Critical elements of petroleum systems in the sedimentary basins in Poland

Abstract

Progress in geological, geophysical and drilling sciences during the past 30 years has introduced to hydrocarbon exploration the concept of petroleum system, understood as an analysis of the factors necessary forformation and preservation of oil and natural gas deposits. Thefinal evaluation ofpetroleum system is the product of allfactors involved in the formation of hydrocarbon accumulations, which must be preserved proper chronology of events in the geological space. Such interdependences build often synergistic or antagonistic configurations. These configurations are called critical elements of the petroleum system. Reliable and comprehensive analysis of critical elements ofpetroleum system in sedimentary basins in Poland lets identify potential new areas of hydrocarbon exploration. In this context, a particularly promising area is the petroleum system of the Pita Claystone Formation (central part of the Polish Rotliegend Basin) and deep “Carpathians” with their palaeo-mesozoic basement and deeper part of the Carpathian Foredeep