Fakhraddin A. Kadirov

Lineaments in the Shamakhy–Gobustan and Absheron hydrocarbon containing areas using gravity data

In this study, we purposed to investigate the edge of geostructures and position of existing faults of the Shamakhy–Gobustan and Absheron hydrocarbon containing regions in Azerbaijan. For this purpose, the horizontal gradient, analytic signal, tilt angle, and hyperbolic of tilt angle methods were applied to the first vertical derivative of gravity data instead of Bouguer gravity data. We obtained the maps that show the previous lineaments which were designated by considering the maximum contours of horizontal gradient, analytic signal maps, and zero values of tilt angle, hyperbolic of tilt angle maps. The geometry of basement interface was also modeled utilizing the Parker–Oldenburg algorithm to understand the sediment thickness and coherency or incoherency between the gravity values and basement topography. The lineaments were held a candle to most current tectonic structure map of the study area. It was seen that the techniques used in this study are very effective to determine the old and new lineaments in the Shamakhy–Gobustan and Absheron regions. The epicenter distribution of earthquakes within the study area supports the new lineaments which are extracted by our interpretation. We concluded that better comprehension of Azerbaijan geostructures and its effect on the large scale works will be provided by means of this study.

Economic Minerals of Azerbaijan

The territory of Azerbaijan covers a part of the Mediterranean Alpine belt of Eurasia, being characterized by complex geological and tectonic structures and numerous formational types of hard minerals and hydrocarbons within folded systems of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, Talysh Mts., Kur Depression and South Caspian Basin.

Regional Geophysical–Geological Zonation

The regional geological–geophysical zonation may be subdivided into: (1) the development of new geophysical maps (cross sections) for the region under study, (2) qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of geophysical data (including different schemes of geophysical data processing and transformation), (3) quantitative analysis of geophysical anomalies (inverse solution) and preliminary regioning, and (4) compilation of final geophysical–geological maps.

Deep Structure of Azerbaijan Derived from Combined Geophysical–Geological Analysis

The complexity of Azerbaijan’s territory geological structure stems from its location in the Alpine-Himalayan tectonic belt.

Oil and Gas Geophysics

It should be underlined that Azerbaijan is the most ancient hydrocarbon province of the world. For example, the world’s first oil well was drilled in 1848 in the Absheron Peninsula. This event took place eleven years prior to the drilling of the first oil well in Pennsylvania. Geophysical methods for oil and gas searching (localization) began to apply in Azerbaijan since 20s of the twentieth century.

Engineering, Environmental, and Archaeological Geophysics

Geophysical monitoring of oil and gas pipelines (primarily in Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) and South Caucasus pipelines (SCP).

Groundwater Generation and Distribution Regularities

Geological and structural conditions within Azerbaijan permit to isolate the Greater and the Lesser Caucasus mountain zones and the Kur-Araz Lowland that separates them, though the Talysh Mountains is separated from the Lesser Caucasus by the Araz River in the southeast. Three regions are isolated as geostructural regions (first-order tectonic structures): A—the Greater Caucasus fold-mountain zone, B—the Lesser Caucasus fold-mountain zone, and C—the Kur-Araz Lowland (Alekperov et al. 2008).

Petrophysical Support of Geophysical Studies

A preliminary model is devised to represent the geological objective when preparing a geophysical project for the given area. Otherwise, it is impossible to select the set of methods and interpretation procedure. The latter is revised before interpreting, if necessary. The initial development of a model of the medium is the most important stage, since the results of interpretation and the investigation in general depend to a considerable degree upon its quality.

Stratigraphy and Lithology

The geological structure of Azerbaijan includes complex sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic formations representing wide stratigraphic diapason from Cambrian through recent eras. The majority of deposits are well-characterized faunistically.

History of Geological Research in Azerbaijan

Oil and gas shows in Azerbaijan have been known since the tenth century and are mentioned in the works of such famous scientists, historians, travelers like Al-Mas’udi, El Istakhri, Marco Polo, etc. The works by Marco Polo (the thirteenth century) contain the data on oil production (sources) at the Svyatoi Island (during the Soviet period, the island of Artiom; at present it is the Pirallakhy Island ) and the morphological description of oil wells and natural oil shows with indication of their production, etc. is given for the Western Azerbaijan (at the border with Georgia).