Complex analysis of the geodynamic conditions of the Absheron-Balkhan oil and gas zone
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.7Keywords:
Absheron-Balkhan fold zone, geodynamic conditions, South Caspian Basin, earthquake, deep structureAbstract
The Absheron-Balkhan oil and gas area is located in the contact zone of the Scythian-Turanian platform with the South Caspian basin (SCB). In recent years, in addition to theoretical considerations, scientists have conducted a number of geophysical studies to determine the structure of sediment cover in the South Caspian Basin. The information obtained about the depth structure has formed a new idea about the formation of the South Caspian basin. The purpose of the work is to study the features of geodynamics of the zone of the junction of the South Caspian basin and the Scythian-Turanian epi-Hercynian platform. The research methodology combines a complex analysis of geological, seismological, geomorphological, and geodetic data on the studied area. Geological and geophysical data in particular on regional profiles were used to link earthquakes to specific geological structures.
The South Caspian Basin is surrounded by active mountain zones on all sides. The Kopeh Dagh, Alborz, and Talysh mountains, which connect the eastern, southern, and western sides of the basin, are observed with earthquakes not deeper than 30 km. In contrast, earthquakes were observed in the Absheron-Balkhan threshold, which covers the northern part of the basin, at depths greater than 30 km. Tectonically, the Absheron-Balkhan threshold is located at the junction of the South Caspian oceanic crust and the epi-Hercynian Scythian- Turanian continental crust.
Seismic events, mainly in the northern part of the South Caspian Basin are necessary to study the geodynamic conditions of this area, and to determine the causes of earthquakes. It was observed that the strongest and deepest earthquakes, as well as tectonic processes, occurred in the northern flank of the South Caspian Basin, in the Absheron-Balkhan fold zone, and in the pre-platform area. Analysis of the focal mechanisms and depths of earthquakes proves that they are not specific to collision structures. The high seismic activity of the study area, the observation of crustal deformations at the edges of the basin (based on GPS data), and the development of mud volcanism indicate that the geodynamic conditions of the basin are active. Analysis of the seismic events data shows that the subduction of the oceanic crust of the SCB in the zone of the Absheron threshold under the continental crust of the Scythian- Turanian is the main geological event that caused seismic activity in modern times.
KEYWORDS: Absheron-Balkhan fold zone, geodynamic conditions, South Caspian Basin, earthquake, deep structure.
References
Allen M., Jones S., Ismailzadeh A. et al. Onset of subduction as the cause of rapid Pliocene-Quarternary subsidence in the South Caspian basin. Geology, 2002, v.30, No. 9, p.p.775-778
Baranova E.P. Kosminskaya İ.P. Pavlenkova N.İ. Results of reinterpretation of deep seismic sounding materials for the South Caspian. Geophysical Journal, 1990, v.12, No.5, p.p.60-67 (in Russian).
Baranova, E. P., Kosminskaya, I. P., Pavlenkova, N. I. A reinterpretation of South Caspian DSS Data. Geophysical Journal, 1991. v.10, No 5, 666–677.
Granath J., Soofi K., Baganz O. et al. Gravity modeling and its implications to the tectonics of the South Caspian Basin. AAPG’s Inaugural Regional International Conference. American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Tulsa: Oklahoma, 2000, p.p. 46-49
Green T., Abdullayev N., Hossack J. et al. Sedimentation and subsidence in the South Caspian Basin, Azerbaijan. The Geological Society of London. Special Publications. 2009, v.312, p.p. 2241-2260
Hollingsworth J., Jackson J., Walker R., Nazari H. Extrusion tectonics and subduction in the eastern South Caspian region since 10 Ma. Geology. 2008, v.36, No.10; p.p. 763–766
Jackson J., Priestly K., Allen M. et al. Active tectonics of the South Caspian Basin. Geophysical Journal International,2002, v.148, p.p. 214-245
Kadirov F., Mammadov S., Reilinger R. et al. Some new data on modern tectonic deformation and active faulting in Azerbaijan (according to Global Positioning System Measurements). Proceedings Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. The Sciences of Earth, 2008, No.1, p.p. 82-88
Kadirov F., Floyd M., Alizadeh A., Ibrahim G., et al. Kinematics of the eastern Caucasus near Baku, Azerbaijan. J. Natural Hazards, 2012, v.63, Issue 2, p.p. 997-1006.
Kadirov F., Gadirov A. A gravity model of the deep structure of South Caspian Basin along submeridional profile Alborz–Absheron Sill. Global and Planetary Change. v.114, March 2014, p.p. 66-74
Khain V.E, Bogdanov N.A. International Tectonic Map of the Caspian Sea Region, Scale 1:2 500 000, Nauchny Mir., 2005. p.140
Khalilov E. N., Mekhtiyev, Sh. F. , Khain, V. E. About some geophysical data confirming the collision origin of Greater Caucasus. Geotectonics. 1987, No.2, p.p. 54–60
Khalilov E.N. New data on the presence of the Benioff zone in the Caucasus-Caspian region. Reports of Academy of Sciences of USSR, V.388, №4, p.p.542-544 (in Russian).
Knapp C., Knapp J., Connor J. Crustal-scale structure of the South Caspian Basin revealed by deep seismic reflection profiling. Marin and Petroleum Geology, 2004, p.p. 3-30
Mamedov P.Z. Genesis and seismic stratigraphic model of the South Caspian megabasin architecture. South-Caspian basin: geology, geophysics, oil and gas content. Baku, “Nafta-Press”, 2004, p.p. 150-164
Mamedov P.Z. Model of the South Caspian megabasin on the basis of seismic investigation . Abstract book of 67 conferences EAGE. Madrid: Spane, 2005, p.p. 213-217
Mamedov P.Z. The study of the Earth's crust of the South Caspian Basin according to ultra-deep seismometry data, 2008, No.1-2, p.p. 5-13. (in Russian).
Mangino S., Priestley K. The crustal structure of the southern Caspian region. Geophys. J. İnt, 1998, v.133, p.p. 630-648
Masson F., Anvari Y., Djamour A. Large-scale velocity field and strain tensor in Iran inferred form GPS measurements: New insight for the present-day deformation pattern within NE Iran. Geophysical Journal International, 2007, v.170, p.p.436-440
Mukhtarov A. Heat Flow Distribution and Some Aspects of Formation of Thermal Field in the Caspian region. South-Caspian Basin: Geology, Geophysics, Oiland Gas Content. Baku, Nafta-Press, 2004, p.p. 165-172
Nilforoushan F., Masson F., Vernant P. et al. GPS network monitors the Arabia-Eurasia collision deformation in Iran. J. Geodesy, 2003. v.77, No. 7, p.p. 411-422
Priestley K., Patton H., Schultz C. Modelling anomalous surface-wave propagation across the southern Caspian Basin. Bull. Sesmol. Soc. of Amer., 2001, v.91, No.6, p.p. 1924-1929
Reilinger R., McClusky S., Vernant P. GPS constraints on continental deformation in the Africa-Arabia-Eurasia continental collision zone and implications for the dynamics of plate interactions. J. Geophys. Res., 2006, v.111, p.p. 1-26
Tavakoli F. Present- day deformation and kinematics of the active faults observed by GPS in the Zagros and east of Iran. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Universite Joseph-Fourier Grenoble, 2007, 313 p.
Ulomov. V. A. Three-Dimensional model of the lithosphere dynamics, seismicity structure, and variations in the Caspian Sea level. Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, Vol. 39, No. 5, 2003, pp. 353–364.
Vernant P., Nilforoushan F., Chery J. et al. Present‐day crustal deformatio and plate kinematics in the Middle East constrained by GPS measurements in Iran and northern Oman. Geophys. J. Int., 2004, v.157, p.p. 381-398
Yakobson A. The South Caspian basin. Tomographic model. Fatherland Geology, 2000, No. 2, p.p. 57-64
Zamanova A.H. Deep structure and modern geodynamic characteristics of the lithosphere of the South Caspian plate. “Modern problems of mechanics” Scientific and Technical Journal, 2018, v. 3, No. 33. Bishkek- 2018. 196-201 (in Russian).
Zamanova A.H. Study of the relationship between seismicity of the South Caspian basin with different layers of the lithosphere. Abstract of the dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, ANAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Baku, 2015 p.22 (in Azerbaijani).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 International Journal of Computational and Experimental Science and Engineering
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.