Anadyr Basin Composite Tectono-Sedimentary Element, Chukotka Peninsula, NE Asia

The Anadyr Basin reflects the tectonic history of the Chukotka and Kamchatka peninsulas in the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic. It is located at the junction of the Novosibirsk–Chukotka, West Koryak and Koryak–Kamchatka fold and thrust belts (FTBs) along the NE margin of Eurasia. The basin includes a latest Cretaceous–Cenozoic succession that is divided by several unconformities caused by tectonic events within the surrounding thrust belts, resulting in several episodes of basin inversion, uplift and erosion. Accordingly, and in the framework of this memoir, the basin is described as a composite tectono-sedimentary element (CTSE). Four gas and oil discoveries are known from the onshore part of the basin. The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the area is determined by the presence of latest Cretaceous–Eocene source rocks and Miocene reservoirs. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of geological and geophysical studies, as well as exploration work for oil and gas undertaken during the late Soviet period and in more recent times in the Anadyr Basin.