Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

Dr. Vysotsky said that estimates of the petroleum potential of
marginal and oceanic basins by Russian scientists are based on original
methods. In general, Dr Vysotsky said that there are many methods for
petroleum resource evaluation. He indicated that some methods can only
be used for well-known and well-developed basins and are based on
comparative geological methods. He said that there are methods that are
based on the geochemistry of the organic substance, an example of which
is the volume-balance method of evaluation.
Dr. Vysotsky said that based on the limited information available
to Russian scientists about basins, especially oceanic basins, they had to
develop their own methods. He described one of these methods that he
said was based on 85 well-developed basins in Russia, in the United States,
and in the Gulf of Mexico. He said that the method included establishing
correlations between different parameters.
Through this process, Dr. Vysotsky said that Russian scientists
were able to establish a correlation between the total volume of a
sedimentary basin and the resource potential of petroleum and gas
condensates in the basin.
Dr. Vysotsky used maps and diagrams to illustrate the results of
the study. He said that the study showed that recoverable petroleum and
natural gas resources for all deep-water areas are 36 million and 63 million
tonnes respectively. He said that the African areas have the most
petroleum potential followed by Latin American areas.
With a table, Dr. Vysotsky showed the number of deep-water
sedimentary basins that have been opened in different parts of the world.
In North America, these numbered 104 basins producing both oil and gas
in water depths ranging from 450 to over 2,300 metres, and with reserves
of 514 Mmtoe. He said that next was Africa with 38 basins opened,
producing oil and gas in water depths ranging between 500 and 2500
metres, and with reserves of 640 Mmtoe. Latin America followed with 20
operating sedimentary basins producing oil and gas with reserves
estimated at 884 Mmtoe. Dr. Vysotsky indicated that in Western Europe
(Norway) 14 basins had been opened up with production occurring in
water depths of 300 to 350 metres, and with reserves estimated at 546
Mmtoe. He rounded up the list with information on operating basins in
Australia (5), South and Southeast Asia (4) and the Middle East (2), where
he said water depths ranged from 450 to 1230 metres, 490 to 1320 metres
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