Structure and emplacement of mud volcano systems in the South Caspian Basin

AAPG Bulletin ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 771-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon A. Stewart ◽  
Richard J. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Mud Volcano ◽  
Caspian Basin ◽  
The South ◽  
South Caspian Basin

Earthquakes, Mud Volcano Eruptions, and Fracture Formation Hazards in the South Caspian Basin: Statistical Inferences from the Historical Record

1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 585-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Bagirov ◽  
R. Nadirov ◽  
I. Lerche
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Mud Volcano ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Caspian Basin ◽  
Mud Volcanoes ◽  
The South ◽  
South Caspian Basin ◽  
Fracture Formation ◽  
Significant Damage

Based on data since 1832 from 533 earthquakes and 220 mud volcanoes in the Azerbaijan region, an analysis is given of: (a) the occurrence likelihood of weak, medium and strong earthquakes, the latter capable of causing significant damage; (b) the likely directions from which damaging earthquake waves can arrive; (c) the likelihood of a mud volcano hazard (ejected breccia and/or mud flows and/or flame ignition) in temporal association with an earthquake; and (d) the likelihood of fracture formation associated with mud volcanic eruptions. The Chirag region of the South Caspian Basin is used to illustrate application of the methods because of the potential significance of the region for hydrocarbon exploration involving rigs susceptible to the above hazards. The statistical information would indicate that the occurrence likelihood for a 7-balls or higher damaging earthquake in the Chirag region corresponds to an average waiting time of around 5,000 yrs; a medium strength (6-balls or higher) earthquake should occur, on average, in the region every 1,200 yrs, while a weak earthquake (5-balls or higher) is likely to occur, on average, every 110 years. The most likely direction of longitudinal seismic waves from earthquakes of sufficient strength to cause significant damage in the Chirag region, be the earthquake epicenter in the region or at a remote focus, is roughly east and west, with a slight prevalence for a westward origin. There is some correlation between earthquake actively and mud volcano activity, suggesting that mud volcanoes occur between zero to five years prior to earthquakes. But the correlation is not sharply delineated due to the paucity and quality of currently available data. For surface fractures, associated with mud volcano eruptions, which can be meters wide and can stretch for a kilometer or more, only volcanoes with five or more eruptions were used to estimate the likelihood of fracture occurrence, yielding an average of about 30% chance of occurrence. The low number and low quality of data did not permit any more detailed investigation of fracture parameters – such as average width, length or offset. In view of the potential hazards for oil rigs in the offshore South Caspian Basin, it would seem that organized, high quality, data collection both offshore and onshore should be rapidly undertaken as a vital adjunct to drilling operations in order to sharpen the assessments of risk factors presented here.

scholarly journals Crustal density structure of the northwestern Iranian Plateau

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 1347-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vahid Teknik ◽  
Abdolreza Ghods ◽  
Hans Thybo ◽  
Irina M. Artemieva
Keyword(s):  
High Density ◽  
Central Iran ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Arabian Plate ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Moho Depth ◽  
Caspian Basin ◽  
The South ◽  
South Caspian Basin ◽  
Iranian Plateau

We present a new 2D crustal-scale model of the northwestern Iranian plateau based on gravity–magnetic modeling along the 500 km long China–Iran Geological and Geophysical Survey in the Iranian plateau (CIGSIP) seismic profile across major tectonic provinces of Iran from the Arabian plate into the South Caspian Basin (SCB). The seismic P-wave receiver function (RF) model along the profile is used to constrain major crustal boundaries in the density model. Our 2D crustal model shows significant variation in the sedimentary thickness, Moho depth, and the depth and extent of intra-crustal interfaces. The Main Recent Fault (MRF) between the Arabian crust and the overriding central Iran crust dips at approximately 13° towards the northeast to a depth of about 40 km. The geometry of the MRF suggests about 150 km of underthrusting of the Arabian plate beneath central Iran. Our results indicate the presence of a high-density lower crustal layer beneath Zagros. We identify a new crustal-scale suture beneath the Tarom valley between the South Caspian Basin crust and Central Iran and the Alborz. This suture is associated with sharp variation in Moho depth, topography, and magnetic anomalies, and is underlain by a 20 km thick high-density crustal root at 35–55 km depth. The high-density lower crust in Alborz and Zagros may be related to partial eclogitization of crustal roots below about 40 km depth. The gravity and magnetic models indicate a highly extended continental crust for the SCB crust along the profile. Low observed magnetic susceptibility of the Kermanshah ophiolites likely indicates that the ophiolite rocks only form a thin layer that has been thrust over the sedimentary cover.

Geologic-geochemical and modelling studies of hydrocarbon migration in the South Caspian basin

2020 ◽  
pp. 4-15
Author(s):  
M.F. Tagiyev ◽  
◽  
I.N. Askerov ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sedimentary Cover ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Caspian Basin ◽  
Hydrocarbon Generation ◽  
The South ◽  
South Caspian Basin ◽  
Hydrocarbon Migration ◽  
Upward Migration ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Hydrocarbon Charge

Based on pyrolysis data an overview is given on the generative potential and maturity of individual stratigraphic units in the South Caspian sedimentary cover. Furthermore, the pyrolysis analyses indicate that the Lower Pliocene Productive Series being immature itself is likely to have received hydrocarbon charge from the underlying older strata. The present state of the art in studying hydrocarbon migration and the "source-accumulation" type relationship between source sediments and reservoired oils in the South Caspian basin are touched upon. The views of and geochemical arguments by different authors for charging the Lower Pliocene Productive Series reservoirs with hydrocarbons from the underlying Oligocene-Miocene source layers are presented. Quantitative aspects of hydrocarbon generation, fluid dynamics, and formation of anomalous temperature & pressure fields based on the results of basin modelling in Azerbaijan are considered. Based on geochemical data analysis and modelling studies, as well as honouring reports by other workers the importance and necessity of upward migration for hydrocarbon transfer from deep generation centers to reservoirs of the Productive Series are shown.

Sedimentation in a discharge dominated fluvial-lacustrine system: the Neogene Productive Series of the South Caspian Basin, Azerbaijan

2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 613-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J Hinds ◽  
E Aliyeva ◽  
M.B Allen ◽  
C.E Davies ◽  
S.B Kroonenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caspian Basin ◽  
The South ◽  
South Caspian Basin

Seismic Mapping, Stratigraphy and Subsidence in the South Caspian Basin, Azerbaijan

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.J. Green ◽  
N.R. Abdullayev ◽  
J. Hossack ◽  
G.W. Riley ◽  
A.M. Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caspian Basin ◽  
The South ◽  
South Caspian Basin
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