Mud diapirs in the South Caspian Basin: dynamical and thermal effects on hydrocarbon generation and retention

In the South Caspian Basin mud diapirs are intimately involved with economic oil and gas accumulations. While detailed evaluations can be made of the interrelationships between mud diapir motion, thermal and hydrocarbon effects, and of stress/strain evolution in surrounding sediments, such calculations tend to be fairly involved. Accordingly, this paper presents some simple procedures that allow one to make order of magnitude estimates of dynamical, thermal and hydrocarbon assessments so that one can produce quickly likely hydrocarbon potential estimates together with possible overpressure concerns and also likely structural integrity problems. While such estimates are not a replacement for the more accurate but considerably more involved detailed calculations, the methods and procedures given here provide some idea of the important issues and also indicate focus points for further detailed investigation for each particular mud diapir in the onshore and offshore South Caspian Basin.