Understanding the nature of mud volcanism, mechanisms of formation, types of eruptions and their relationship to the hydrocarbon systems provides important information about subsurface conditions and geological processes within the South Caspian Basin. A 2D seismic grid in southeastern offshore Azerbaijan is used to define the areal distribution of mud volcanoes and to make a classification of the mud volcanoes based on characteristic seismic features. As a result detailed database for each determined mud volcano is constructed. Analysis of different parameters from this database shows that there is a high concentration of mud volcanoes at the southern part of the study area. It is coincides with the distribution of the subsurface structures within the basin. Mud volcanoes with low relief (several tens of meters) are mainly concentrated in the northeast. Conversely, mud volcanoes with large vertical relief (greater than 200 m) are clustered in the southwest part of the basin. Mud volcano development in the South Caspian Basin is generally linked to faults, which in some instances are detached at the basement level. By using interpreted seismic surfaces it is possible to determine relative time of mud flows from the mud volcanoes. Timing of mud flows reveals to the actual activity of the mud volcanoes and it gives valuable information about possible mechanism of mud volcanism within the South Caspian Basin. Previous studies of the onshore mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan and the results from current work conclude that mud volcano formation within the South Caspian Basin is mainly controlled by tectonic forces and overpressured sediments. Mud volcano activity is not always related to the Maykop organic reach shale succession. It can occur at shallow depths by pressure breakthrough from any stratigraphic zone.

Interpretation of 900 km of a closely spaced grid of high-resolution seismic profiles over the northwestern margin of South Caspian Basin (SCB) allows recognition and study of six late Pleistocene - Holocene depositional sequences. Sequence stratigraphy analysis of sedimentary strata from 117,000 years B.P. to present led to the identification of a highstand systems tract, two transgressive systems tracts and six lowstand systems tracts. Each systems tract is characterized by specific seismic facies. Diverse depositional processes on the northwestern margin of the SCB are suggested by the thirteen seismic facies patterns recognized in the study area. Two distinct progradational complexes were interpreted within Sequence III and Sequences IV and V in the northeastern and northwestern parts of the study area, respectively. Stratigraphic interpretation of the sequences provided important information on parameters that control depositional architectures, such as lake level fluctuations, tectonic dynamics, and sediment supply. High sedimentation rates combined with a series of high-frequency and high-amplitude lake-level fluctuations, abrupt changes at the shelf edge, abnormally high formation pressure, and high tectonic activity during Quaternary time resulted in the development of a variety of complex geologic drilling hazards. I distinguished three types of hazards as a result of this study: mud volcanoes, sediment instability, and shallow gas. The 2D high-resolution seismic dataset from the northwestern margin of the SCB allowed more detailed seismic sequence stratigraphic analysis in the study area than has previously been attempted. In particular, it has a clear application in deciphering sediment supply and relative lake level changes as well as tectonic relationship of the northwestern shelf margin of the SCB. Results of this work led us towards better understanding of recent depositional history, improved our knowledge of the nature of the basin tectonics, climate history and styles of and controls on sedimentation processes within a sequence stratigraphic framework during the late Pleistocene-Holocene time.

Mud volcanoes constitute an important component of petroliferous basins and their understanding is essential for successful exploration and development of hydrocarbon fields. They occur in both extensional and compressive tectonic settings, along with passive and active continental margins. Although extensive research exists on the geochemistry, geomorphology and stratigraphic evolution of these localized fluid flow structures, little is known about their geomechanical characteristics. This research investigates the geomechanics of mud volcanoes from the South Caspian Basin and West Nile Delta. This is achieved by establishing a workflow for geomechanical assessment of mud volcanoes using a P-wave velocity dataset from across the mud volcano within the offshore South Caspian Basin. This objective is developed further with the availability of seismic and wellbore data from around the Giza mud volcano, offshore West Nile Delta. Preliminary results of this study from the South Caspian Basin enable confidence in estimating the realistic magnitudes of elastic rock properties, stresses and fluid pressures from empirical and analytical correlations. Moreover, analysis of the variations in fluid pressures allow the fluid flow models around the mud volcano to be constrained and their gradients provide preliminary estimates of the drilling window. Structural and stratigraphic analysis around the Giza mud volcano offers insight into the formation of the mud volcano during the Quaternary and how the fault networks on the hanging wall of the arcuate tectonic fault have acted as conduits for primarily the pre-Pliocene fluids exploiting the areas of weakness along the hanging wall of the fault by entraining the Pliocene sediments. Fluid pressure evaluation reveals small overpressures caused by disequilibrium compaction. Further analysis offers insight into the critical fluid pressures that control fault movement, the stresses responsible for rock deformation around the wellbore and the width of the drilling window constrained by the fracturing of the strata. Analysis presented here provides details on the geomechanical significance of mud volcano environments, with implications for engineering practices. Overall, findings contribute to a systematic understanding of mud volcano settings not only from a field exploration and development point of view, but also at a wider scale for basin analysis and relatively small scale for play analysis.

La convergence entre l'Arabie et l'Eurasie est accommodée à l'intérieur du territoire iranien. Nous présentons des champs de vitesse GPS denses couvrant une grande partie de l'Iran (Zagros, block de Lut et Kopeh Dagh) avec des précisions meilleures que 2 mm/an.<br />Dans le Zagros, la convergence est accommodée par du partitionnement dans la partie nord. 2-4 mm/an de décrochement dextre sur la MRF sont transférés sur les failles de Dena, Kazerun et Kareh Bas dans le système de failles de Kazerun, se déplaçant à 3-4 mm/an chacune. Dans le Zagros Central, 8 mm/an de raccourcissement sont concentrés près du Golf Persique, contrastant avec une sismicité plus distribuée et indiquant un découplage de la déformation superficielle du socle.<br />A l'est de l'Iran, entre le block central Iranien et le block de Hellmand, 14 mm/an de cisaillement dextre orienté NS sont observés au travers du block de Lut, avec 6.5 mm/an absorbés à l'ouest (failles de Bam, Gowk et Sabzevaran) et 7.5 mm/an à l'est (zone de suture de Sistan). Des failles majeures senestres orientées EW au nord du block de Lut accommodent une partie du cisaillement (Dasht-e-Bayaz 1.5 mm/an, Doruneh 2.5 mm/an). Au sud de la chaîne du Kopeh Dagh 8 mm/an de cisaillement persistent, dont 3.5 et 2.5 mm/an sont absorbés par du raccourcissement NS dans le Binalud et l'est Kopeh Dagh, 5 mm/an par du décrochement dextre au travers le système de failles de Quchan, et 5-8 mm/an par l'expulsion du basin Sud Caspien vers l'ouest.<br />La comparaison des taux de glissement actuels avec des taux géologiques court et long terme montre une évolution complexe des activités des failles même dans le contexte de collision continental récente de l'Iran.

The Azeri, Chirag, Gunashli (ACG) field is located offshore Azerbaijan. The reservoirs are multilayered sandstones forming traps within a major anticlinal structure. Proven crude oil reserves are estimated to contain 5.4 billion barrels of oil. In the past this area has been studied in regional detail but not at the reservoir scale with respect to the fluvio-deltaic sediments filling the northern shore of the ancient South Caspian Sea. The aim of this study is carried out the sedimentological, cyclostratigraphical analysis and reservoir characterization of Balakhany X Formation within the Productive Series which is considered to be one of the significant producing horizons. To be able to achieve this objective, a 30m thick section, which is mainly composed of siliciclastics, has been studied in detail on Balakhany X cores from C01 well Azeri field. In this study, detailed lithofacies analyses were performed and sandstone, mudstone, siltstone facies were recognized in the studied interval of the Balakhany X Formation. Litharenites and sublitharenites sandstones are the most abundant in the succession. Sedimentological analysis such as grain-size sphericity, provenance, XRD, SEM and grain surface texture were performed and their relationship with depositional environment were discussed. The grain size distribution of the samples along the succession shows distribution of fine to very fine sands. Sorting of sandstones ranges between moderately well to very well sorted. The provenance analysis of sandstones based on modal analysis of thin sections related to recycled orogen. According to interpretation of grain size parameters and grain surface textures analysis the main transporting agent of sands observed as wind, wave and river agents. High resolution cyclostratigraphy studies based on cm-m scaled cyclic occurrences of lithofacies along the measured section were performed. Milankovitch, sub-Milankovitch and millennial cycles were determined along the studied section. The petrophysical analysis revealed good to very good (18 to 24%) porosity and good permeability (10 to 538mD) in Balakhany X Formation. The porosity and permeability are affected by both textural and compositional controls. Grain size distribution along the reservoir section is fine to very fine sands. Influence of compaction was observed by the fractures and dissolutions on the sand grains. The calcite cement, grain-size variation, sorting and compaction are the main factors controlling porosity and permeability.