Hydrocarbon accumulation and favorable objectives in the Amu Darya Basin, central Asia

This paper summarizes the rules of hydrocarbon accumulation and their controlling factors, and predicts some favorable exploration targets based on the integrated analysis of the basic geological features and distribution of discovered oil and gas fields in the Amu Darya Basin.In map view, the distribution of oil and gas fields is controlled mainly by source rocks, structures and lithology.The phenomenon of differential accumulation of oil and gas is also obvious.There are sub-salt and supra-salt petroleum-bearing layers, separated by the Kimmeridgian-Tithonian evaporites.Sub-salt hydrocarbon accumulation is present in favorable reservoir belts and local structures. In addition, thinning of evaporite seals and activity of strike-slip faults are beneficial to supra-salt fields.According to the analysis of reservoirs, seals and source rocks, it is proposed that the sub-salt carbonate reservoirs of the Upper Jurassic Callovian-Oxfordian formations in the Murgab Depression, especially the reefs with structural background, are favorable exploration objectives.