Methane anomaly in the waters of the Anapa shelf and its possible relation to oil-and-gas bearing structures

The results of gas geochemical and seismoacoustic measurements obtained in the course of the expedition for the studies of gas seepages at the Anapa shelf of the Black Sea are presented. According to the data of the gas survey in the surface waters of the Anapa shelf, a large methane anomaly was discovered and mapped. The correlation of the anomaly with the bottom sources located over the Pionerskaya structure is proved. The geological structure of the area studied is analyzed. The data set allowed us to positively characterize the prospects of the oil-and-gas content of the Anapa shelf interiors and of the Pionerskaya structure proper.