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Sleeping Around the World

The morning after François Mitterrand’s funeral, a photo showed the late president’s mistress and illegitimate daughter standing by his grave alongside his wife and sons. That tableau has become famous internationally as proof that the French are uniquely tolerant of extramarital affairs.

In fact, although French presidents seem to have an infidelity record approaching 100 per cent, ordinary Frenchmen claim to be quite faithful. In a 2004 national survey, just 3.8 per cent of married men and 2 per cent of women said they had had more than one sex partner in the past year (the best approximation of infidelity) — fewer than in similar surveys in the U.S. and the U.K.

If France isn’t the world capital of adultery, which country is? I set off around the world to find out.

I quickly discovered that global sex research is patchy and incomplete. Even serious researchers can’t even agree on what to call infidelity. Nigerians prefer the term “sexual networking.” The Finns use the morally neutral term “parallel relationships.” A French team uses an expression perhaps better suited for an accounting course: “simultaneous multi-partnerships.”

Then there’s the tricky matter of what constitutes cheating. A poll in one South African magazine had separate categories for men who cheat, and men who cheat “while drunk.” One American survey defined sex as “either vaginal or anal intercourse,” while another decided that sex is a “mutually voluntary activity with another person that involves genital contact and sexual excitement or arousal, that is, feeling really turned on, even if intercourse or orgasm did not occur.” Americans haven’t yet tried to count their so-called “emotional affairs,” in which the “cheaters” might never meet.

Many countries simply have no reliable sex statistics. National surveys are expensive, and many governments are either too prudish or too poor to help pay for them (private funding is seldom sufficient). America’s first representative national survey only got off the ground in the 1990s, after conservative members of Congress spent years trying to block it. Hints of Japan’s infidelity levels come only from the enormous size of the country’s paid-sex industry, which is famously frequented by married businessmen. A legal loophole permits a man and a woman to strike a private agreement for sex. Understandably, the state would rather not be confronted with the details.

In Russia, just talking about sex research can be hazardous. Soviet governments barely permitted any public discussion of sex, let alone a survey that might embarrass the government by showing that Russians were engaging in banned activities like extramarital affairs. And though the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Russia’s Orthodox church keeps the current government from funding practically anything related to sex.

“There were never and will not be in the foreseeable future national surveys,” said Igor Kon, a septuagenarian who’s Russia’s most prominent sexologist. When I visited him in Moscow, Kon showed me the pamphlet in which a group of Russian academics denounced him as a “danger to the Russian society and state” because of his calls for basic sex education and research. Earlier, hoodlums had attacked him while he delivered a lecture at Moscow University, and vandals defaced the door to his apartment. Kon was bothered least when he got a phone call threatening to bomb his apartment, since if the caller was serious Kon would already be dead. “To kill someone in Moscow is not a big problem,” he explained.

Despite the lack of hard data, in Russia and elsewhere there are facts on the ground. In Moscow, women in their forties told me that, by necessity, they only date married men. That’s because, since the life expectancy for Russian men has fallen so sharply (to 59) that by age 65 there are just 46 men left for every 100 women.

And it was clear that Russian men flaunted this demographic advantage. With the exception of a pastor (who was sitting with his wife at the time), I didn’t meet a single married man in Russia who admitted to being monogamous. A family psychologist whom I had intended to interview as an “expert” boasted about her own extramarital relationships and insisted that given Russia’s endemic alcoholism, violent crime, and tiny apartments, affairs are “obligatory.”

Muslim countries tend to be even stricter about sex research. It’s impossible to know how much cheating goes on in places like Iran, where convicted adulterers can be stoned to death. But again there are facts — or at least impressions — on the ground. In Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country, the middle-class women and men I met said that adultery is absolutely wrong because the Koran forbids it. Then they revealed that many of their married friends, and sometimes they themselves, had lovers. In these circles, the attitude toward affairs seemed almost casual: local slang for a no-strings romp was “afternoon nap,” and a brief love affair was a “wonderful interval.”

I didn’t find evidence anywhere in the world that religious people are particularly faithful. Within the social circles I studied in Indonesia, the fact that polygamy is legal seemed to legitimize the idea that a man won’t be satisfied with just one woman. “Polygamy is something that induces adultery, because before they get married for the second time there’s a period of adultery, ” said sociologist Paulus Wirutomo of the University of Indonesia. “Islam is not permissive, but there’s an emphasis on formality. “

I did find that, all over, money shapes the rules of infidelity. Men in rich countries are generally much more faithful than their counterparts in poor ones. That’s in part because first-world cheaters tend to be punished more severely. In America, a single affair can mean losing your marriage, your assets, your status and your self respect. Just 3.9 percent of married American men said they’d had more than one partner in the last year, according to the 2004 General Social Survey carried out by the National Opinion Research Center. Even in wealthy countries where the taboo on cheating is weaker than in the U.S. — Australia, Switzerland and Italy, for instance — husbands claim to be quite faithful too.

Among women, it’s just the opposite. Women in poor countries say they cheat infrequently, perhaps because they have less financial and social clout than their husbands. But in wealthier countries, where the status of men and women is more equal, levels of male and female infidelity — while still quite low — are fairly equal too.

While it’s impossible to get an exact measure of infidelity, there are some clues about where the most cheating goes on. Beginning in the 1990s, researchers tracking the spread of HIV began extensively mapping sexual behavior in sub-Saharan Africa. Their findings were astonishing: in the tiny West African nation of Togo, with a population of less than six million, 37 percent of married or cohabiting men said they’ve had more than one sex partner in the last year (the figure includes polygamists). Trailing just behind the Togolese were men in Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Mozambique and Tanzania. In South Africa, even the AIDS educator at a Cape Town metal company told me that of course he had a girlfriend as well as a wife.

And so the dubious title of world infidelity capital goes to a region: sub-Saharan Africa. And with ordinary citizens cheating at such astonishing levels, one can only imagine what African politicians are up to. Surely they put even French presidents to shame.

OSCE In Georgian Dead End

On May the 18th-19th another round of international discussions in the framework of Geneva process and the discussions of the Parties on the development of new UNO Mission mandate took place.

The event in Geneva is organized in accordance with the agreements of Russian and French Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Nicolas Sarkozy, reached in August 2008 to resolve the issue of security assurance in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The discussions are held under the co-chairing of the EU, UNO and OSCE. They include Russia, the USA, Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russia and the EU got into dead end within the issue of monitoring operation of OSCE in Georgia. Russia is against the scheme of the Mission operation, suggested by Greece as a co-chairing Party of OSCE. Mass Media announced that Moscow vetoed Greek variant. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted this information unofficially. According to Georgian Foreign Minister, Russia was the only one to vote negatively, insisting on individual mandate for OSCE mission in South Ossetia, but without success. Yet there is no final decision adopted. Intensive discussion of this matter keeps on.

Now Greece will try to get this issue into higher political level less comfortable format of discussion for Russia: harder and more politicized. Russia will still attempt to reach compromise, although it’s possible that Russia will soon face more rigid position of Europe regarding Georgia. Previous autumn the EU agreed to draw back Georgian issue, and to unite forces of main Parties to struggle against world financial crisis. Today when the situation on markets is more or less stable, the EU can return to “painful” issues, moreover that there is a negative tendency of energy prospects.

The issue of Georgia can again become a principle disagreement between Moscow and Western countries.

The attention of observers is attracted by the behavior of Belarus – strategic partner of Russia.

> Map Of Georgia

On the eve of the events in Geneva on May the 12th the capital of Abkhazia and its leader Sergey Bagapsh welcomed Belarusian delegation headed by the Head of the Administration of the President of Belarus Vladimir Makey. According to the press-service, the parties discussed issues of Abkhazian and Belarusian cooperation in various spheres.

The delegation also included the first deputy of the Head of Presidential Affairs Department Nikolay Korbut. The names of other delegates were not announced. The Administration of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs still give no comments on this visit.

Under the pressure of Russia Belarus prolongs the process of legal recognition of these Russian protectorates. Moscow insists on that, as a Belarusian part of a so-called Union State, Minsk has to recognize the results of August war of 2008.

But in the situation when Belarusian leader started the game of “dialogue” with the European Union, his pocket parliament appeared to be independent and prolongs the consideration of the issue of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It’s already known that its discussion is appointed on the parliamentary session in autumn. Obviously, Belarusian President expected the continuation of Rubicon named “Eastern Partnership”. This EU project, that included Georgia together with Belarus, has in fact broken the European self-isolation of Lukashenko’s regime. And after presentation of this project in Prague, held on May the 7th, Aleksander Lukashenko decided to ease the tension with the Kramlin within the issue of two Russian protectorates recognition by delegating the Head of his Administration to Sukhumi.

It’s noteworthy, that today Vladimir Makey is a very influential person among Lukashenko’s personnel. And in Moscow this stuff diplomat in grade of colonel of military intelligence is considered as a leader of a pro-Western team of influence within the government of Belarus. So the visit of Makey to Abkhazia can be perceived as a possibility for his competitors to weaken the positions of pro-western stuff within foreign policy of the regime, as well as to weaken the attempts to minimize the reaction of West on revealed open contacts of Minsk with separatists.

Observers also note that together with the visit of Belarusian delegation to Sukhumi, Geneva welcomed the silent visit of Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergey Martynov. The same as in case of Makey’s visit to Sukhumi, neither Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor Belarusian mass media didn’t informed about the stay of Martynov in Geneva.

The tactics of official Minsk is the abstention from legal recognition of state independence of self-separated Georgian territories and simultaneous development of cooperation with them in different spheres.

Minsk gained a great support of its policy from the position of the European Commission.

The issue of status of self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is not a part of the dialogue or a condition of the development of relations of Belarus and the European Union. The Head of the EC Representative Office Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira proved this during the press-conference in Minsk on May the 12th. According to the Head of the Representative Office, Belarusian authorities and people will decide independently whether they should recognize these countries.

Some experts suggest that there could possibly be no changes within political strategies of the two Parties for such a short period. But it’s obvious that Belarus and Europe have reached private agreement to avoid sound comments on the issue of these territories recognition in future. The urgency of their recognition or non-recognition weakens gradually. Belarus has bargained everything possible from the West for non-recognition. Now it will bargain with Russia for the recognition.

If the behavior of Belarus towards Russian-Georgian problem is observed within the context of the Union State with Russia, then the position of Kazakhstan to head OSCE in 2010 will gain more attention.

According to the results of recent negotiations in Washington of Kazakhstan Minister of Foreign Affairs the decision was made to create a joint working team for the period of Kazakhstan presidency in OSCE. This team will include diplomats from Astana and Washington. Exactly this group during 2010 will solve all bilateral issues and problems. Also using the mechanisms of this team Americans plan to express Kazakhstan their wishes regarding the programs and initiatives to be accomplished within the framework of Kazakhstan presidency in OSCE.

It’s obvious that Washington will strive to use independent foreign poli?y course of Astana to promote the influence of the EU and to reduce the position of Russia within CIS countries.

And one shouldn’t doubt that this joint working team of Kazakhstan and American diplomats will touch upon also the issue of Georgian dead-end, in which OSCE found itself after Russian-Georgian war in August of 2008.

PS: The USA are worried about the decision of Russia to withdraw from Geneva Consultations in Caucasus. The US State Department Official Representative Ian Kelly specified this issue in a statement. “The USA regret that Russia followed the way of South Ossetia separatists and on May the 18th withdrew from Geneva Consultation on Georgia in their beginning. Also the USA regret about the decision of Abkhazia to boycott the talks from the very start” – specifies the statement.

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Vacation in Russia for the Active or PassiveTraveler

For all the millions of tourists each year, and for all the countless thousands of places they can visit, there really seems to be only two reasons people travel: We seek relaxation, or we seek experiences. People in the first group tend to vacation on beaches and at resorts. Think warm water, massages, lounge chairs and exotic drinks. But the second type of traveler, the one seeking novel experiences, he’s more active. He rides a gondola in Venice, walks along China’s Great Wall, and pays homage to the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. Whether you seek a passive vacation or an active one, you can meet either goal on a trip to Russia or Ukraine.

The Former Soviet Union is hardly the first place you’d think of when considering a beach vacation. But take out a map and have a look for yourself: Ukraine, for example, has a huge peninsula jutting into the Black Sea. It’s called the Crimea, and its southern coast is nicknamed the Russian Riviera. Resorts abound in the Crimea, in coastal cities like Yalta, Alushta, Sudak and Sevastopol, and the Mediterranean climate brings a steady stream of tourists throughout the summer. Luxurious sandy beaches, though, are few and far between in this area. Instead, pebble-strewn beaches are the norm. But what you lose in comfort, you gain in the beauty of the terrain. Dramatic, rocky cliffs loom over these beach towns like ancient Gods of granite.

Not that Ukraine has a monopoly on Crimean resorts. If you’re intent on visiting Russia, consider one of the resorts in Sochi. The future host of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sochi has been getting its act together in the tourism industry. Like the resort cities of the southern Crimean, Sochi is also dominated by mountains which create an amazing backdrop. Sochi’s beauty is further enhanced by a word-class botanical garden which itself is worth the trip.

For those travelers wanting a more active vacation, the F.S.U. is still an excellent choice, and off the thoroughly beaten path of central Europe. Take St. Petersburg, in the northwest of Russia. This city has as much to offer as any of the European giants, with the bonus of offering a far more interesting story to tell. Does anyone bat an eye anymore when you say you’ve been to Paris or London? But tell them you’ve just returned from Russia, and you’re bound to raise some eyebrows.

In St. Petersburg, you’ll probably start by exploring the water-lined streets which earned St. Petersburg the name “The Venice of the North,” and then make your way along the along the shops of Nevsky Prospect to the city’s grand jewel, The Hermitage. One of the largest museums in the world, The Hermitage is home to countless treasures, all housed in the spectacular Winter Palace. Palaces are everywhere in and around this former Russian capital, another of which is also an absolute must-see. Often called “The Russian Versailles,” the grounds of the Peterhof palace are lined with incredible fountains. The interior is also a staggering display of wealth and design, making the palace as spectacular as any in the world.

An eight-hour train ride almost due south brings you to the current Russian capital, Moscow. With a population of nearly nine million people, Moscow can be overwhelming at first. Stay as close as you can to the Kremlin, the city’s center, and you’ll be fine. From there you can experience walking in Red Square, the staging ground for all those massive cold war demonstrations of Soviet power. Still in Red Square, be sure to have someone take your photo as you stand in front of the colorful, almost childlike St. Basil’s cathedral – perhaps the ultimate icon of Russia. If you’re standing with your back to St. Basil’s cathedral, look to your right and you’ll see a long decorative building which borders Red Square. It looks like yet another palace but is actually a grand shopping mall…though be warned: Its prices are as high as its arched glass ceiling. For a more affordable shopping experience in Moscow, make your way to the walking street of Novi Arbat. It’s a great place to find souvenirs and do plenty of people watching. The truly adventurous should make their way around Moscow by subway, the stops of which themselves are considered a travel destination.

Some vacationers seek only to relax on a quiet beach, while others yearn for the excitement that only a new city can deliver. When it comes time for you to consider what you want out of your next vacation, consider the countries of Ukraine and Russia. They’re only an hour or so further from Europe by plane, but they’re a world away in beauty and adventure.

“Tall house on Kotel nicheskaya Embankment

moscow map

Image taken on 2009-11-16 14:00:07 by Aphexlee.

The Dust of War From the Furious Twist in the Battle for Oil

The Battle for Oil

Is there a relationship between the bombing of Lebanon and the inauguration of the World’s largest strategic pipeline, which will channel more than a million barrels of oil a day to Western markets? Virtually unnoticed, the inauguration of the Ceyhan-Tblisi-Baku (BTC) oil pipeline, which links the Caspian sea to the Eastern Mediterranean, took place on the 13th of July, at the very outset of the Israeli sponsored bombings of Lebanon. One day before the Israeli air strikes, the main partners and shareholders of the BTC pipeline project, including several heads of State and oil company executives were in attendance at the port of Ceyhan. They were then rushed off for an inauguration reception in Istanbul, hosted by Turkey’s President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in the plush surroundings of the Çýraðan Palace. Also in attendance was British Petroleum’s (BP) CEO, Lord Browne together with senior government officials from Britain, the US and Israel. BP leads the BTC pipeline consortium. Other major Western shareholders include Chevron, Conoco-Phillips, France’s Total and Italy’s ENI.

Israel’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Binyamin Ben-Eliezer was present at the venue together with a delegation of top Israeli oil officials. The BTC pipeline totally bypasses the territory of the Russian Federation. It transits through the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia, both of which have become US “protectorates”, firmly integrated into a military alliance with the US and NATO. Moreover, both Azerbaijan and Georgia have longstanding military cooperation agreements with Israel.

Israel has a stake in the Azeri oil fields, from which it imports some twenty percent of its oil. The opening of the pipeline will substantially enhance Israeli oil imports from the Caspian sea basin.

But there is another dimension which directly relates to the war on Lebanon. Whereas Russia has been weakened, Israel is slated to play a major strategic role in “protecting” the Eastern Mediterranean transport and pipeline corridors out of Ceyhan.Militarization of the Eastern Mediterranean. The bombing of Lebanon is part of a carefully planned and coordinated military road map. The extension of the war into Syria and Iran has already been contemplated by US and Israeli military planners. This broader military agenda is intimately related to strategic oil and oil pipelines. It is supported by the Western oil giants which control the pipeline corridors. In the context of the war on Lebanon, it seeks Israeli territorial control over the East Mediterranean coastline. In this context, the BTC pipeline dominated by British Petroleum, has dramatically changed the geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean, which is now linked , through an energy corridor, to the Caspian sea basin: “[The BTC pipeline] considerably changes the status of the region’s countries and cements a new pro-West alliance. Having taken the pipeline to the Mediterranean, Washington has practically set up a new bloc with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Israel, ” (Komerzant, Moscow, 14 July 2006) Israel is now part of the Anglo-American military axis, which serves the interests of the Western oil giants in the Middle East and Central Asia. While the official reports state that the BTC pipeline will “channel oil to Western markets”, what is rarely acknowledged is that part of the oil from the Caspian sea would be directly channeled towards Israel. In this regard, an underwater Israeli-Turkish pipeline project has been envisaged which would link Ceyhan to the Israeli port of Ashkelon and from there through Israel’s main pipeline system, to the Red Sea. The objective of Israel is not only to acquire Caspian sea oil for its own consumption needs but also to play a key role in re-exporting Caspian sea oil back to the Asian markets through the Red Sea port of Eilat. The strategic implications of this re-routing of Caspian sea oil are farreaching. What is envisaged is to link the BTC pipeline to the Trans-Israel Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, also known as Israel’s Tipline, from Ceyhan to the Israeli port of Ashkelon. In April 2006, Israel and Turkey announced plans for four underwater pipelines, which would bypass Syrian and Lebanese territory. “Turkey and Israel are negotiating the construction of a multi-million-dollar energy and water project that will transport water, electricity, natural gas and oil by pipelines to Israel, with the oil to be sent onward from Israel to the Far East. The new Turkish-Israeli proposal under discussion would see the transfer of water, electricity, natural gas and oil to Israel via four underwater pipelines. “Baku oil can be transported to Ashkelon via this new pipeline and to India and the Far East.[via the Red sea]“ “Ceyhan and the Mediterranean port of Ashkelon are situated only 400 km apart. Oil can be transported to the city in tankers or via specially constructed under-water pipeline. From Ashkelon the oil can be pumped through already existing pipeline to the port of Eilat at the Red Sea; and from there it can be transported to India and other Asian countries in tankers.

Water for Israel

Also involved in this project is a pipeline to bring water to Israel, pumping water from upstream resources of the Tigris and Euphrates river system in Anatolia. This has been a long-run strategic objective of Israel to the detriment of Syria and Iraq. Israel’s agenda with regard to water is supported by the military cooperation agreement between Tel Aviv and Ankara.
The Strategic Re-routing of Central Asian Oil. Diverting Central Asian oil and gas to the Eastern Mediterranean (under Israeli military protection), for re-export back to Asia, serves to undermine the inter-Asian energy market, which is based on the development of direct pipeline corridors linking Central Asia and Russia to South Asia, China and the Far East. Ultimately, this design is intended to weaken Russia’s role in Central Asia and cut off China from Central Asian oil resources. It is also intended to isolate Iran.
Meanwhile, Israel has emerged as a new powerful player in the global energy market.

Russia’s Military Presence in the Middle East

Meanwhile, Moscow has responded to the US-Israeli-Turkish design to militarize the East Mediterranean coastline with plans to establish a Russian naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus: “Defense Ministry sources point out that a naval base in Tartus will enable Russia to solidify its positions in the Middle East and ensure security of Syria. Moscow intends to deploy an air defense system around the base – to provide air cover for the base itself and a substantial part of Syrian territory. (S-300PMU-2 Favorit systems will not be turned over to the Syrians. They will be manned and serviced by Russian personnel.)

Tartus is strategically located within 30 km. of the Lebanese border.

Moreover, Moscow and Damascus have reached an agreement on the modernization of Syria’s air defenses as well as a program in support to its ground forces, the modernization of its MIG-29 fighters as well as its submarines. (Kommerzant, 2 June 2006). In the context of an escalating conflict, these developments have farreaching implications.

War and Oil Pipelines

Prior to the bombing of Lebanon, Israel and Turkey had announced the underwater pipeline routes, which bypassed Syria and Lebanon. These underwater pipeline routes do not overtly encroach on the territorial sovereignty of Lebanon and Syria. On the other hand, the development of alternative land based corridors (for oil and water) through Lebanon and Syria would require Israeli-Turkish territorial control over the Eastern Mediterranean coastline through Lebanon and Syria. The implementation of a land-based corridor, as opposed to the underwater pipeline project, would require the militarisation of the East Mediterranean coastline, extending from the port of Ceyhan across Syria and Lebanon to the Lebanese-Israeli border.

Is this not one of the hidden objectives of the war on Lebanon? Open up a space which enables Israel to control a vast territory extending from the Lebanese border through Syria to Turkey.

It is worth noting that the US War Academy had already contemplated the formation of a “Greater Lebanon” which would extend along the coastline from Israel to Turkey. In this scenario, the entire Syrian coastline would be annexed to an Anglo-American Israeli protectorate.(See Map of The New Middle East below). Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert has stated that the Israeli offensive against Lebanon would “last a very long time”. Meanwhile, the US has speeded up weapons shipments to Israel. There are strategic objectives underlying the “Long War” which are tied to oil and oil pipelines. The air campaign against Lebanon is inextricably related to US-Israeli strategic objectives in the broader Middle East including Syria and Iran. In recent developments, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice stated that the main purpose of her mission to the Middle East was not to push for a ceasefire in Lebanon, but rather to isolate Syria and Iran. (Daily Telegraph, 22 July 2006) At this particular juncture, the replenishing of Israeli stockpiles of US produced WMDs points to an escalation of the war both within and beyond the borders of Lebanon.

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Rusavtobus Zzhet!

Tom Clancy’s endwar Soundtrack – SGB Theme

READ DESCRIPTION Uploaded it for ALL you people who wanted to hear the song without ambient sounds in the background. I also uploaded this song because it is, in my opinion, a very good song. Its not as good as the JSF Theme, but it still rocks. This song was not made by me (obviously), all rights owned by Ubisoft. Audio Director: Ben Houge Audio Composers: Matt Ragan & Alistair Hirst This is the Spetsnaz Guards Brigade theme in the video game “Tom Clancy’s endwar”. Ripped it from the PC version’s files and uploaded it here because it was unfortunately not included in the endwar soundtrack download (they forgot maybe?). The sound files for the song were separated into little segments, had to join them up to make the song (this was because of Ubisoft’s decision to make the song in the background play to what is happening in the battle you are fighting eg when a big battle occurs, you get the battle part of the song, if there isn’t a battle but the game is near an end, that part will play etc) Enjoy Extra Info This song played at: SPG Victory Cutscene (a little bit) SPG Barracks (the place where you upgrade your units and view your battalion) Moscow (map) Ramstein Air Base(map) Fort Levski Army Base (map)

20070228 SkiOAthlon 3

moscow map

Image taken on 2007-03-26 15:13:05 by Neil Hunt.

Offshore Black Sea an Opportunity for the Future – Evidence of Larger Structures With Improved Understanding of the Depositional Systems

International Hot Spots – The Black Sea

AAPG & AAPG European Region Energy Conference and Exhibition (November 18-21, 2007) Technical Program

I have compiled these abstracts from the AAPG conference in Athens 2007, where the Black Sea had its own sessions. Especially Bulgaria, Ukraine and Georgia were covered during the session, but also some examples from offshore and onshore Turkey were covered during these sessions. The under explored Offshore Black Sea has gained more attention the latter years since more data has been collected. Especially offshore Ukraine, several generations of 2D seismic has revealed some potential offshore until now not been discovered. However since the mid 1990’s there has been some interest due to the first generation 2D seismic and some older CCCP seismic, pre 1990’s. With this compilation we want to promote more interest for the offshore Black Sea, as we see this as an area for the future as oil and gas legislations in bounding countries mature and gets more open for international oil and gas companies, as well as investors.

Upper Jurassic Reefs of the Western Caucasus-Crimea; Hydrocarbon Implications for the Eastern Black Sea

Li Guo1, Stephen J. Vincent1, Samuel P. Rice1, and Vladimir Lavrishchev2. (1) CASP, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, 181a Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DH, United Kingdom, phone: +44 1223 337068, li.guo@casp.cam.ac.uk, (2) Kavkazgeols’emka, Ul. Kislovodskaya 203, Yessentuki, Russia

Widespread Upper Jurassic reefs are important potential reservoir facies in the Eastern Black Sea Basin. Russian seismic reflection data from the northern Shatskiy Ridge indicate possible offshore reef-facies occurrences up to 1-2 km thick and 10-20 km wide. Data from excellent onshore exposures in the Russian Western Caucasus and Crimea provide a reservoir analogue for offshore targets. A model for development and distribution of the carbonate reefs is presented with reference to possible alternative tectonic settings for the Upper Jurassic north Tethyan Margin.

Outcrops of well-preserved Upper Jurassic reefs can be grouped into coral-dominated, siliceous sponge-microbial and microbial types. Patchy and massive coral-dominated reefs formed at shallow-water platform margins or in slightly restricted deeper-water mid shelf settings. Siliceous sponge-microbial and microbial reefs occur as lenses and mounds and are restricted to deeper-water mid-outer shelf environments. The development of these reefs was controlled mainly by local variations in water depth, light, and the availability of nutrients.

The reefs exhibit a complex pattern of porosity development reflecting independent diagenetic histories involving near-surface and deep-burial dissolution, dolomitization and dedolomitization. Porosity is particularly common in coral-dominated reef facies and consists of both primary and secondary types.

Coral-dominated reefs analogous to onshore outcrops in the Russian Western Caucasus are likely to occur along the northwestern margin of the Yuzhnyi-Adler carbonate platform in the Eastern Black Sea. Possible isolated deeper-water reefs imaged on the northern Shatskiy Ridge could be largely composed of siliceous sponge-microbialite and microbialite facies. Similar reef facies may be present on the Mid Black Sea High.
Lithostratigraphy of the Upper Jurassic – Cretaceous Deposits and Hydrocarbon Perspective in the Romanian Shelf of the Black Sea

Ovidiu Nicolae Dragastan, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, Bucharest University, Bulevardul N Balcescu no. 1, Bucharest 010041 Romania, phone: 0040729610876, ovidiud@geo.edu.ro

In the Romanian shelf of the Black Sea (offshore), Petromar Co. drilled and has obtained cores of Middle and Upper Jurassic- Cretaceous deposits, as well as Paleogene and Neogene ones. The Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposits belongs to two main geological units: the North Dobrogea Orogenic Belt and the Moesian Platform. In the offshore of the North Dobrogea Orogenic Belt three cycles of sedimentation have been identified: 1. A lower transgressive cycle corresponding to the compression phase of synrift 1 (Bajocian- Callovian ?), the last stage possible corresponding to a „general” unconformity or to a break up 1 between the Middle and Upper Jurassic , with black calci- and siltic turbidites (Heraclea Formation). 2. A middle transgressive compression phase composed by mudstones, claystones and siltstones ( Pontus Formation), Upper Jurassic- Neocomian in age corresponding to the synrift 2 followed by a break up 2 to the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary and intra Neocomian covered different times hiatuses. 3. An upper large postrift phase Albian to Senonian, continued during the Paleogene and Neogene. Many short and long time hiatuses are recorded that include the Cretaceous deposits. Three source rocks can be identified for hydrocarbon generation: – the black argillaceous, siltic to sandstones of the Heraclea Formation (Middle Jurassic in age), about 1000 m in thickness.; – the black argillites of the Pontus Formation (Neocomian) and – the Oligocene- Miocene bituminous shales, clays and marls known more or less as the Maikop beds.
Hydrocarbon Accumulation in the Permo-Triassic Reservoirs of the Moesian Platform

Pene Constantin1, Niculescu Bogdan1, and Mitru Daniela2. (1) Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 6 Traian Vuia Street, Bucharest, RO – 020956, Romania, phone: +40 21 3181588, penec@gg.unibuc.ro, (2) T.E.I.-Kozani, T.E.I.-Kozani, 114, Ioanis, Kozani, Kozani, Greece

Romanian petroleum basins contain hydrocarbon fields in the Triassic reservoirs only in the north-west of the Moesian Platform and in its south was identified an “oil show”. This distribution of the oil and gas fields is a little enigmatic, because of their position regarding the Bals-Optasi Uplift. Well logs, cores, some seismic profiles and lithophacies maps define the depositional systems and the dispersal patterns of the reservoirs and seals of the Triassic formations. The Permo-Triassic deposits consist of three lithostratigraphic formations: Lower Red Detrital (LRD Fm) (Lower Triassic), Carbonatic-Evaporitic (C-E Fm) (Middle Triassic) and Upper Red Detrital (URD Fm) (Upper Triassic). The lowest part of the LRD Fm and the URD Fm consists of multiple coarsening-upward parasequences deposited in deltaic and fluviatil environments of the lowstand systems tract during a forced regression. The upper part of the LRD Fm consists of fining-upward parasequences that sugests a strong transgression. This evolution is the result of the Permo-Triassic riftogenesis. The main reservoir is a very well sorted sandstone (“Bradesti sandstone”). The seals consist of marls associated with evaporitic rocks. The reservoirs of the C-E Fm consist of limestones and dolomites, especially in the lower part of this formation and the seals are composed by evaporitic rocks. Analysis of the main Triassic reservoirs (Bradesti sandstone as well as dolomite and limestone in the C-E Fm) suggests that there are others prospective areas for hydrocarbon accumulations in the southern part of the Bals-Optasi Uplift.
Tectonic Style and Oil and Gas Accumulation in the Moldavian Platform

Pene Constantin1, Negulescu Rodica2, and Coltoi Octavian1. (1) Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 6 Traian Vuia Street, Bucharest, RO – 020956, Romania, phone: +40 21 3181588, penec@gg.unibuc.ro, (2) Prospectiuni SA, Prospectiuni SA, Caransebes Street, 1, Bucharest, 020834, Romania

The Moldavian Platform represents the western part of the East European Platform. Seismic profiles, well logs, cores as well as geological cross sections and maps show that during Alpine orogeny, the western part of the platform was gradually underthrusted by the Eastern Carpathian Orogene. This structural evolution imprinted a monoclinal character of the deposits and they dip westward beneath the Carpathian Foredeep (Molasse) and Eastern Carpathian Flysch. The compressional tectonic regime accompanied by slowly strike-slip movements and interrupted by short moments of extension imprinted the main tectonic style of the Moldavian Platform. It is dominated by a fault network with two predominantly directions. A first system of major faults, almost parallel with the Eastern Carpathian Orogene is of NNW-SSE orientation (Paltinoasa Fault, West Paltinoasa Fault, and Siret Fault). The second system consists of small cross faults (E-W oriented) and it generated more tectonic block alignments that follow the longitudinal fault trace. The older deposits than the Upper Sarmatian ones plunge step by step beneath Eastern Carpathians along major faults. The tectonic blocks on every step folded and generated gently anticlines and faulted monoclines. The intense compressional regime and the high subsidence rate of the Sarmatian deposits favored the formation of the lithostratigrafic traps. The gas and gas-condensate are reservoired in Albian, Badenian and Sarmatian sandstones and marls and anhydrites seal them. The study of the tectonic evolution of the Moldavian Platform suggests new prospective areas for the gas and gas-condensate in the pre-Badenian deposits.
Paleocene carbonate platform facies distribution (northern part of the Black Sea basin, Ukrainian offshore)

Sergii Vakarchuk, Department of Complex Geology- Industrial Researches, Scientific Research Institute of Oil and Gas Industry (Naukanaftogaz), Uritskogo Str., 45, Kyiv, 03035, Ukraine, phone: +380445850219, fax: +380442487101, vakarchuk@naukanaftogaz.kiev.ua, Piter Chepil, Scientific Research Institute of Oil and Gas Industry (Naukanaftogaz), Uritskogo Str., 45, Kyiv, 03035, and Tetyana Dovzhok, Department of oil and gas geology problems, Scientific Research Institute of Oil and Gas Industry (Naukanaftogaz), Uritskogo Str., 45, Kyiv, 03035, Ukraine.

This study is aimed to detailed facies subdivision and mapping of the Paleocene carbonates that is stipulated by several oil and gas discoveries recently made in this sequence. An analysis is based on an integrated interpretation of core sets and well logs for more than 40 deep wells drilled in the different tectonic zones of the basin and regional and local seismic data. Carbonates of Paleocene occur at depth of 500-6000 m and extend over the most of structural-tectonic zones of the Black Sea basin. The thickness of these sediments changes from 50-100 m to 600-900m. The study has revealed several facies zones in the carbonate sediments of Paleocene: littoral (alternation of skeletal wackestones and packstone, lime mudstones, marls, calcareous sandstones and siltstones), intra-shelf (skeletal wackestones and packstone 60-70%, marls 10-20%, pelitomorphic limestone 5-15 %, baundstones 3-5%, sales 10%), outer-shelf, (skeletal wackestones and packstone 30-40%, marls 20-30%, pelitomorphic limestones 10 %, sales 20%), gentle slope (marls 20-30%, wackestones and packstone 10-15 %, pelitomorphic limestones 20 % sales 30-50%) and basin (sales and marls with intercalation of pelitomorphic limestones). Four gas and gas-condensate fields are discovered within the Paleocene carbonate to date. All from them are located in the intra-shelf zone. The reservoirs are represented with skeletal wackestones. The reservoirs are porous and porous-fissured types. Open porosity – from 10 to 32%, permeability – 0,0005-0,045 mcm2.
South Akcakoca Gas: A Black Sea Discovery 30 Years in the Making

Michael J. Fitzgerald, III1, Ed Ramirez1, William Moulton2, and Al Garcia3. (1) Toreador Resources Corp, 4809 Cole Ave, Suite 108, Dallas, TX 75205, phone: 214-559-3933, fax: 214-559-3945, mfitzgerald@toreador.net, (2) Independent Consultant, (3) Integral Technology Group

Six Eurasian countries surround the Black Sea. Of those six countries, the Republic of Turkey has the longest coastline, 1595 km. of any bounding country. Prior to 2004 there had been only six well drilled in the Turkish Black Sea, four in the far western Black Sea area and two in the west central area offshore from a small vacation town, Akcakoca.

The Akcakoca #1 and #2 wells had been drilled in the mid-1970’s designed to test Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments seen onshore in outcrops and the subsurface. Early seismic had indicated the presence of sizable structures formed by compressional tectonics bounded by trust faults. The Akcakoca #1 well encountered gas shows in Eocene clastics from 1000m to 1400m and tested 3.25mmcfpd during an open-hole DST. The Akcakoca #2 well encountered gas shows but no tests were run.

In 2000 Madison Oil Turkey, later merged with Toreador Resources, acquired a 962,000 acre permit that contained the Akcakoca wells. Utilizing existing seismic and the original wells Toreador explorationists determined that potential existed for a significant accumulation. A conventional 2-D seismic survey and follow-up high resolution 2-D surveys enabled geophysics to map velocity anomalies that could be tied to the 1970’s wells.

In 2004 the Ayazli #1 wildcat was drilled on a thrusted anticline 3 km south of the original Akcakoca #1 well. This well tested approximately 12.0mmcfgpd from four Eocene age sands. Drilling over the next two and a half years saw the exploration group drill 12 successful well out of 14 and initiate the first gas production in the Turkish Black Sea.

This paper will review the geology and geophysics that went into this effort.
Debunking the Myths of Crimean Geology

Igor V. Popadyuk, Naukanaftogaz, Kyiv 03035 Ukraine, phone: 38 044 5852764, fax: 38 044 2487101, popadyuk@naukanaftogaz.kiev.ua

The Crimea Mountains located in the southernmost part of Crimea Peninsula in southern Ukraine hold keys to the Black Sea understanding as the coastline of Crimean Peninsula spans both Western and Eastern Black Sea.

At least two myths of the regional stratigraphy might be debunked. Myth 1: Tauric Group is not Triassic-Early Jurassic in age. Based on published palaeontological data (Ammonites) it is likely the Tauric Group to be younger, the most probably Aptian- Early-Mid Albian in age. It means that the compressive event affected basins in the Crimea region at the end of Albian, not Middle Jurassic. Myth 2: The flysch and conglomerate successions widely developed on eastern Crimea and commonly referred to the Upper Jurassic are Tertiary in age as it might be concluded based on published palaeontological (foraminifera) data. It means the volume of clastics shed from the Crimea Mountains during the Tertiary uplift seems to have been significant.

Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous successions are incorporated in two major thrust sheets, named structurally descending as Yayla thrust and Tauric thrust. Yayla thrust is composed mostly of shallow marine carbonates of Late Jurassic-Neocomian age. Tauric thrust consists of Tauric flysch succession and equivalent siliciclastic deposits of Aptian – Early-Mid Albian age. Both of these thrust sheets were transported northward probably during the Late Albian pulse and sealed by post-tectonic cover of Cenomanian to Late Eocene sediments. The Crimea region was tectonically uplifted and eroded after Late Eocene.
The Tertiary Kamtchia Fluvio-Estuary-Fan System of Eastern Bulgaria

Rudolf Dellmour, OMV Exploration & Production GmbH, Vienna, Austria, Rudolf.Dellmour@omv.com and Gian Gabriele Ori, IRSPS, c/o Univ d’Annunzio, Viale Pindaro 42, Pescara, 65127, Italy.

OMV Bulgaria is holding the “Varna Deep Sea” Exploration license in the near offshore from the city of Varna in Eastern Bulgaria. The block covers a large Tertiary fan system sourced from the Balkanide and Carpathian mountains.

The tectonically active Hinterland provided during Eocene to Miocene a vast amount of siliciclastics from eroded crystalline and metamorphic rocks. These sediments were deposited into alluvial plains and alluvial fan aprons during relative high-stands and periods of tectonic quiescence. Relative low-stands produced massive erosion of this detritus which has been funneled through a pronounced Paleo-valley system into the deep sea. This paleovalley system spans over large parts of the Paleogene and Neogene. Two major sequence boundaries have been identified along with several minor unconformities. Today the “Paleo Kamtchia Incised Valley” forms an impressive geomorphologic feature in the landscape south of Varna.

Recent geological fieldwork over the last 3 years revealed the sedimentary history from the Eocene to the Pliocene. Field evidence for this clastic system includes fluvial, tidal and estuary sedimentary environments. This long living system of the Paleo Kamtchia came to an end when the Danube River finally broke through the Carpathians during early Quaternary. After this event the Danube captured the drainage area of the Paleo Kamtchia reducing the Kamtchia River system to a creek of minor importance.

3D seismic data acquired in 2006 reveals a pronounced and complex deepwater fan system connected to this “Paleo Kamtchia Incised Valley”. This fan system opens up a new play in the Bulgarian Black Sea similar to that which has been successfully chased by Explorationist’s worldwide over the past 20 years.

The Moesian Platform: a Critical Piece in the Tectonic Puzzle of the Black Sea Region

Gabor Tari, AllyGabor Geoscience, 6719 Avenue B, Bellaire, TX 770401, phone: 832-724-1404, gabor@allygabor.com

Based on recent results on the structure of the Moesian Platform and the Bohemian Massif segments of the European continental margin, a new model of the evolution of these passive margins is outlined. The Moesian Platform is interpreted as the upper plate, conjugate margin of the Bohemian segment of the European margin, rifted and drifted away during the Middle and Late Jurassic. Moesia, as a new microplate, was separated from the European margin at about the end of the Bathonian and started to drift towards the SE. There are no constraints on the rate of the drifting but by the Aptian Moesia should have reached its present-day position, at least 600 km to the SE from its original position. The direction of drifting can be deduced from the geometry of the major faults to the NE from the present-day Moesian Platform, in the broader Tornquist-Tesseyre fault zone, for example the Peceneaga-Camena fault bounding the Dobrogea orogenic belt. To the SW, the northeastern edge of the Bohemian Spur projecting below the Pannonian Basin is mappable by reflection seismic data providing an additional geometric constraint for the separation of Moesia from Europe. The correct reconstruction of the pre-Jurassic position of the Moesian Platform has important implications for the paleogeography of the Black Sea prior to its opening. For example, the Triassic rift system of Dobrogea in Romania can be directly correlated with the Strandzha rift sequence in southernmost Bulgaria offering a much simpler paleogeographic scenario than previously thought.
The Geological History of the Istria ‘Depression’, Offshore Romania: Tectonic Controls on Second Order Sequence Architecture

David Boote, Consultant, 12 Elsynge Road, London SW18 United Kingdom, phone: 0208 871 0069, davidboote@elsyngeroad.fsnet.co.uk

The Istria ‘Depression’ or trough of offshore Romania, lies at the intersection of the trans-European, Tornquist-Teisseyre ‘Zone’ and the Black Sea back arc basin, just outboard of the East Carpathian orogenic welt. It experienced an extraordinary polyphase history of subsidence, sedimentation and dramatic sediment evacuation during the late Mesozoic and Tertiary, reflecting the interplay between these three tectonic domains. It first developed as a trans-tensional rift in the Triassic- Jurassic to be compressed and deformed during the (?)end-Jurassic Cimmerian orogeny. Residual topography was filled by a west-facing continental clastic-evaporite sequence during the Neocomian. This was terminated by uplift and doming associated with Apto-Albian rifting and back-arc spreading in the western Black Sea. Post break-up subsidence and tilting of the Black Sea rift margin, led to easterly evacuation of its early Cretaceous sedimentary fill by gravity-driven mass wastage. The margin was subsequently transgressed from the east with deposition first confined within the open Istria trough and later expanding out onto the bounding highs. By the end of the Cretaceous, it had been entirely buried, only to be partially evacuated once more in the early Palaeocene and again quite spectacularly during the (?)late Eocene. The deeply incised canyon formed at that time, was rapidly filled by Oligocene-Miocene sediments, but late Miocene (Messinian?) draw-down of the Black Sea basin was reflected by yet a third period of erosional incision. Continental margin outbuilding followed during the Plio-Pleistocene with deposition of several rapidly prograding wedges. This was interrupted by a major gravity slide event and several phases of shelf-margin canyon incision and late phase of shelf margin listric faulting, reflecting the final docking of the Carpathian orogen.
Oil and Gas Prospects of the Ukrainian Part of the Western Black Sea

Oxana Khriachtchevskaia, Naukanaftogaz, Uritskogo Str., 45, Kyiv, 03035, Ukraine, phone: +38(044)5852762, hryaschevska@naukanaftogaz.kiev.ua and Sergiy Stovba, Naukanaftogaz, Uritskoga Str., 45, Kiev, 03035, Ukraine.

Eight gas-condensate commercial fields have been discovered within the Odessa shelf (western part of the Ukrainian Black Sea) during last three decades. The success factor of drilling is 0.5. The productive horizons are located in Upper Cretaceous, Palaeocene, Eocene, Oligocene and Lower Miocene sequences. Present-day exploration activity is focused on inverted structural highs within shallow water area (

Hydrocarbon Bearing Area in the Eastern Part of the Ukrainian Black Sea

Sergiy Stovba, “Naukanaftogaz” – Scientific Research Institute of Oil and Gas Industry of National Joint-Stock Company “Naftogaz of Ukraine”, Kyiv, Ukraine, phone: +38 044 5852765, stovba@naukanaftogaz.kiev.ua and Oxana Khriachtchevskaia, Naukanaftogaz, Uritskogo Str., 45, Kyiv, 03035, Ukraine.

A regional investigation of the eastern part of the Ukrainian Black Sea has been carried using a vast set of regional seismic reflection profiles, including the new set of regional seismic profiles by Naftogaz of Ukraine. To the south of the Crimea peninsula 20 large structures with closures of 50-200 sq. km have been mapped within Oligocene-Miocene-Pliocene sediments. Huge structures (>350 sq. km) in Tertiary and older sediments exist further to the east within Sorokin Trough and Andrusov Ridge. In the easternmost part of the Ukrainian Black Sea a number of high-amplitude anticlines has been mapped in shallow water depth and a huge Mesozoic structure of 400 sq. km in deep water depth (150-700 m). Eocene, Oligocene and Miocene sediments are considered as source rocks with good generative potential for hydrocarbons. There are strong direct hydrocarbon indicators on seismic data. According to expert appraisal, each major lead formed within Upper Mesozoic-Cenozoic section in water depths of 100 m to 2000 m has an area of several hundred sq. km, with vertical closure of hundreds of meters, and has the potential to contain hundred million barrels of recoverable hydrocarbons. The drilling of Subbotina well up to 4300 m has confirmed the high oil and gas potential of Kerch shelf. Plenty of oil and gas reservoirs were determined along the section of the well. Some of them were tested in the lower part of Oligocene sequence with successful result and commercial oil inflow.
The Tectonic Ecology of the Black Sea

Celal Sengor, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, phone: 90 212 285 6209, sengor@itu.edu.tr and Boris NatalIn.

The Black Sea formed within a complicated area. It had two orogenic collages plastered against each other and fragments of one Gondwana-Land bound continental margin orogen: the Scythides, and the two parts of the Cimmerides. It began opening as a consequence of Alpide subduction of Neo-Tethyan ocean floor in the Aptian-Albian interval and at least in its eastern part, clearly split a continental margin arc. Eastwards it clearly did not connect with the earlier Flysch trough of the Greater Caucasus and neither did it have any relation to the ongoing Cimmeride shortening as late as the Nish-Trojan trough formation. It disrupted a pre-existing fabric, but it is remarkable that the Andrusov Ridge exactly parallels the old Scythide/Cimmeride fabric of en-echelon arc segments.

It evolved as a marginal basin of Japan-Sea type and even in its history of rear-arc shortening it greatly resembles the present structure of the Japan Sea. After the Miocene Arabia/Eurasia final collision, Black Sea began shortening as far east as Zonguuldak. West of there it was extending north-south in unison with Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece.

It is remarkable how ‘continental’ its behaviour is. We compare this with that of the Tarim Basin and suggest that the Tarim is perhaps a palaeo-Black Sea.
Geological History and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Eastern Black Sea Region

Anatoly M. Nikishin, Geological Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119992, Russia, phone: (495) 939 49 31, fax: (495) 939 38 65, nikishin@geol.msu.ru and Aleksandr P. Afanasenkov, YUKOS oil companie, Moscow, Russia.

The Eastern Black Sea Basin originated as a back-arc basin during the Cretaceous times. Both the Western and Eastern Black Sea basins have been opened nearly simultaneously during Cenomanian to Coniacian times. Shatsky Ridge was a carbonate platform and zone of pinnacle-type reefs during the Late Jurassic. It was a platformal area since the Cretaceous. The Tuapse, Guria and Sorokin basins originated at the Eocene-Oligocene transition as a flexural foredeep basins. Shatsky Ridge was affected by flexural tectonics also at those times. Shatsky Ridge has a Miocene river system. Since Pliocene only Shatsky ridge was subsided up to 2 km simultaneously with main folding event in the Tuaspe Basin. Hydrocarbon potential of the Shatsky Ridge, Tuapse Basin and Sorokin Basin is connected with: (1) Late Jurassic carbonate platform and system of large pinnacle-type reefs: (2) Possible Paleocene bioclastic limestones; (3) possible Eocene nummulite limestones; (4) possible Oligocene turbitites with sandstone bodies; (5) Miocene river system; (6) Miocene and Pliocene horizons of sandstones.

The Impact of Recent Data on the Interpretation of the Geologic Evolution and Petroleum System of the Eastern Black Sea Basin, Offshore Georgia

Ryan J. Wilson, Neil Mountford, Paul Maguire, and Richard Hedley. Anadarko Algeria Corporation, 1 Harefield Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1YH, United Kingdom, phone: +44 (0)1895 209400, ryan.wilson@anadarko.com

The genesis and sediment-fill history of the Eastern Black Sea Basin, offshore Georgia has been largely understudied with little new data being acquired since the Soviet Era. However, recent data acquired demonstrate the existence of a Tertiary petroleum system.

The Oligo-Miocene Maykop Formation is a widespread source rock that extends from Romania to Turkmenistan. It has been identified as the source of the hydrocarbons in the giant fields of the South Caspian and the accumulations in both the western and eastern onshore basins in Georgia. In addition, oils collected and analyzed from active seeps offshore Georgia, directly above mapped structural culminations, confirms the presence of a generative Maykop in the Eastern Black Sea Basin.

Offshore Georgia can be subdivided into three tectonic provinces, one of which is characterised by high-amplitude anticlines that strike in a southwest-northeast direction as a result of shortening from the Middle Miocene to present day. These fold and thrust anticlines range from classic box folds to overturned folds, with a common decollment within the Maykop.

The primary reservoir sands are believed to be of Middle Miocene age, and based on 3D seismic data, the sandstones were deposited in deepwater channel-levee systems that originated from the north. Late Miocene to present day depositional systems have a south-easterly provenance of volcanic/lithic origins.

In 2005, the first deepwater well in the Eastern Black Sea Basin was drilled offshore Turkey but did not penetrate the northerly-sourced reservoir system. Consequently, the offshore Georgia petroleum system, with billion barrel opportunities, remains untested.

Mud Volcanoes and Fluid Migration in the Sorokin Trough

Sebastian Krastel1, Michelle Wagner-Friedrichs1, Volkhard Spiess1, Leonid Meisner2, Gerhard Borhmann3, and Michael Ivanov4. (1) Marine Technology – Environmental Research, Bremen University, Klagenfurter Strasse, Bremen, D-24359, Germany, phone: +49-421-2184598, skrastel@uni-bremen.de, (2) Marine Geology and Hydrocarbon potential department, Okeangeofizika Research Institute, Krymskaja Str. 18, Gelendzhik, 353470, Russia, (3) Marine Geology, Bremen University, Klagenfurter Strasse, Bremen, 28359, Germany, (4) Moscow State University

The Sorokin Trough forms structural depression along the south-eastern margin of the Crimean Peninsula. Compressive deformation affects the growth of diapiric ridges and facilitates fluid flow to the seafloor and the evolution of mud volcanoes above the diapirs. The main objective of a high-resolution multi-channel seismic survey carried out by Bremen University (Germany) was to study the evolution and formation of mud volcanoes correlated to gas/fluid migration and gas hydrates occurrences. We grouped mud volcanoes in the Sorokin Trough in three areas. The different geological setting influences the evolution of the individual mud volcanoes and hence their morphology. Collapsed depressions dominate in Area 1 in the western survey area. A 2.5D seismic data set was collected across the Sevastopol Mud Volcano representing a typical collapsed depression located above a complex diapiric structure with two ridges. Bright Spots in direct vicinity of the conduit of the mud volcano probably mark the base of the gas hydrate stability zone. We postulate that overpressured fluids initiated an explosive eruption generating the collapsed depression of the Sevastopol mud volcano and subsequent mud extrusions formed cones within the depression. The homogeneous fan deposits of the Palaeo Don-Kuban Fan in the central and eastern Sorokin Trough are characterized by increased permeability resulting in quiet effusive mud extrusions in Areas 2 and 3. Mud volcanoes in the central Area 2 reach enormous dimensions with diameters up to 2000 m and heights of about 100 m where faults with large offsets allow high mud flow rates.
Geology and Petroleum Potential of the Shatsky Ridge (Black Sea)

Alexey L. Meisner, DCS, Schlumberger logelco inc, 9 Taganskaya str., Moscow, Russia, Moscow, Russia, phone: +7 916 868 61 84, ameisner@moscow.oilfield.slb.com and Leonid B. Meisner, Geological, Yuzhmorgeologiya, Krymskaya Str. 18, Gelendzhik, Russia, Gelendzhik, Russia.

The Shatsky Ridge is an anticline structure that is comprised of the Upper Mesozoic-Paleogene rocks. Anticlinels have dimensions up to 66 x 18 km. It lies mainly at water depth about 2 km and extends from the Georgia coast to the Mountain Crimea (Ukraine). The goal of this work was to research perspective of Shatsky Ridge. Seismic and magnetic data have contributed to the recognition of main geological features. There are no wells drilled within the ridge, and the analog data from the Western Georgia and Crimea were used for lithology and reservoir prediction.

The lowest sequence consists of the Low Jurassic thick black shales, deposited on the top of Paleozoic basement. Magnetic anomalies caused most likely by the Middle Jurassic gabbro intrusions. Upper Jurassic-Eocene section consists of mainly carbonate rocks. This section contains the reservoir quality rocks. Limestone porosity varies between 5 – 20 %, range of permeability is 10 – 40 md. Presence of Upper Jurassic reefs, Eocene nummulitic limestone points to a shallow marine sedimentation. These reservoirs are overlain by marine thick shale seals of the Oligocene-Quaternary ages.

A potential of source rocks belongs probably to the Jurassic and the Low Cretaceous rocks. It is also possible that hydrocarbons could migrate into Mesozoic reservoirs from sources rock of the Eocene and the Maikop succession of the adjacent troughs.

Mud volcanoes and seismic anomalies “bright spot” indicate hydrocarbon accumulations in the sedimentary cover of the Shatsky Ridge.

Reservoir prediction, sizes of anticlines and hydrocarbon seeps make conclude that the Shatsky Ridge may contains undrilled prospects and form a basis for its future exploration.

Effects of Tectonics on Deposition in the Balkans of Eastern Bulgaria

Michal Nemcok, Energy and Geoscience Institute, University of Utah, 423 Wakara Way, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, phone: 801-585-9829, fax: 801-585-3540, mnemcok@egi.utah.edu, Charles J. Stuart, EGI at University of Utah, 423 Wakara Way, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, Dian Vangelov, Department of Geology at Sofia University, bul. Tzaz. Osvoboditel 15, Sofia, 1000, Bulgaria, Eric R. Higgins, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, 6100 N. Western Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73118, Chelsea Welker, EGI at University of Utah, 423 Wakara Way; Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, and David Meaux, AOA Geophysics Inc, 11200 Westheimer, Suite 850, Houston, TX 77042.

The E Balkans geometry during Paleocene-Recent was characterized by a southeastward plunge toward the Western Black Sea, caused by: 1) a combination of eastward-thinning continental crust in the west, and oceanic crust in the east; 2) post-rift thermal subsidence of the continental crust; 3) buttressing against the Moesian Platform in the west and no buttressing in the east; and 4) northeastward advance of the thrustbelt.

The eastward-fading uplift and buttressing are evidenced by: 1) eastward decreasing amount of shortening along constructed profiles, yielding 30km, 10.5km, 11km and 4km from west to east; 2) eastward trend of more complete stratigraphic sections and shallower erosional levels; and 3) eastward increase in décollement depths, being 3.7km, 3.8km, 9.5-13.5km and 12.3-14.1km. The last thrusting age is progressively older toward the east from Middle Eocene through Late Eocene to Late Eocene/Oligocene. Onshore thrustbelt, which was significantly affected by buttressing against the Moesian Platform, exhibits thrusting followed by Late Eocene gravitational collapse, Oligocene quiescence and Neogene extension. The offshore thrustbelt exhibits thrusting followed by Oligocene-Neogene extension. A Paleocene-Middle Eocene piggyback basin formed in the onshore portion of the thrustbelt, centered in the East Balkan Zone, with a southeastward plunging axis, which migrated northeastward with basin shortening and filling.
Sedimentology And Timing Of Hydrocarbon-seepage (Lower Eocene, Varna, Bulgaria)

Eva De Boever, Geologie, K.U. Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 E, 3001 Leuven, Belgium, phone: +32 16 32 77 98, eva.deboever@geo.kuleuven.be, Rudy Swennen, Geologie, K.U.Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium, and Lyubomir Dimitrov, Institute of Oceanology, P.O. Box 152, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria.

In the Pobiti Kamani area (Varna, NE Bulgaria), Lower Eocene sandy sediments contain several clusters of up to 8m high calcite-cemented chimney structures. ?13C values as low as -43‰ V-PDB indicate a hydrocarbon-seepage related origin. The depositional sequence of the shallow marine platform sediments is characterized by several cemented stratal surfaces which are cross cut by chimney structures. In this contribution, the origin of the cemented surfaces is addressed based on sedimentological, petrographical and stable isotope geochemical data and the implications with respect to the timing of hydrocarbon seepage are evaluated. Grain size measurements in two continuous vertical sections allow to distinguish two depositional sequences. Transgressive (TS) and maximum flooding (MFS) surfaces are characterized by extensive calcite cementation, thus indicating a sequence stratigraphical control on cementation. Different cement-types have been recognized. The bulk stable isotope signature of these cements indicates precipitation from Lower Eocene marine pore fluids, affected by later meteoric resetting. ?13C depletions of the dominant pore cementing “mosaic” cement as low as -20.6‰ V-PDB however supports also a pre-compactional influence of hydrocarbon-seepage which decreases within m-distance from chimney clusters. The MFS near the top of the Dikilitash Formation is partly cemented by transparent poikilotopic calcite in keystone-type vugs and in interparticular porosity. Its very early diagenetic origin and ?13C depletion (-16‰ V-PDB) suggest that hydrocarbon-bearing fluids percolated through the sandy sediments near the seafloor at the end of ??the Upper Ypresian. Other coarse-grained,13C depleted (-26‰ V-PDB) concretionary horizons likely resulted from post-sedimentary lateral migration of seepage fluids.

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