Geophysical fluid dynamics at deep levels in the lithosphere in the Ciscaucasia

Abstract

The geophysical fluid dynamics at deep levels in the Ciscaucasia lithosphere is analyzed. The analysis shows that this structurally complex region lacks geological ability to ensure spatially extended hydraulic communication between all closely spaced geoblocks. Given zero meteoric water flows and deficient connate water, the phenomena observed in all basins are reflective of major vertical downward flows of fluids between geological formations along high-amplitude faults and discontinuities, and point at the dominating nature of a cardinally new type of hydrodynamic systems – the upper and lower hydrogeological levels. The regional and local oil and gas contents in any geological environment is a complex function of various factors and different-scale multi-vector fluid dynamics mechanisms and processes, such as generation of hydrocarbons, their primary and secondary migration, formation and spatial arrangement of reservoirs, conservation and dissipation of oil and gas accumulations. This is an integral effect of interrelation of geodynamic and geophysical fluid dynamic processes, which conditions dependence of oil and gas content on the geophysical fluid dynamics in a region – hydrogeochemical, groundwater dynamics, thermobaric conditions, etc. These dependences can be used as the reliable qualitative and quantitative criteria for hydrocarbon exploration at minimized risk and maximized efficiency of geological exploration.The study was carried out under the state contract with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Project No. 075-00069-20-02 dated 10 September 2020, Topic No. AAAA-A20-120092590017-4.