A.A. Borodulin, Z.A. Tembotov, N.A. Malyshev, V.E. Verzhbitsky, D.K. Komissarov, V.V. Obmetkо
Petroleum source rocks of the Laptev Sea region
DOI 10.47148/0016-7894-2025-2-91-103
Key words: Laptev Sea; petroleum source rocks; kerogen; organic matter; hydrocarbon generation potential.
For citation: Borodulin A.A., Tembotov Z.A., Malyshev N.A., Verzhbitsky V.E., Komissarov D.K., Obmetko V.V. Petroleum source rocks of the Laptev Sea region. Geologiya nefti i gaza. 2025;(2):91–103. DOI: 10.47148/0016-7894-2025-2-91-103. In Russ.
Funding: own funds of Rosneft Company.
The article presents the characteristics of the Cretaceous-Cenozoic oil and gas source rocks in the Laptev Sea region, based on the data from a series of geological expeditions organized by Rosneft Oil Company on the New Siberian Islands and the Laptev Sea continental margin, as well as on the results of drilling key wells in its northeastern part. The identified petroleum source rocks belong to the Lower Cretaceous– Eocene interval. The overlying Oligocene and Miocene-Quaternary sequences remain largely unexplored and are of limited interest in terms of hydrocarbon generation because of their extremely low catagenetic maturity. The Cretaceous-Eocene section contains a significant carbonaceous component in its kerogen composition. The article presents the results of coal petrographic and pyrolysis-based core analyses, including data on kerogen catagenetic maturity, Total Organic Carbon content, hydrocarbon generation potential, and kerogen kinetic characteristics. It is noted that under favorable thermobaric conditions, the Cretaceous rocks predominantly generate gas, whereas the Paleocene-Eocene formations have the potential to generate oil and gas. The findings of this study suggests that the Laptev Sea shelf possesses significant petroleum potential.
Alexey A. Borodulin
Chief specialist
Rosneft Oil Company
31a Dubininskaya, Moscow, 115054, Russia
e-mail: a_borodulin@rosneft.ru
Zaur A. Tembotov
Chief specialist
Arctic Research Center
31a Dubininskaya, Moscow, 115054, Russia
e-mail: za_tembotov@arc.rosneft.ru
Nikolay A. Malyshev
Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences,
Deputy Director
Rosneft Oil Company
31a Dubininskaya, Moscow, 115054, Russia
e-mail: n_malyshev@rosneft.ru
Vladimir E. Verzhbitsky
Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences,
Head of the Exploration
Rosneft Oil Company
31a Dubininskaya, Moscow, 115054, Russia
e-mail: v_verzhbitskiy@rosneft.ru
Dmitry K. Komissarov
Chief specialist
Rosneft Oil Company
31a Dubininskaya, Moscow, 115054, Russia
e-mail: dk_komissarov@rosneft.ru
Viktor V. Obmetko
Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences,
Deputy Director
Rosneft Oil Company
31a Dubininskaya, Moscow, 115054, Russia
e-mail: v_obmetko@rosneft.ru
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Section: Geochemical surveys