PETROLEUM POTENTIAL OF MESOZOIC, PALEOZOIC AND VENDIAN DEPOSITS IN STEPNOI ALTAI AND THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS: GEOCHEMICAL EVIDENCE
N.V. Sennikov, A.N. Fomin, V.P. Danilova, E.N. Ivanova, A.E. Kontorovich, and E.A. Kostyreva
Institute of Petroleum Geology, Siberian Branch of the RAS,
3 prosp. Akad. Koptyuga, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Keywords: Petroleum potential, geochemistry, organic matter, organic matter maturity, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Vendian, bitumens, biomarker, hydrocarbons
Pages: 640-654
Abstract
The petroleum potential of Mesozoic, Paleozoic and Vendian strata in Stepnoi Altai was investigated using geochemical criteria. Maturity of organic matter, distribution of organic carbon, and the contents and composition of bitumens were studied, with the main focus on the molecular composition of saturated hydrocarbons. Bitumens in Paleozoic and Vendian rocks are depleted in asphaltenes because of high maturity of organic matter (up to metamorphic grade) and display the full range of biomarker hydrocarbons typical of phytoplanktonic and bacterial lipids. According to the geochemical evidence, Paleozoic formations may store small accumulations of asphaltene-free light aliphatic syngenetic oil and condensate.
|
