The South Caspian is one of the largest oil-producing regions within the Caspian Sea. Most of the offshore fields are focused here along with the main geologic oil and gas reserves of Azerbaijan. The development of the discovered fields, prospects and exploration of new ones require detailed study of the Quaternary deposits: their material composition, stratigraphy, thicknesses and other properties. It is necessary to study these issues not only for improvement of the efficiency, provide safe geological prospecting and exploration, but also to solve engineering and geological tasks related to the planned development of discovered oil and gas fields. Study of fauna and stratigraphy of the Quaternary deposits in the South Caspian is important to learn the Quaternary history of the Caspian Sea. The Quaternary time is known for its frequent and abrupt fluctuations in climate, ocean and sea levels, considerable changes in topography, fauna, flora and other natural components of the Earth. The large-scale well drilling in the South Caspian water area provided geological information particularly about ostracod fauna, stratigraphy and litho-facies features of the Quaternary deposits of the studied regions. We investigated the systematic composition and distribution regularities of ostracod fauna from the Quaternary deposits over the vast South Caspian territory, including the stratigraphic role of the fauna and correlation of the data with the coastal –onshore area. Multiple well sections and their enclosed micro- and macro fauna were the study target. When we analyzed and correlated well sections and natural outcrops we used other methods like lithological, macro fauna, radiometric, electric logging, seismic logging as well. The result of our study allowed us to design a detailed stratigraphic chart for the Quaternary deposits of the entire South Caspian basin. For the first time the Quaternary deposits of the South Caspian breakdown with 5 supra horizons, 10 horizons with 7 index species. Index species were identified on the successive change of zonal complexes- biozones. All these subdivisions play a regional role and correlated well with the ones from the adjacent areas of the Caspian region. The paleontological processing of individual ostracod of genera: Leptocythere, Amniocythere, Euxinocythere, others allowed us to identify specific features among them in order to differentiate a new ostracod species. We also highlighted the issues of stratigraphy, facies analysis and thicknesses of the Quaternary deposits in the South Caspian. The analysis of facies, thicknesses and fauna distribution shows that in the Quaternary time the South Caspian region was characterized by rather dynamic paleogeographic settings: along with the active change of the sea bottom topography, salinity and temperature varied considerably and often, as well as the sea level.

1. The Quaternary deposits of the
South Caspian and the adjacent
areas on ostracod fauna
Arzu Javadova, Caspian Consulting Service Company, Burnaby, Canada,
Maria Zenina, P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Moscow, Russia
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2. Who we are?
• An independent, international consulting company that provides focused
advice and solutions to clients, mainly from upstream and downstream
petroleum industries
• Formed in December 2010, CCSC has alliance type contacts with
international professionals and local companies in 3 permanent locations
(Kassel, Baku, and Burnaby) on 3 countries (Germany, Azerbaijan and
Canada, www.caspiancsc.com)
• CCSC has well established relations with leading research organizations
and institutions in Caspian countries, Russia, Turkey, Germany and Italy
• Currently we are working on project which is: “The Pliocene and
Quaternary Ostracoda of the Caspian Sea” with Jena University in
Germany under supervision of ostracod expert - Dr. Peter Frenzel
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A.Javadova: More than 15 scientific
publication about Pliocene, post Pliocene
and Miocene ostracods and their role in
stratigraphy of different oil and gas fields
of South Caspian basin published in
Azerbaijan”s local oil and gas journals in
Russian between 1988-1998 years.
M.Zenina: 25 scientific publication about
Pleistocene and Holocene ostracods and
their role in ecosystem of Black sea,
Mediterranian sea, Azovian sea, Amurian
bay and Pan sea (Japan, Korea and Far
East) published in different international
and Russian journals between 2006-2017

4. 4
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• South Caspian Basin as
the largest HC
producing region.
• Study area has highly
differentiated zones:
1. North-western (water
area to the north of
Apsheron peninsula).
2. The central (water area,
located to the east of
Apsheron peninsula).
3. The southern part (the
water area to the south of
the Apsheron peninsula )
GEORGIA
IRAN
ARM
ENIA
RUSSIA
KAZAKHSTAN
4000 800km
AZERBAIJAN
CASPIAN
SEA
TURKMENISTAN
Research area

5. South Caspian Regional location map
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Caspian history falls
in two parts:
1. A Miocene
stage, determined by
tectonic events
associated with the
closing of the Tethys
Sea,
and
2. A Pleistocene
stage, determined
by glaciation cycles
and the genesis of
the modern
Volga River
620 oil and gas
accumulations have
been discovered in
Quarternary to
Miocene sediments

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Conceptual cross section of South Caspian basin
South Caspian basin is
intermountain depression
situated between Great and
lesser Caucasus, Talysh mountains
in Azerbaijan, Elbrus and Kopet
Dag mountains in Iran and
Turkmenistan.
Beginning of the Quaternary time
(Apsheronian age) fundamentally
changed the development of the
Caspian basin like orogeny along
with troughs, bounding faults etc.
As a result it intensified oil and
gas migration flows. It is another
proof that the study of the
Quaternary deposits in the South
Caspian has great practical
importance.

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Pliocene paleogeography
The isolation of the Caspian Sea took
place in the latest Miocene
During the Plio-Pleistocene, the Caspian
basin experienced several short periods
of connectivity with other marine
basins.
Ostracod assemblages indicate
increasing salinities during these
transgressions, from fresh water
lacustrine to brackish marine
species. This mean that marine
connections have been created with an
adjacent basin that has a higher
salinity, most likely the Black Sea.

8. Problems of studying Ostracod of the Caspian basin.
Target and main tasks of the research
• The main target and task of the research was to develop the quaternary
stratigraphy in South Caspian based on the study of its ostracod fauna with
taxonometry revision of some ostracods. The following respective tasks were to
be solved:
• The distribution character of ostracod fauna in the quaternary sections in
South Caspian;
• The stratigraphic role of ostracod fauna, its quaternary development history;
• Correlate quaternary deposits of different facieses regarding ostracod fauna
and synchronize the events in South Caspian among it's different sectors and
possible adjacent onshore areas;
• Develop possibly more detailed layout of the quaternary stratigraphy;
• Review some of characteristic ostracod's morphology from Quaternary
deposits of South Caspian basin
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9. The study methods and material.
• The study focused on multiple well sections and the enclosed macro- and
microfauna.
• In total studied over 300 well sections, from which over a hundred of rock
samples were analyzed for microfauna (ostracods). The main research method
was micro paleonthological, in particular, the study of ostracod fauna.
• Also, other methods were used when studying well sections and natural outcrops
(lithological, microfaunistic, radiometric, electric logging, seismic logging and
other).
• When defining and comparing ostracods, collections from IGANA, AzNIPIneft,
VNIGRI, MGU, VSEGEI were used.
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South Caspian Stratigraphy of
Quaternary deposits.
FRESH WATER ZONE
FRESH WATER ZONE
EOPLEISTOCENEINDEXSPECIESPleistoceneindexspecies
We developed:
• 7 index species with characteristic
complexes and 4 independent ostracod
complexes without index species, with
stable regional distribution and
stratigraphic location.
• These features defined governing role of
ostracods, while splitting and correlating
the Quaternary sections of the South
Caspian basin.

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We investigated 130
species from 24 genus in
South Caspian basin
Aminocythe
SUBFAMILY LEPTOCYTHERIDAE HANAI 1957:
60- Amnicythere
10- Leptocythere
6-Euxinocythere
1-Tavanicythere

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South Caspian basin. Development of ostracod
Quaternary period

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Composite sections
from offshore South
Caspian basin

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Biostratigraphic well
correlation
A-A”

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Biostratigraphic well
correlation
B-B”

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Composite
sections from
offshore South
Caspian basin

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Composite sections from
offshore South Caspian
basin

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Composite
Stratotype of
Bakuvian deposit
from onshore
• The microfauna in the Baku deposits of the
stratotype is represented mainly by ostracods
(more than 110 species) belonging to the two
families: Cypridae & Cytheridae.
• The genus Leptocytheridae which is belonging
to the Cytheridae family is richly represented.
The remaining species are represented by two
three species.
• The ostracod complex of the Baku
suprahorizon is characterized by species
passing from the Apsheronian Stage and first
appeared in Baku time
• The study of the species composition and the
distribution quantity in this section allow us to
establish 4 distinct ostracod complexes.

21. Conclusions
• For the first time detailed stratigraphic breakdown was given for the
quaternary deposits on ostracod fauna in South Caspian basin along with
specified 5 supra-horizons and 10 horizons and 7 biozonas/ index species.
• For the first time we tried to correlate quaternary deposits of different
facieses (Apsheron and Baku arhipelagos, Turkmenian sector – east part of
Apsheron trend) regarding ostracod fauna and synchronize the events in
South Caspian among it's different sectors and possible adjacent onshore
areas (Apsheron peninsula and stratotype sections “ Gora Baku stage”);
• Review of some characteristic ostracod's morphology from Quaternary
deposits of South Caspian basin allowed us to identify the correct
classification of their taxon information (60 species from Leptocytheridae
family)
• Exploration and engineering drilling of State oil company of Azerbaijan
successfully use our developed stratigraphy chart with associated complex
of ostracods and bio zones in their regular operation
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22. Thank you
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