Regional geologic framework and petroleum occurrences
- Kerr-McGee Corporation, Houston, TX (United States)
The Falcon Basin developed during the late Eocene as a result of dextral strike slip movement along the Caribbean-South American plate boundary. During the Oligocene and early Miocene as much as 16,000 ft. of sediment, predominantly sandstones and shales, accumulated within the east-west trending pull-apart basin. Localized carbonate buildups were also developing in association with the Paraguana and Dabajuro Platforms. During the middle to late Miocene, uplift of the now emergent Central Falcon Basin Anticlinorium resulted in the northward progradation of delta systems. Sandstones associated with these deltas now make up the producing reservoirs within the basin. The complex present day structural configuration is the result of continued movement along the Caribbean-South American plate boundary. Landsat imagery and field mapping indicate a basin dominated by northeast trending folds and thrust faults and fracture patterns commonly associated with dextral strike-slip movement. Commercial production is currently limited to the Tiguaje and Cumarebo areas. The former occurs as four small fields ([plus minus]52 MMBO) related to structures developed by dextral movement along the Oca fault. The latter Cumarebo Field ([plus minus]60 MMBO) is a thrusted anticline on the northern flank of the Falcon foldbelt. The tectonic complexity and sandstone-dominated nature of the onshore Falcon Basin severely limit potential field size. Significant, yet currently undeveloped, reserves have also been discovered offshore in the Gulf of La Vela. Fractured granite, carbonates and sandstones associated with tilted fault block structures have tested hydrocarbons in several wells.
- OSTI ID:
- 6104789
- 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
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Related Subjects
CARBONATES
BUILDUP
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
TECTONICS
PETROLEUM
DEPOSITION
VENEZUELA
RESERVES
EOCENE EPOCH
HYDROCARBONS
LANDSAT SATELLITES
MAPPING
OFFSHORE SITES
OIL FIELDS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SLIP
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CENOZOIC ERA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
LATIN AMERICA
MINERAL RESOURCES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SATELLITES
SOUTH AMERICA
TERTIARY PERIOD
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration