Bakulina L.P., Dovzhikova E.G.

Ukhta State Technical University, Komi Republic, Russia, 13, Pervomaiskaya str., Ukhta, 169300: luda5200@bk.ru, dovzh57@yandex.ru

DOI: 10.35714/ggistrat20260100024

Summary. The large Yarega oil field is one of the oldest in the Timan-Pechora province (Komi Republic). The oil from this field is very thick and highly viscous, making it impossible to extract using traditional methods. Therefore, an oil mine was built in the 1930s; it is currently the only one in Russia. The use of shaft mining allowed for a detailed study of the structure of the oil-bearing reservoir. In the past, the field likely had a gas cap. The geological structure of the field, its location near a major tectonic fault, and the geochemical characteristics of groundwater and gases suggest the involvement of deep fluids in the formation of this field.

This study examines the hydrochemistry of mercury in the Yarega mines. For this purpose, 26 samples were collected from the deposit's groundwater. The samples were collected in areas not subjected to thermal steam treatment, which is used to accelerate oil recovery from oil-bearing formations. Mercury was detected in all samples at varying concentrations. As a result, possible causes of the abnormal mercury content in the deposit area and its sources were identified. Geochemical mercury anomalies in groundwater at the Yarega oil field suggest the possibility of new oil and gas deposits in similar geological conditions. Furthermore, the environmental aspects of the research are of great importance for the Yarega field area and the Ukhta district. Six thousand people live in the Yarega workers' settlement, and about one hundred thousand in the Ukhta district. For these people, groundwater quality is of paramount importance.

Keywords: Timan-Pechora oil and gas province, Yarega field, heavy oil, oil mine, groundwater, mercury, deep tectonic faults, filtration

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