Abstract
The issues of tectonic structure and oil and gas geological zoning of the Southern oil and gas region of Ukraine are considered, the main differences between the existing schemes of oil and gas geological division are presented, the essence of which lies in different views on the tectonic structure of the region and the taxonomy of its individual elements. The requirements of the current legislation relating to the classification of deposits depending on their condition in the initial reservoir conditions are given and the hydrocarbon deposits of the studied region are described. In the Southern Oil and Gas Region of Ukraine, there are 46 deposits, that is 10.2% of all deposits of Ukraine, of which 10 are oil, 1 is oil and gas, 4 are gas and oil, 7 are gas condensate, and 25 are gas (including 1 underground gas storage). An assessment of the state of reserves and prospective resources of the Southern oil and gas region in relation to all reserves and prospective resources of Ukraine was carried out. Significant discoveries can be associated with the Lower Cretaceous oil and gas complex, amounting to 228,227 million m³ or 69.1% of all prospective hydrocarbon resources of the Southern oil and gas region or 25% of all prospective resources of Ukraine.Summarizing tables of the distribution of reserves and prospective resources of the main hydrocarbon components by depth and stratigraphic division have been compiled. Diagrams of the numerical expression of the distribution of reserves and prospective resources were constructed. The reasons for uneven distribution of reserves and resources of the region depending on depth and stratigraphic division are highlighted.