Potential Hydrocarbon Resources in Aral Sea Area in the North Ustyurt Basin

Abstract

A probabilistic method named discovery process modeling is described for estimating the quantity of undiscovered oil and gas resources in Aral sea area in the North Ustrurt basin. In this model, the pool size distribution was demonstrated, and the numbers and sizes of undiscovered pools were estimated. The most likely remaining plays potential in Area sea area is 3447.2 Billions of standard cubic meters of gas in place. The eastern Jurassic-Cretaceous play bears 2901.5 Billions of standard cubic meters of undiscovered gas in place, and 17 gas pools are yet to be discovered; the paleogene-Neogene play bears 545.7 Billions of standard cubic meters of undiscovered gas in place, and 13 gas pools are yet to be discovered. Based on resources analysis, the Aral sea area is a prospecting exploration area for gas, and the emphasis should be strengthened on the eastern Jurassic-Cretaceous play.