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Mud volcanism of the South-Caspian oil-and-gas bearing basin

Chapter · January 2008

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Ibrahim Guliyev D. Huseynov

Geology Institute, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Geology Institute, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
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____________________________ НЕФТЬ И ГАЗ __________________________ 659

Ad.A.Aliyev, I.S.Guliyev, D.A.Huseynov

Chapter 7. Mud volcanism of the South-Caspian oil-and-gas bearing

basin

Mud volcanism is important enough fields of investigation of the geological

science; the mud volcanoes are unique natural phenomena, the carriers of great
cognitive information regarding the depths. The study of mud volcanoes allows to
examine many theoretical and practical issues of geology, geochemistry and
geophysics, to reveal the structure of deep horizons, occurring geochemical processes
that is necessary for solving the practical tasks – the assessment of oil-and-gas
content of great depths.

Classification and peculiarities of volcanoes

The South-Caspian basin has no equals over the works according to quantity of
mud volcanoes, their diversity and intensity of eruptions. In this unique region there
are over 400 mud volcanoes, i.e. nearly a half of all existing on our planet. From them
over
660 ____________________ ГЕОЛОГИЯ АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНА ____________________
300 locate within the East Azerbaijan and the adjoining water area of the Caspian
Sea. All kinds of mud volcanic manifestations are met in Azerbaijan (acting, extinct,
buried, island, submarine, oil emanating). They locate, mainly, on the Absheron
peninsula, in Sjemaha- Gobustan region Lower-Kura depression, Baku archipelago.
According to new map of mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan and adjoining water area of the
Caspian Sea on the geodynamic base (Aliyev, 2003), compiled in 2003, the mud
volcanoes are classified according to morphological signs, and the one third of
onshore volcanoes is corresponded to category of mud volcanic manifestations.
According to morphology there are cone-shaped, dome- shaped, hill-shaped, plateau-
shaped; according to crater shape there are convex-plane, shield-shaped, deep-
seated, caldera-shaped; according to type of activity: periodically erupted, and being
in intensive gryphon-salsa activity. Over 40 volcanoes and manifestations emanate oil.
The paper includes brief description of some of them with morphology, structure
of referencing, paroxysm of eruptions, volumes of ejected breccia and area of distribu-
tion. Ten volcanoes had been characterized: Galendarahtarma, Ahtarma- Pashali,
Hara-Zira island, Toragay, Bozdag-Guzdek, Davalidag, Ayranteken, Cheildag, Dashgil
and the submarine volcano on Nakhchivan block. The main differences and similarities
between the offshore and onshore volcanoes are dealt.

Regularities of spatial distribution and tectonics of zones

of manifestation of the mud volcanoes

Recently there had been obtained new data on tectonics of areas of the mud
volcanism development, in particular in Shemaha-Gobustan region, which is
character-ized by wide development of volcanism (over 100). There had been
revealed new fault structures and the microblocks loсatуd (Boyanata and Toragay),
distinguishing by deep structure, presence of different structural stages, thickness, and
different facial content of the Cenozoic deposits (Aliyev, Bayramov, 2000). Fault
structures, in particular Gi-jaki-Solahay fault of the sublongitudinal strike, dividing the
microblocks, had been de-fined by decoding of cosmic images and aerophotoimages.

Conditions of the mud volcanoes forming

There had been determined a clear relation of zones of the mud volcanic devel-
opment with processes occurred in the Cenozoic fillings of the superimposed molas-
ses troughs, characterizing by thick series of deposits of the orogenic complexes, with
prevailing participation of the Paleogene-Miocene rocks in the section. The main fac-
tors caused the mud volcanic manifestations, in particular in Azerbaijan, are the pres-
ence of plastic clayey series, formation waters, accumulation of HC gases and abnor-
mal high formation pressure in section, exceeding the hydrostatic pressure more than
2 times. Analysis of the geologic-geochemical data allows to mention that the initial
case of mud volcanoes forming are oscillatory and fold-forming movements the mani-
festation of which have the original and specific character in some depression zones.
On the whole, the tectonics and high gas-saturation of the environment play significant
role in volcanoes forming.
The activities on modeling the processes of forming and activity of mud volca-
noes had been performed during recently years. The physical-chemical model of mud
volcanism had been examined (Guliyev, 1988). The main drive force of volcanoes
forming in Azerbaijan should be considered the interaction of gas with high pressure of
fluids, caused by the misbalance of sediments compaction. The methods of calculation
____________________________ НЕФТЬ И ГАЗ __________________________ 661

of gas balance as for submarine and onshore mud volcanoes had been developed for
the first time.

Eruptions of mud volcanoes and their some peculiarities

Annually in Azerbaijan there occurs from 2 to 5, sometimes more paroxysms of

mud volcanoes eruptions. In last century in some years (1926, 1970, 1986, 1989)
there were recorded intensification of mud volcanic activity and the number of
eruptions was more than usually. The last one, noticeable enough intensification of
mud volcanoes activity was in the third century begging, in 2001 when the record
number of eruptions
– 16 – took pace. Two of them offshore (Buzovna sopka, Chigil-deniz), three eruptions
took pace in Absheron peninsula (Keyreki, Bozdag-Gekmali, Lokbatan), the rest took
place in Gobustan. Especially intensive eruptions took place on volcanoes Durandag
and Chapilmish in South Gobustan. These volcanoes had ejected 700 and over 300
3
thousand m of breccia, and covered the areas of 31 and 22 ha accordingly. There are
also frequently-erupting volcanoes (over 10 times) like Lokbatan, Shihzairli, Keyreki,
Gushchu and Hara-Zira. In Azerbaijan (Cheildag, Goturdag) two mud volcanoes lo-
cated in Gobustan, are characterized by eruptions as mud squeezing (pushing).
Usually those volcanoes erupt in the crater field of which the gryphon-forming
does not take place (Lokbatan, Keyreki) or there is very weak manifestation (Shihzairli,
Gushchu). 60% of mud volcanoes is characterized by intensive gryphon-salse activity
(Galendarahtarma, Pirekeshkul, Dashgil, Utalgi, Cheilahtarma, etc.). Mud volcanic ac-
tivity in Azerbaijan had started from the Early Miocene and lasts in the present time. In
the South Caspian the activity had manifested starting from the Early Pliocene. For the
period of 1810- 2001 there had been recorded over 300 eruptions on 80 volcanoes.
The intensity of phase (weak, moderate, strong) intervals of eruptions of mud volca-
noes in Azerbaijan had been revealed; the dynamics of eruptions, change of area and
volume of ejected breccia of the most active volcano Lokbatan – world champion on
eruptions (23) – located in the Absheron peninsula southwest had been examined. Its
first eruption had been recorded in 1829. The most intensive took place in 1887, 1933,
1954, 1972, 1977 and 2001.
There are data on “quiescent” intervals between the eruptions (60% of recorded
eruptions with interval to 15 years), on “migration” of craters, the description of some
specific eruptions of onshore and offshore mud volcanoes occurred mainly after 2000
(Garasu island, Goturdag, Kechaldag, Keyreki, Shihzairli, Chigil-deniz, Otmanbozdag,
Durandag, Suleymanahtarma).

Mud volcanism and seismicity

The present section is examined due to new approach to assessment of per-

spectives of oil-and-gas content of the seismogenic zones. According to A.A. Trofimuk
et al. opinion (1981, 1983), the transformation of organic matter into hydrocarbons
could take place under insignificant values of temperature when the rock is in zone of
high seismic activity and shakability. The results of the mentioned discovery had been
applied later (A.G.Gasanov) to Azerbaijan, in particular the South-Caspian basin,
which is characterized by high seismic activity.
Investigations, carried out for the last twenty-thirty years had determined that
the eruption is caused by the earthquake the focus of which locates on short distance
form the mud volcano, or the tension is distributed to the next regions that locate on
differ-ent distances from the earthquake focus. There are quite often cases when
activation of mud volcanic activity takes place before the earthquake, like in the period
of its preparation. Strong earthquakes (М is over 4 - 5) “provoke” the paroxysms of
mud vol-
662 ____________________ ГЕОЛОГИЯ АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНА ____________________
canoes eruption, i.e. the latter ones should be considered as the earthquakes conse-
quence (Aliyev et al., 2001; Aliyev et al., 2003).
The performed comparative analysis of data on earthquakes and recorded erup-
tions of mud volcanoes, occurred in Azerbaijan for the last two hundred years, had re-
vealed a genetic relation between the intensification of mud volcanic activity and seis-
micity. Taking into account the earthquake magnitude, focus depth, energetic class,
distance between the focus and earthquake it had been determined that the earth-
quakes play a “trigger” role in the mud volcanic process. The volcano eruption
matches in time or follows the earthquake with some delay.
Reliably the casual connection is determined when the earthquake focus and
the mud volcano locate within one fault structure and if the volcano was in quiescent
state for a long time and had accumulated enough energy for manifestation paroxysm.

Geochemistry of the mud volcanoes activity products and the fluids sources

Gas phase of the mud volcanoes activity is expressed by the saturated and un-
saturated hydrocarbons. The main components of gas is methane ( СН4), the content
of which reaches to 99%; there are also heavy hydrocarbons, СО 2, N2, Н2 and other
inert components (helium, argon) in small quantity. Chemical composition of gases of
mud volcanoes varies within different regions, even within one great volcano due to
presence of different conduits connected with different depths of HC feeding sources,
gases different in chemical composition, are observed (Aliyev, Buniat-zade, 1969).
The waters of volcanoes are expressed by hydrocarbonatesodium, chlorinecal-
cium, clorinemagnesium and sulphate-sodium genetic types. Waters of hydrocarbon-
atesodium type are the prevailing and typical waters for mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan.
The man components are chlorides and hydrocarbonates of alkaline metals. Within
the crater field of volcano the gryphons emanate water not only of different classes of
one and the same type, but the waters of different genetic type (Aliyev, Buniat- zade,
1969). The total mineralization of waters of the mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan is within
28 mg/eq. to 1380 mg/eq. per 100 g. Waters of Absheron peninsula, and Shemaha
region have the most alkalinity, the most mineralized and metamophized waters are of
volcanoes of Lower -Kura region. The iodine, bore and bromine content is 100 mg/l,
480 mg/l and 120 mg/l accordingly.
Hard phase. Products of hard phase of mud volcanoes eruptions are expressed
by the terrigenous-carbonate rocks, basically the Cenozoic complex with dominating
role of the Paleogene-Miocene. These are fine (sands, sandstones, siltstones), car-
bonate (limestones, dolomites, siderites) rocks, rare there are clays, marls, and very
rare there are coarse (gravelites, conglomerates) rocks, silica clays, pyroclastic (tuffs,
tuff-sandstones, tuff-siltstones, tuffites) formations.
About 90 minerals had been determined in mud volcanic breccia; these
minerals are joined into the following classes: sulphides, oxides, silicates, carbonates,
phos-phates, borates, sulphates and haloids. Breccia of the majority of mud volcanoes
is characterized by presence of syngenetic pyrite, as well as the different shapes and
dimensions of its crystals. On volcano Ahtarma– Garadag the alunite had been
defined (Aliyev, Babayev, 1993 - 1994). In the mineralogical part of politic part of rocks
and the mud volcanic mud there had been studied and characterized the clayey
minerals – hydromica, montmorillonite, kaolinite, and chlorite as well as rhodochrosite
had been recorded on volcano Dashgil (Mamedova, 2004).In breccia there had been
determined 30 microelements; the typical are bore, mercury, manganese, barite,
strontium, alka-line metals – lithium, rubidium and cesium, the content of which
exceeds their Clarke numbers for sedimentary rocks.
The geochemical peculiarities of organic matter of mud volcanic breccia, espe-
cially the oil-bearing rocks of the Paleogene-Miocene, had been examined. Dueing the
____________________________ НЕФТЬ И ГАЗ __________________________ 663
recent years there had been obtained new data regarding the oil-and-gas source prop-
erties of the Eocene terrigenous-carbonate rocks, rich with organic matter, especially
the combustible schists from ejects of volcanoes of Absheronon peninsula and She-
maha-Gobustan region (Aliyev et al., 2004). The radioactivity of rocks and breccia is
within from 5,5 to 25 мкР/ч. Low values are typical for the Pliocene rocks; the high val-
ues – for Paleogene rocks.

Isotopic characteristics and fluid sources of the mud volcanoes

-8
Isotopic ratios of helium in gases vary within (2,8 – 30,0)·10 %, at the same
-8
time the maximal values of (over 10 · 10 %) had been determined in gases of mud
volcanoes of Absheron peninsula and Lower-Kura depression (Aliyev, Kabulova,
1980). Isotopic composition of carbon (ICC) of methane varies from – 61‰ to – 36‰.
About 70% of volcanoes with ICC СН4 from – 50% to – 4%, that is fits to medium
stage of the methane maturity. Generally, on the isotopic composition of СН 4 in spatial
distribution of mud volcanoes there is a clear zonality. The most isotopic-heavy,
catagenetically mature gases are typical for volcanoes of Shemaha-Gobustan region.
ICC of СО2 gases of mud volcanoes varies within wide ranges from – 49% to +
25%, that points to presence of СО2 of various genesis: metamorphogenic (from + 8%
to – 4%), thermocatalytic (from – 16% to + 2%), biochemical (< - 16%), hydrothermal
(from – 7% to 0%). The main maximum covers the interval from + 16% to + 10%, cor-
13
responding to ultraheavy δ ССО2; it allow to state about the presence of liquid HC
accumulation in section of the mud volcanic structures. These accumulations experi-
ence the intensive bacterial-oxidizing destruction (Guliyev et al., 2004; Huseynov,
Guli-yev, 2004).
For the first time there had been studied the oils from 18 mud volcanoes and
some oil fields (Neft Dashlari, Umbaki, Kalamadin). The oil composition emanated by
mud volcanoes had been compared with composition of oils from oil fields as well as
with kerogen composition (organic matter) of oil source rocks. These investigations,
carried out on level of biomarkers level, had allowed to determine the isotopic heavy
and light oils and correlate their sources with the Paleogene and Miocene (Guliyev,
1995). These oils are naphthene - aromatic and methane composition, very oxidized
and biodegraded. ICC in oils varies from - 28,5% to – 25,4% (in saturated
fraction).Oils generated by the Paleogene-Miocene (Eocene, Maikop) complexes are
13
isotopically light (δ С=26% - 24,5%). About 50% of mud volcanoes emanate only the
Paleo-gene-Early Miocene oils.
According to isotopic composition of hydrogen and oxygen the water of mud vol-
canoes differ significantly from formation waters of oil-and-gas fields and characterized
18
by the enrichment with deuteride (δD) and δ 0 to +3% and +11,2% accordingly; the
18
greater part of values lies in interval 4%...10% for δ 0, and for δD – in interval
30%...0% (Guliyev et al., , 2004; Huseynov, Guliyev, 2004).
According to isotopic characteristics the waters of mud volcanoes are corre-
sponded to dehydration- metamorphogene and condensate genetic types.
There are data of chemical and isotopic composition of gas-hydrates, forming
accumulation in bottom sediments and mud volcanic breccia of the Caspian Sea deep
part. ICC of methane of gas-hydrates varies from – 44,8% to – 55,3%, ethane – from –
28,4% to – 25,7%. The estimated maturity of ethane is corresponded to depths over
10 km and the stratigraphic correspondence of gas generation sources to the Mio-
cene-Paleogene deposits. Assessment of oil maturities of the mud volcanic manifesta-
tions according to equivalent of virtinite reflectance (R0) shows low level its
transformation (R0=0,46 – 0,64%) (Guliyev, et al., 2001). Different level of maturity of
HC gases and oils of the mud volcanoes shows that sources of oil- and gas-forming
are shifted
 664 ____________________ ГЕОЛОГИЯ АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНА ____________________
relatively each other and they are corresponded to different hypsometric and strati-
graphic levels.

Hydrocarbons migration and accumulation in the mud volcanic structures

and the subvertical geological bodies related with them

The relation between the hydrocarbons migration and dynamics of processes of

subvertical geological bodies (SGB) forming, where mud volcanoes are considered as
the special case, is assumed in the physical-chemical models of mud volcanoes. SGB
are areas of the increased geodynamic activity and permeability of the Earth crust,
zones of fluids and decompacted sedimentary matter coming out the day surface. Ac-
cording to seismic survey data these complex geological bodies are joined into three
groups irrespective of their dimensions and genesis (Guliyev, Mamedov, 2003). SGb
are connected mainly with the Cenozoic complex of deposits, and the largest ones cut
the whole sedimentary cover. Their development is accompanied by the dynamic ef-
fects of different intensity, including the eruptions of mud volcanoes. Being the zone of
increased permeability and porosity and low pressures relatively the environment, they
create the conditions for hydrocarbons migration and the periodical eruptions of mud
volcanoes activate this process promoting the forming of hydrocarbons accumulation.

Mud volcanism and forecast of oil-and-gas content of the deep deposits

Mud volcanoes of the South-Caspian basin play a role of the natural exploration
wells and give the value information regarding the oil-and-gas content of deep
deposits which are not reached by drilling. The geochemical method of oil-and-gas
deposits prospecting in mud volcanic areas had been developed (Aliyev, 1991). The
lithofacial and petrophysical properties of the terrigenous-carbonate rocks of the
Paleogene-Miocene in ejects of volcanoes of the depression zones had been studied
as well as the concrete recommendations on depths and stratigraphic intervals of the
HC accumulations in depths had been given.
In the depression zones of Azerbaijan the great thickness of Paleogene-
Miocene deposits (over 6 km) causes the forming of multistory deposits of oil and gas.
On the lowest storey, corresponding to the lower structural stage (Eocene deposits),
one can expect the gas-condensate deposits, on the middle and upper stories
corresponding to the middle and upper structural stages – Oligocene–Early Miocene
and Middle-Late Miocene (diatomic) – the oil-gas and oil deposits accordingly (Aliyev
et al., 2004).
Results of the carried out investigations testify to specific conditions of localiza-
tion of the oil and gas commercial deposits in regions of mud volcanoes development,
specifically on correspondence of hydrocarbons accumulation to zones of rocks crush-
ing of the deep PrePliocene-Miocene and Paleogene deposits. These zones basically
accompany the deep-laying faults bounding the molasses troughs, the surficial filling
of which is characterized by active manifestation of mud volcanism. From this a new
approach to assess the prospects of oil-and-gas content of the mud volcanic regions
and development of technique of oil prospecting works in these regions follows. All
structures in the depression zones including the offshore ones, related with mud
volcanoes, are potential oil-and-gas bearing and express a practical interest for
prospecting works.

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