Mezen

Commentary

The Mezen's prospectivity is limited, with Palaeozoic and younger strata too thin for significant accumulations, and interest is correspondingly low. In addition, comprehensive sanctions, including on Rosneft and Lukoil, the seizure of foreign assets and the war in Ukraine make investment impossible for Western companies. Outlook: Negative.

Updated

October 12, 2026

Location

Description

The MZB is situated along the White and Barents Seas in the north-western part of the Russian Federation. Only a small area of the province, part of one graben, extends north of the Arctic Circle onto the Kanin-Kola monocline, where it converges with the Timan-Varanger deformed belt and the Fennoscandian shield. The main petroleum potential is associated with grabens containing Proterozoic clastic source and reservoir rocks: Riphean mudstones are organic-rich and thermally mature, whereas younger Proterozoic (Vendian) rocks are organic-rich but immature. Paleozoic and younger strata are too thin (<1–2km) for significant petroleum accumulation, and the USGS did not quantitatively assess the province because the chance of a field larger than 50mm boe north of the Arctic Circle is remote.

Summary

The main petroleum potential in the Mezen’ Basin Province is associated with grabens in which clastic Proterozoic source and reservoir rocks are present. One Proterozoic-Palaeozoic Composite Total Petroleum System was defined, although Palaeozoic and younger strata are too thin (<1 – 2km) for significant petroleum accumulation.