Riphean basins of the central and western Siberian Platform

The Siberian Platform is unique by its volume of Meso-Neoproterozoic sedimentary deposits. For about one billion years (∼1650–650 Ma) several sedimentary basins were developed here, resulting in the formation of several kilometers thickness of sedimentary cover. The Riphean (Mesoproterozoic–Lower Neoproterozoic) rocks are exposed mainly along platform peripheries. The most complete sections are represented by several megacycles. Each megacycle contains terrigenous series at the base and carbonate formations in the upper part. Several isolated and anisochronous basins were created during the Riphean on the territory of East Siberia. Some of them were intracratonic, others were developed on passive margins. Neoproterozoic orogeny along the platform boundaries resulted in re-organization of the Siberian basins, with extensive faulting, uplifting and erosion of the territories.In eastern Siberia, Riphean series contain large hydrocarbon accumulations. The reservoirs were formed mainly due to fracturing and leaching of carbonate strata (e.g. vugular carbonates of the pre-Vendian weathering crust). The Upper Proterozoic deposits are overlain by thick clayey-carbonate and saliferous-carbonate series of the Upper Vendian and Cambrian, isolating them from the upper sedimentary cover. The Riphean basins contained thick, organic rich, clayey and clayey carbonate. In some of them a hydrocarbon generation maximum took place at the end of the Riphean. The pre-Vendian erosion has removed a significant volume of Riphean sediments. During this time a majority of already formed hydrocarbon accumulations have been lost or degraded. Remaining Riphean series have generated hydrocarbons during the Paleozoic.Despite its complex history, the Riphean is still considered highly prospective, with source rocks developing at multiple levels and reservoirs occurring in both carbonate and clastic rocks. Discoveries of new oil-and-gas fields in East Siberia are likely, but will depend on integration of detailed seismic data and a large volume of core data for the correct prognosis of Riphean reservoir distribution.