Hydrocarbon Systems and Estimation of the Probability of Discovery of Oil and Gas Accumulations in the Bering Sea

Abstract

Abstract The results of studying the hydrocarbon systems with application of the modelling techniques using the Schlumberger PetroMod software complexes are considered. Modeling of sedimentary basins of the Bering Sea and their hydrocarbon systems is performed. Estimation of the probability of discovery of oil and gas accumulations related to the marine hydrocarbon systems showed that the highest probabilities of the discovery characterize the GAHS correspondent to the Eocene-Miocene (Mainitsky-Sobolkov) sediments. Probabilities of discovery of the deposits within the younger Gagarin-Avtatkul hydrocarbon systems (Lower to Middle Miocene) are substantially lower. The perspectives of discovery of oil and gas accumulations are related to oil and gas generation and accumulation capacities of insufficiently studied and distributed along the area of the deep-water region Cretaceous-Cenozoic or more ancient sloping deep sea sedimentary complexes, total capacity of which is higher in the northern and eastern near-slope zones of the Aleutian basin comprising 6 to 8 km or more. Studying of the above complexes would apparently facilitate a substantial increase of total hydrocarbon potential of the Bering Sea.