Methodology, working results and potential for oil and gas fields discovery in Lena-Tungussky petroleum province

The authors discuss the current state of reserves and resources of the Lena-Tungussky Petroleum Province - most underexplored petroleum province among the Russian continental provinces. The possibility of reserves addition is evaluated; in accordance with the geoeconomical analysis carried out in VNIGNI, incremental hydrocarbon reserves can make at least 4800-5000 mln tons of fuel equivalent, including at least 1500 mln tons of oil. The authors believe that in order to ensure uninterrupted operation of the existing pipelines, primarily the East Siberia - Pacific Ocean oil pipeline, it is necessary to resume systematic regional oil and gas prospecting works to substantiate the oil and gas accumulation zones accompanied by mandatory verification of objects using parametric drilling in the most promising areas of the province. Among them are: Omorino-Kamovsky oil and gas accumulation zone, Moktakono-Tanachinsky, Baikitsky, Predpatomsky, Priyeniseisky, and Troitsky-Mikhailovsky predicted oil and gas accumulation zones, Putoransky, and Ust’-Maisky oil and gas promising zones. In addition, the Cambrian reef systems widely occurring throughout the Lena-Tungussky Petroleum Province are of exploratory interest. Certain geological exploration activities are recommended for all the mentioned promising zones, and first of all is drilling stratigraphic wells necessary to validate objects prepared using seismic data and predict oil and gas occurrence in the promising plays. Recommended and subsequent geological exploration works will be highly efficient subject to the following conditions: 1) analysis and substantiation of the optimal set of geological and geophysical prospecting methods to conduct the respective work funded from the state budget in certain oil and gas promising zones of the Lena-Tungussky Petroleum Province; 2) arrangement of geological exploration should be based on the programs developed and approved by Rosnedra Science and Engineering Board, i.e., on the result-oriented approach; 3) scientific support and supervision of oil and gas prospecting programs in promising zones should be carried out by the entity appointed by Rosnedra; 4) financing of geological exploration and research works should follow up the result-oriented approach; 5) only specialised drilling companies having the appropriate experience and reporting to Rosnedra must drill stratigraphic wells and core holes