Verkhnepechorsky depression of Urals foredeep: prediction of oil and gas occurrence in natural carbonate reservoirs

The authors discuss natural carbonate reservoirs of the Verkhnepechorsky depression of the Urals Foredeep. Analysis of rich geological information has shown that all the necessary conditions for the existence of oil deposits in reef objects of the Upper Devonian, Middle-Upper Carboniferous- Lower Permian are present in the central and northern parts of the depression, they are: high-capacity reservoirs, reliable seals, and oil source rocks. The authors propose a scheme of effective management of the exploration process based on systematic approach to predicting oil and gas content using an integrated interpretation of logging and seismic data taking into account geological and economic criteria (reservoir probability, resources, financial risks). By the example of real objects, it is shown that assessment and management of exploration risks using fairly simple procedures without the use of sophisticated mathematical calculations in any stage of the object studies is possible. The presented methodological approaches have been developed by specialists of the RAS Institute of Oil and Gas for 15 years, and there are examples of their actual use in the practice of prospecting and exploration