Chapter 13 The Timan–Pechora sedimentary basin: Palaeozoic reef formations and petroleum systems

Abstract

AbstractIn the Palaeozoic history of the Timan–Pechora sedimentary basin three stages of organic structures are identified: Caradocian–Early Emsian, Middle Frasnian–Tournaisian and Late Visean–Early Permian. The distribution and dimensions of the various organogenic buildups in the Timan–Pechora basin show that Palaeozoic reef formation was regulated by the skeletal reef biota, by the physical and chemical parameters controlling the porostromate calcimicrobes and microbial carbonates, by global eustatic fluctuations of sea-level, and by the tectonic evolution of the Pechora Plate and the Palaeo-Urals Ocean. The development of petroleum systems in the Timan–Pechora Basin is largely controlled by primary (organic substance, its composition, quantity and maturity, continuous sinking of the basin's sedimentary cover) and secondary (stagnation period of sedimentation and the newest tectonic movements) factors. An integrated approach using the geochemical data enabled us to build a reliable model of petroleum genesis for the Timan–Pechora Basin with high probability of evaluating the petroleum potential and the composition of hydrocarbon systems.