Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic Basin framework and petroleum potential of Panama and Costa Rica

Conference · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5941728

Mann, P ^[1]; Kolarsky, R ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Texas, Austin (United States)
2. Texaco USA, New Orleans, LA (United States)

Despite its location between major petroleum provinces in northwestern South America and northern Central America, there is a widespread negative perception of the petroleum potential of Panama and Costa Rica in southern Central America. Several factors may contribute to this perception: (1) the on and offshore geology of many areas has only be studied in a reconnaissance fashion; (2) sandstone reservoirs and source rocks are likely to be of poor quality because Upper Cretaceous-Cenozoic sandstones are eroded from island arc or oceanic basement rocks and because oil-prone source rocks are likely to be scarce in near-arc basins; and (3) structural traps are likely to be small and fragmented because of complex late Cenozoic thrust and strike-slip tectonics. On the other hand, onshore oil and gas seeps, shows and small production in wildcat wells, and source rocks with TOC values up to 26% suggest the possibility of future discoveries. In this talk, we present the results of a regional study using 3100 km of offshore seismic lines kindly provided by industry. Age and stratigraphic control of offshore lines is constrained by limited well data and detailed field studies of basin outcrops in coastal areas. We describe the major structures, stratigraphy, and tectonic history of the following areas: Gulf of Panama and Gulf of Chiriqui of Panama and the Pacific and Caribbean margins of Costa Rica.

• OSTI ID: 5941728
• Report Number(s): CONF-930306-; CODEN: AABUD2
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 77:2; Conference: International congress of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Caracas (Venezuela), 14-17 Mar 1993; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
COASTAL WATERS
GEOLOGY
COSTA RICA
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
PANAMA
SEEPS
ONSHORE SITES
CARIBBEAN SEA
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
EXPLORATORY WELLS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
NATURAL GAS
PETROLEUM
RESERVOIR ROCK
SANDSTONES
SLIP
SOURCE ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CENTRAL AMERICA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC AGES
LATIN AMERICA
MESOZOIC ERA
ROCKS
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURFACE WATERS
WELLS
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration