The Shu-Sarysu Basin in central-southern Kazakhstan remains one of the underexplored gas-prone provinces, with 12 discovered gas fields including Amangeldy (884 Bcf) and Pridorozhnoye (225 Bcf). In the context of global energy transition, such basins require integrated geological assessment to constrain exploration potential. Historical studies within the region were spatially limited and prematurely discontinued, resulting in fragmented datasets and a lack of modern interpretation. This review reassesses published geological data within a petroleum systems framework, applying contemporary geodynamic and stratigraphic concepts. Analysis shows that tectonostratigraphic evolution of the basin during Devonian–Permian time (390–250 Ma) favored formation of mature, gas-prone systems within structurally compartmentalized troughs, with effective source, reservoir, and seal configurations. Building on these findings, a three-tier classification of exploration zones is proposed based on system maturity, trap integrity, and gas shows, reflecting geological success probability. This provides a basis for prioritizing future exploration despite limited seismic and drilling coverage in many areas. Recommended priorities include digitization of archival data, structural modeling, modern geochemical and diagenetic analysis, and focused evaluation of promising areas to support future exploration.

In order to obtain some clarity in the matter of assessing the seismic effects from industrial explosions of the state rock massif. Variations of the electrical properties of rock mass before and after explosions were studied by electro tomography. The monitoring studies on the experimental profile selected across the strike one of the regional faults that cut across the career field of the Neryungri was conducted. Observations were made before the explosion, immediately after the explosion, and subsequent observations at intervals of one hour. The electrical resistance increases in the rock mass of tectonic disturbance on the geological structure, which located on the side of the explosion. The electrical resistance decreases in the fault zone, some changes in the electrical resistance of the hanging geological structure. It has been found that the spatial orientation of the fracturing of the rock mass affects the pattern of change in the geoelectric properties of the rock mass. The electrical properties changes in the rock mass from the location of the explosion block in concern to the direction of fracture of the rock mass. In the case when the front of the blast wave propagates along the strike of fractures, the fractures open and the intensity of moisture migration increases significantly, which involve a significant decrease in electrical resistance not only in the zone of tectonic disturbance but also in the underlying geological structure. When the wave front propagates perpendicularly to the stretch of rock mass fractures, cracks also close and moisture migration along the cracks caused by changes in the stress-strain state of the rock mass, is not significant, which is reflected in a slight change in the geoelectric properties of the rock mass in the section of the profile under study.

Актуальность исследования обусловлена необходимостью наращивания ресурсной базы Республики Казахстан за счет открытия новых месторождении нефти и газа в Северо-Устюртском регионе. Цель: определение корреляционной связи структурных элементов крупных геоструктур Северо-Устюртского региона. Объекты: поверхности фундамента и палеозоя, подошвы юрских и меловых отложений Северо-Устюртского региона. Методы: переведение в цифровой формат серии структурных карт: по поверхности фунда­мента, палеозоя, доюрской поверхности, подошве мела Северо-Устюртской региона с помощью программных средств Didger, Surfer, ArcGIS, Geosoft; количественный корреляционный анализ основных геологических границ в программном комплексе COSCAD 3D. Результаты. В Устюртском регионе по характеру коррелируемости поверхности фундамента и палеозоя, подошвы юрских и меловых отложений выделены три группы геоструктур. В первую группу вошли подвижные складчатые системы и «мобильные углы», в которых коэффициенты корреляции вышеуказанных границ проявляются слабо либо не проявляются вовсе (Южно-Эмбенское поднятие, Арало-Кызылкумский вал, Центрально-Устюртская система дислокации, Горный Мангышлак). Вторую группу формируют внутренние мобильные элементы, обособляющиеся как крупные положительные структуры характеризующиеся экстремально высокими значениями коэффициентов корреляции по поверхности фундамента и палеозоя, подошвы юрских и меловых отложений, (Бузачинский выступ, Актумсукское поднятие, Куаныш-Коскалинский вал, Байчагыр-Яркимбайский свод). Третью группу геоструктур образуют тектонические элементы внутренних районов Северо-Устюртского региона (Северо-Устюртская система прогибов, Челкарская и Барсакельмесская депрессии), характеризующиеся длительным и унаследованным прогибанием в фанерозое и высокой коррелируемостью поверхности фундамента и палеозоя, подошвы юры и мела.

In this article, we consider the roles of transcrustal magma- and fluid-conducting faults (TCMFCFs) in the formation of mineral deposits, showing the importance of deep sources of heat and hydrothermal solutions in the genesis and history of deposit formation. As a result of the impact on the lithosphere of mantle plumes rising along TCMFCFs, intense block deformations and tectonic movements are generated; rift systems, and volcanic–plutonic belts spatially combined with them, are formed; and intrusive bodies are introduced. These processes cause epithermal ore formation as a consequence of the impact of mantle plumes rising along TCMFCF to the lithosphere. At hydrocarbon fields, they play extremely important roles in conductive and convective heat, as well as in mass transfer to the area of hydrocarbon generation, determining the relationship between the processes of lithogenesis and tectogenesis, and activating the generation of hydrocarbons from oil and gas source rock. Detection of TCMFCFs was carried out using MMSS (the method of microseismic sounding) and MTSM (the magnetotelluric sounding method), in combination with other geological and geophysical data. Practical examples are provided for mineral deposits where subvertical transcrustal columns of increased permeability, traced to considerable depths, have been found; the nature of these unique structures is related to faults of pre-Paleozoic emplacement, which determined the fragmentation of the sub-crystalline structure of the Earth and later, while developing, inherited the conditions of volumetric fluid dynamics, where the residual forms of functioning of fluid-conducting thermohydrocolumns are granitoid batholiths and other magmatic bodies. Experimental modeling of deep processes allowed us to identify the quantum character of crystal structure interactions of minerals with “inert” gases under elevated thermobaric conditions. The roles of helium, nitrogen, and hydrogen in changing the physical properties of rocks, in accordance with their intrastructural diffusion, has been clarified; as a result of low-energy impact, stress fields are formed in the solid rock skeleton, the structures and textures of rocks are rearranged, and general porosity develops. As the pressure increases, energetic interactions intensify, leading to deformations, phase transitions, and the formation of chemical bonds under the conditions of an unstable geological environment, instability which grows with increasing gas saturation, pressure, and temperature. The processes of heat and mass transfer through TCMFCFs to the Earth’s surface occur in stages, accompanied by a release of energy that can manifest as explosions on the surface, in coal and ore mines, and during earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.