Petroleum potential of Qarachukur basin (Absheron Peninsula-Azerbaijan)

Azerbaijan is world's oldest oil producer and exporter, and 70% of its land has very high petroleum potential. It is very rich in terms of underground sources. Especially in the Absheron Peninsula, large scale of Petroleum is being extracted, since the discovery of Petroleum basins in1800's. Qarachukur basin is one of the richest oil basins in the Absheron Peninsula, Neogene and Pliocene sediments are observed in its general geological structure. However, Pleistocene sediments are also observed on the surface. Current (Holocene) sediments are relatively more spread in the areas that consist of deep sediments and salt layers. Qarachukur fold's structure is relatively deeply buried, fractured and has an anticlinal shape in terms of tectonics. It is located within the anticline region of Sarikayabashi-Shahdeniz. Basin's oil and gas potential is mainly related to the "Mehsuldar Kat" formation sediments and its oil potential has been detected in all sandy and sandy-silt zones below the Suraxani formation. But the gas potential of the basin is relatively higher in the "Kirmeki" formation. The basin has a high-quality petroleum potential which has a great industrial importance. Since the density of petroleum in the Qarachukur basin is low, it is considered in light petroleum classification.