Basic intrusives and hydrocarbonic potential of the South-East Baltic

Abstract

The Paleozoic rocks of Kaliningrad oblast and the adjacent areas of the SE Baltic Sea have recently became exploration targets. The small size and number of prospective structures, as well as the small size of the oil reserves in the onshore areas, have resulted in a decline in production and a decrease in exploration activity. At the same time, previous studies conducted by the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and other institutions show that the SE Baltic Sea contains numerous yet-to-be-explored structures, which could be attractive exploration targets. Recent studies indicate that the region was intensely intruded by numerous diabase sills, which cut across Paleozoic reservoir rocks. This fact may have both positive and negative implications for the petroleum potential of the basin and should be taken into account in outlining the possible future directions for resource exploration. This study presents data on the distribution, sizes, ages, composition, and volumes of the mafic intrusions and discusses their thermal effects on the petroleum potential of the SE Baltic Basin.