The Play Characteristic and Exploration Potential in Sedimentary Basins in Central Asia

Central Asia region, occupying across East European platform, Kazakhstan plate and Tethys domain, undergone complex tectonic evolution, which was affected by evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean during the Paleozoic and the Tethys Ocean during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Cratonic basins, rift basins and foreland basins can be recognized in Central Asia region. Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic petroleum systems were developed, consequently, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic main plays can be classified in this region. Assessed results show that the total amount of resources to be discovered in 18 basins in Central Asia region is 49.8 billion, of which oil resources are distributed mainly in pre-Caspian basin and south Caspian basin, gas resources are distributed mainly in Amu-Darya basin. As a whole, high exploration extent is the basic feature in petroliferous basins of Central Asia region. Some undiscovered targets are generally difficult to drill, such as deep reservoirs in Pre-Caspian basin, Amu-Darya basin and reservoirs in off-shore in South Caspian basin, Mangushlak basin and North Ustyurt basin. Lithologic and stratigraphic pools will become the key focuses in south Turgay basin of central Asia basin in the future.