The Paratethys area extends from Central Europe to the borders of the Caspian Sea in Central Asia and hosts a significant number of petroleum provinces, many of which have been charged by Eocene to Miocene source rocks of supra‐regional significance. These include highly oil‐prone Middle Eocene marls and limestones in the Eastern Paratethys (Kuma Formation and equivalents) which are several tens of metres thick. Estimates of the source potential index (SPI) indicate that the Kuma Formation in the northern Caucasus and the Rioni Basin (Georgia) may generate 1 to 2 tons of hydrocarbons per square metre (tHC/m2). This implies that the Kuma Formation may also be an important and additional source rock in the eastern Black Sea.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jpg.12702

Paratethyan petroleum source rocks: an overview

Abstract Oligocene and Lower Miocene deposits in the Paratethys are important source rocks, but reveal major stratigraphic and regional differences. As a consequence of the first Paratethys isolation, source rocks with very good oil potential accumulated during Early Oligocene time in the Central Paratethys. Coeval source rocks in the Eastern Paratethys are characterized by a lower source potential. With the exception of the Carpathian Basin and the eastern Kura Basin, the source potential of Upper Oligocene and Lower Miocene units is low. In general, this is also valid for rocks formed during the second (Kozakhurian) isolation of the Eastern Paratethys. However, upwelling along a shelf-break canyon caused deposition of prolific diatomaceous source rocks in the western Black Sea. Overall, Oligocene–Lower Miocene sediments in the Carpathian Basin (Menilite Formation) can generate up to 10 t HC m−2. Its high petroleum potential is a consequence of the interplay of very high productivity of siliceous organisms and excellent preservation in a deep silled basin. In contrast, the petroleum potential of Oligocene–Lower Miocene (Maikopian) sediments in the Eastern Paratethys is surprisingly low (often <2 t HC m−2). It is, therefore, questionable whether these sediments are the only source rocks in the Eastern Paratethys.

Oligocene and Lower Miocene source rocks in the Paratethys: palaeogeographical and stratigraphic controls

Deep-water depositional systems supplied by shelf-incising submarine canyons: Recognition and significance in the geologic record

Tectonic Evolution of the Eastern Black Sea and Caucasus

Abstract Deepwater hydrocarbon exploration drilling only began in the Black Sea less than 20 years ago, primarily because of the economical/technological challenges associated with mobilizing suitable rigs through the Bosporus. However, to date (end 2017), c. 20 deepwater wells have now been drilled, targeting a large variety of plays in this underexplored basin. The deepwater wells drilled to date are categorized by their main play objectives, within either the sag/post-rift or syn-rift basin fill of the Black Sea. The sag/post-rift play types have proven to be more successful, finding either biogenic gas in Miocene to Pliocene reservoirs associated with the Paleo-Danube and Paleo-Dnieper/Dniester or oil in Oligocene deepwater siliciclastic systems. Syn-rift or early post-rift plays, in contrast, assumed mostly shallow water carbonate reservoir targets. Only one well targeted pre-rift stratigraphy. Most of the exploration failures to date are directly related to the lack of reservoir at the targeted stratigraphic levels. However, the recent discoveries have underlined the presence of at least two active and effective petroleum systems that cover large parts of the deepwater Black Sea Basin.

History of deepwater exploration in the Black Sea and an overview of deepwater petroleum play types

Abstract The Rioni Basin is an underexplored petroliferous basin located at the Georgian margin of the Black Sea flanked by two folded belts (the Greater Caucasus and the Achara–Trialet Belt). Whereas the stratigraphy of the northern onshore Rioni Basin has elements which are common with that of the offshore Shatsky Ridge, the southern onshore Rioni Basin segment is both stratigraphically and structurally akin to the offshore Gurian folded belt in the eastern Black Sea. In the northern basin segment, the existing oil fields (East and West Chaladidi) and an undeveloped oil discovery (Okumi) are related to either post-salt or pre-salt antiformal traps in detachment folds or in poorly understood stratigraphic pinchouts beneath a regional Upper Jurassic evaporite sequence. In the southern Rioni Basin, the oil in existing fields has either anticlinal four-way closures (Supsa) or a subthrust trap (Shromisubani) related to the leading edge of the north-vergent Achara–Trialet folded belt. Despite the long history of petroleum exploration in the Rioni Basin, these proven plays are not fully understood and systematically explored using modern technology. The existence of an Upper Jurassic regional evaporite seal highlights the possibility of pre-salt plays in the northern part of the basin.

Stratigraphy, structure and petroleum exploration play types of the Rioni Basin, Georgia

Abstract Oligo-Miocene (‘Maikopian’) deposits are considered the main source rocks in the Black Sea area, although only a few source-rock data are available. Geochemical logs from nine wells are used together with age constraints provided by calcareous nannoplankton, well and seismic data to determine vertical and lateral changes of the source potential. Oligocene rocks overlie Eocene deposits with a major unconformity on the western Black Sea shelf in Bulgaria. A west–east-trending erosional structure (the Kaliakra canyon) developed during Lower Oligocene time and was filled with Oligo-Miocene deposits. Potential source rocks are present in different stratigraphic units, but the most prolific intervals accumulated during time intervals when the isolation of the Paratethys resulted in oxygen-depleted, brackish environments with high bioproductivity. These include Lower Solenovian rocks related to blooms of calcareous nannoplankton, which form an extensive layer outside the Kaliakra canyon. This unit hosts a good potential to generate oil and gas. Diatom-rich, very good oil-prone source rocks accumulated during a second isolation event in the Kozakhurian. Thick sections of these diatom-rich rocks occur within the canyon and are present in thin layers outside of it. High productivity of siliceous organisms is attributed to upwelling within the canyon. All studied units are thermally immature on the shelf.

Source potential and depositional environment of Oligocene and Miocene rocks offshore Bulgaria

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Oligocene and Lower Miocene source rocks in the Paratethys: palaeogeographical and stratigraphic controls

Stratigraphy, structure and petroleum exploration play types of the Rioni Basin, Georgia

Source potential and depositional environment of Oligocene and Miocene rocks offshore Bulgaria