Petroleum systems of western Venezuela
- Intevep, S.A., Los Teques (Venezuela)
Integrating multidisciplinary information from western Venezuela Intevep, S.A. developed a comprehensive geological synthesis of the Maracaibo, Barinas and Apure basins which allow the description of 5 petroliferous systems with pods located within the Venezuelan borders: (1) Northeast of Maracaibo Basin, (2) Southwest of Maracaibo Basin, (3) Eastern Zulia, (4) Lara`s Nappes and (5) Barinas Subbasin. These systems comprise different structural styles: (1) basement tectonics, (2) thin-skin tectonics, (3) inversions, (4) triangular zones, (5) {open_quotes}flower and pop-up{close_quotes} structures. The main reservoirs in the region are the fractured Cretaceous limestones (K0 to K5), the Lower to Middle Eocene sandstones (T1 Misoa C and Misoa BC) and the Miocene sandstones of the Lagunillas Formation. Three source rocks were identified: the principal one of Cretaceous age, marine origin and totally located in the Maracaibo Basin (K3-K4-K5, La Luna and Capacho formations) and two located south and southwest of the Maracaibo Basin, with organic material of continental origin, of Paleocene (K7-K8, Orocue and Marcelina formations) and Oligocene age (T4, Carbonera Formation). Three expulsion periods were encountered: (a) Lower to Middle Eocene (52-40 Ma) and (b) Upper Eocene to Lower Miocene (40-21 Ma), with pods located in the northeast region of the Maracaibo Lake and (c) Lower Miocene to Holocene (2 1-0 Ma) with a pod located in the Maracaibo Lake.
- OSTI ID:
- 421165
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9609255--
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin, Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 80; ISSN 0149-1423; ISSN AABUD2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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