New ideas of the Urals foredeep architecture in the context of oil and gas potential

Upgrading fuel and energy resources through new oil and gas fields discovery, especially in the regions with the advanced infrastructure, is one of the key trends of the Strategy of Raw Material Base Development in Russian Federation for the period until 2035. The Urals Foredeep is one of these promising territories. Evolution of ideas about formation of the Urals Foredeep northern segment, transition from the traditional fixistic (block) tectonics to the concept of plate tectonics allow adjusting its petroleum potential and extending it considerably. In consistent manner, the paper discusses new concepts regarding formation of the Urals Foredeep northern segment and West Urals fold area as geological and geophysical material is accumulated and examined on the basis of modern interpretation of the main provisions of the concept of lithosphere plates. In turn, this makes it possible to re-asses undiscovered and prospective resources and to define the main trends, methodology and techniques of oil and gas exploration in this structurally complicated part of the Timan-Pechora Petroleum Province. The main exploration areas are as follows: Srednepechorsky and Vorkutsky transverse uplifts, and Chernyshev ridge with a view to discovering oil and gas pools in the Upper Devonian terrigenous deposits and Upper Devonian reefs; the outer zone of the trough with a view to discovering pools (mainly oil bearing) in different parts of the Palaeozoic carbonate section, including the Lower Permian reefs and Ordovician subsalt formations; central and inner zone - the Silurian, Upper Devonian, and Lower Permian allochthons and autochthons, where discovery of mixed pools (oil and gas condensate) is possible. Studies of petroleum potential of the West Urals fold-and-thrust area plays a particular role in further geological exploration; large linear fold-and-thrust dislocations and development of through reef formations are typical of this region. Large and major gas accumulations may be discovered there. New ideas of the Urals Foredeep architecture in the context of oil and gas potential.