Comparison of geodynamic models and the hydrocarbon potential of sedimentary basins in the Russian Far East and SE Asia.

This study presents a brief description of the tectonic framework and Mesozoic-Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of the East Asian continental margin. The analysis of the geodynamic evolution enabled us to classify the oil-and-gas-bearing and potentially oil-and-gas-bearing basins within the studied area into three groups: (1) the continental paleorift and suprarift depressions; (2) the passive continental paleomargins; and (3) the active continental paleomargins, island arcs, and marginal seas collectively classified as subduction-related basins. The basins in the first two groups were formed by divergence of the lithospheric plates, whereas the basins of the third group were formed by plate convergence. The analysis of the structure, evolution, and hydrocarbon potential of each of the basins provided the basis for comparing the eastern Russian and SE Asian basins. Despite much higher hydrocarbon potential of SE Asia, which can be explained by the confinement to the “cluster” of sedimentary basins at the intersection of different-type continental margins, the conclusion was reached that extensive exploration activity may help to increase the density of the resources in the Russian Far East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]