profiles 812555 and 823755. On diagrams of interval rates the abnormal high values
that exceed the values of rates in the adjoining series for 10-12% are corresponded to the structure of
consolidation over the reef В.
•Reef А (occurs on depth 3.3-5 km) has the dimensions 8 х 2 х 0.6 km. Reef В occurs on depth 2.8-3 km
with dimensions 4 х 2,5 х 0.5 km (Upper Cretaceous)

Azerbaijan Apsheron Transition zone
(After P.Mamedov)

Azerbaijan-North
Apsheron zone
Khazri-Gilavar
structures .
(After P.Mamedov)

Azerbaijan-North Apsheron zone
Khazri-Gilavar structures
(After P.Mamedov)

Azerbaijan North Apsheron
Thickness map of KaS & its lower bench
(After P.Mamedov)

Azerbaijan Apsheron Trend
Seismic section
(After P.Mamedov)

(After P.Mamedov)

Paleogene Miocene thickness map
(After P.Mamedov)

Azerbaijan Apsheron
Transition zone
Cretaceous thickness map
This slide demonstrates the
relatively gentle slopes that
can be observed on the
continental edge, in zones
of narrow structural bays,
complicating the ocean
periphery. On such slopes
the submarine plane
erosion was replaced with
canyon one. The canyons
located on slopes and
coming within the shelfs
were probably the channels
of movements of great
sediments masses coming
from the shelf
(After P.Mamedov)

A-velocity Interval diagram B-power analysis
•This Slide demonstrates the electrometric
model of the sand bed where the top line is
horizontal, straight. But the bottom line is
inclined and notched. The electrometric
model of clayey beds is distinguished as
positive with minimal deflection of SP with
horizontal top and bottom lines. Such
model meets the facies of open sea and
large marine bays (the lower energetic
environment under the high sea level).
•This Slide point how within Absheron
archipelago the correlation of rate series
along the profiles allows to trace
confidently and control the unconformities
between the Productive Series and
underlying clayey deposits of the Pontian –
Miocene.
(After P.Mamedov)

Paleotectonic profile & Sedimentation
model of Productive Series lower
bench during bottom downwarping
& extension of basin contour time 10
The critical and local thinning of separate horizons and suites, the
lithological replacement on area, stratigraphical unconformity that
further had brought to forming of the lithologically and
stratigraphically screened traps able to contain significant reserves of
oil and gas accumulations under favorable conditions took place by
the example of the Transitional zone of the Absheron Trend.
But these types of traps are nearly unstudied excluding a couple of
theoretical works on their substantiation and one gas-condensate
deposit in the stratigraphically thinning deposits of Kalin suite on the
south side of field Absheronskaya bank.
(After P.Mamedov)

Azerbaijan Apsheron Trend
(After P.Mamedov)

• The Neogene layers form a flexure in area of joint of the geosyncline with
platform. Poor-expressed anticlines, distinguished on its upper (northern)
side, reflect the basement scarps. Asymmetric anticlines forming the folded
lines of Absheron-Cheleken zone of uplifts, are caused by the flow of the
Paleogene - Miocene plastic clays.
• Judging from the time sections the subsidence of the basement blocks
occurred in the Quaternary time after the forming of the Pliocene covers.
Here the transitional zones form platform to the Alpine mobile belt are also
mentioned.

•After examination with investigations of Prof. P.Mamedov there had been given some seismic profiles where he had revealed
1.graben –trough in zone of joint of the EpiPaleozoic platform and Alpine geosyncline along which the northeastern boundary
of the South Caspian basin is drawn.
2.For the first time he had determined the stages of noncompensated downwarping in the history of the Middle Pliocene basin
development as well as had revealed great clinoforms of delta front and slope genesis in the section of the Red Bed series on the
Turkmenia shelf.
3.He had compiled a scheme of the paleogeographical zones and spatial distribution of deltaic systems of the Middle Pliocene
basin of sedimentation.
•The thickness of the Productive and Red Bed series (5.5-6 km) is 25-30% of the total thickness of the sedimentary cover of the
South Caspian megadepression. In addition, only 0.5-1% of the geological time of the tectonic megacycle (230 million years)
falls to forming of such thick series. The deltaic sedimentation was the main mechanism providing the filling of the
consedimentary shelf basin of the productive and Red Bed series. The basin was developed on the base of deep-water Pontian
relict the tectonic slopes of which were built up by delta front and slope clinoforms
•This Slide points to the lateral built-up of basin slopes by the clinoforms. Biconvex lenses of delta-front complexes thinning
towards from the paleocoasts also corresponded to the class of terrigenous clinoforms. Delta-fronts formed as a result of great
amount of fragmental material supplied by rivers. The regular reflected wave is clearly traced here on 3-4 phases. On the base
of some indirect signs it is corresponded to the surface of carbonate rocks of the Upper Cretaceous that contact with the
terrigenous deposits of the Cenozoic. 5
• the Oligocene – Miocene seismic complex covers the deposits of the Maikopian series. In the Oligocene the edge of Turanian
plate in the Middle Caspian was elongated into the submersion. Simultaneously the regression took place in the shelf part of
sea on the platform. It approved by the bottom adjacency of reflections to the surface of the underlying deposit. The presence
of turbidites here in the section is also mentioned. Turbidites in debris cones near the slope foot are distinguished by the hilly
and uneven image of reflections on the sections along the strike. On the sections transversely the strike, on the continental slope
and near the foot the turbidites are recorded as "flow" seismic facies.
•

Apsheron Trend sedimentation overview
•During the long-term sedimentation – 4.2 million years – and forming of thick to 5.5 – 6 km Middle
Pliocene – Productive Series of alternating sands and clays and their combination there recorded the
development of longitudinal ruptures.
Only in the end of the Middle Pliocene the activity in manifestation of fold-forming processes is recorded.
The rate of sedimentation in the middle reached 1250 m/million years. The active grow of structures
during the period of the Late Pliocene had caused the dislocation of their sides for 3-16° and a whole
series of other peculiarities.
•X horizon of Balakhanian suite, "pereriva" suite, Upper Kirmaki Sandy, Lower Kirmaki, Kalin, substratum
of the Productive Series and the Cretaceous deposits are characterized by the most positive field
geophysical indices of the northern zone of the Absheron Trend. In the Absheron Trend the degree of
fillability of traps is higher than in the Lower Kura depression or in the Turkmenian part of the Absheron
Trend with medium fillability. The deposits of the Turkmenian sector of the Absheron Trend are
corresponded mainly to the upper group of the Middle Pliocene series; they have a medium fillability of
traps and quite often a near-arch location.
• Analysis of dispersal of volumes of the hydrocarbons had showed that according to reserves the
deposits of Absheron Trend exceed the same ones of the nearby areas, it predetermines a high possibility
of unexplored traps in that area.

•Zone of contact of areals of sediments of different facial type is formed from the
mixed type of sediments with sharply deteriorated petrophysical parameters. In
practice such zones could be the actual boundaries of areals of the sediments of the same
type dividing the united formation into the series of the lithologic-facial subformations.
•Three types of sediments had acquired a distribution within the eastern flank of the
South Caspian depression. First of all, it is a "Turkmenian" type (that is correctly should
be called as "Balkhanian") composing the Pribalkhanian zone of uplifts on Gubkin field.
Here the main supplier
• of the fragmental material were mountains of Krasnovodsk, Greater and Lesser
Balakhan. The extremely southern part of the Turkmenian water area and the
eastern part of Iranian water area were formed mainly under the influence of rivers
of PaleoAtrek and PaleoGorgan.
• One more Karakumian subformation runs between Balkhanin and Atrekian
lithofacial types.

• The mountain ridges of Kubadagh and Greater Balkhan on the north, the Lesser Balkhan and the western
submersion of Kopetdagh on the east, the mountain ridges on the south uniting the systems of Turkmenian-
Khorasanian mountains and Elbrus took an significant part in supply of the terrigenous material for forming of
the Red-Bed (Productive) series.
• There were the preconditions thatthe supply area was located far to the north – in the Caspian Sea middle part,
that was eroded during the whole Middle Pliocene time. According to data of recent drilling it did not justified
itself as a concept. The similarity of the structural-textural peculiarities and the common lithologic-
petrographical characteristics of the Red-Bed series of the Turkmenian part of the Caspian Sea with the
Productive Series of Absheron area allow considering that they were deposited in the united basin of
sedimentation, but the supply sources were quite different. From the point of view of oil-and-gas presence it is
important as well.
• The marking out of subformations with lithologically different zones dividing them gives unambiguously negative
conclusion for hypothesis of forming of the oil-and-gas bearing accumulations by the lateral migration for great
(hundred kilometers) distances along the reservoir bed. The presence of subformations could be explained by
the existence of nearby zones, provinces, regions of mainly ready different phase state of the hydrocarbons. The
marking out of subformations explains the differentiation in allocation of hydrocarbon accumulations in the
section of deposits of the united tectonic zone, in particular, Absheron-Pribalkhan zone

•In the South Caspian basin the riftogenesis had a phasic character and manifested in the
Jurassic-Cretaceous, Early Paleogene and the Neotectonic periods. By the means of the seismic
stratigraphic analyses his works illustrate the determining role of riftogenesis in forming of the
modern structure of the sedimentary cover of the South Caspian. It was determined that deep-
water basins alternated periodically by the shallow consedimentary ones in the South Caspian -
Kura intermontane depression on the different stages of development. Both cover and
clinoform bodies divided by the surfaces of unconformity are widely developed in the section of
the orogenic structural stage
•All the structures of Absheron-Cheleken zone are subdivided by the longitudinal and cross
disjunctive dislocations into separate blocks. The regional dislocations with a break in
continuity are traced along all arch parts of all structures of zone, of deep enough and ancient
allocation (possibly, Riphean) complicating the structure of these folds and also playing a
significant role in the process of their forming at present. The majority of structure of this zone
are complicated by mud volcanoes, the craters of which, as a rule, are corresponded to knots of
intersection of great cross and longitudinal dislocations. Analysis of the rupture tectonics shows
that if for Priabsheronian subzone the number of dislocations with a break in continuity
increases with increase deposits occurrence depth, then for Prichelekenian subzone the number
of dislocations decreases with increase of deposits occurrence depth, and only great dislocations
can be traced in the deposits underlying the "red bed series".

Azerbaijan Apsheron archipelago
Formation scheme of structures in vertical section
•The experience and statistics shows that
in major of oil-producing provinces of the
world the most concentrations of oil in
zones of accumulation are related with the
deposits of marine and shallow-marine
genesis; gas – with the continental and
subcontinental deposits.
• In zones of oil-and-gas accumulations of
ancient platforms and intermountain
depressions the oil accumulations prevail;
in recent platforms and submontane
troughs – the gas accumulations as well.
In platform areas the zones of oil-and-gas
accumulation are more often greater than
in the submontane troughs and
intermontane depressions.
• The medium and small zones of oil-and-
gas accumulation prevail in the
submontane troughs and in the
intermontane troughs, though the total
reserves of oil and gas there could be
significant by big stages of oil-and-gas
content.
(After P.Mamedov)

South Caspian Apsheron trend Geology overview

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South Caspian Apsheron trend Geology overview