By the present time, the Middle Kur Depression territory has been subjected to dense and wide-ranging field geophysical, mainly seismic, investigations, resulting in a considerable clarification of the deep structure of the basin’s sedimentary cover. Seismic sounding has made it possible to identify and delineate numerous structural highs, the areas of which vary from several to the first tens of square kilometers. While the existence of many previously recognised structures has been confirmed, a number of them were found to be considerably smaller in area compared with the results of earlier structural interpretations. In some cases, positive elements earlier interpreted as closed structures were found to be structural noses or were not confirmed. The areal characteristics of the identified structures together with the volumetric parameters such as thickness of the prospective reservoirs, their fluid storage capacity and predicted phase state of hydrocarbon accumulations allowed for calculation of prospective C3 resources. A forecast of the prospective oil and gas resources of the Paleogene and Cretaceous deposits in the Middle Kur Depression, which have proven industrial hydrocarbon potential, is presented. Estimates of C3 resources were presented for a number of prospective structures in the oil and gas bearing regions of Kur-Iori interfluve, Ganja and Muradkhanly, covering a total of 57 structures. The distribution of prospective resources across depth intervals reveals a clear distinction between the studied regions. The highest volumes of hydrocarbon resources are associated with depths of 3–4 km, while stratigraphically the largest resources are concentrated in the Eocene complex.

Keywords: the Middle Kur Depression, oil and gas presence, prospective resources of hydrocarbons, C3 category of resources

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