Frontier Tertiary basins with promising hydrocarbon potential, offshore California

Conference · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5185069

Galloway, J M; Simon, P R; Brickey, M R ^[1]

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1. Dept of the Interior-Minerals Management Service, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

Dwindling domestic petroleum reserves have drawn attention to areas of promising potential within the United States. The federal outer continental shelf (OCS) off of California remains one of the most likely sources of future domestic oil and gas. The Federal Government, as mandated by the OCS Lands Act, must evaluate the OCS for hydrocarbon potential and to make promising areas available for exploration and production. Offshore Eel River basin, for example, contains the extension of the gas-producing Table Bluff trend. Seismic sections display amplitude and velocity anomalies, suggesting the possible presence of gas in offshore structures. Faulting, folding, and a thick Neogene marine section indicate a high probability of traps and source rocks being present. A moderately thick Neogene section and excellent structural development is observed in the southern Point Arena basin. The few wells previously drilled indicate mature source rocks are locally present and fractured reservoir potential is good to excellent. The structural geology of northern Bodega basin resembles that of Point Arena basin. Stratigraphic analogies are also evident, and the Neogene section appears to be thicker. This area should be considered a favorable petroleum habitat. Ano Nuevo basin displays many similarities to the Santa Maria and Salinas basins. The structural development provides trapping mechanisms, and the two offshore wells indicate mature source rocks. The reservoir potential is fair to excellent. Capistrano basin may be the least known of all the frontier offshore basins. Structural similarities to the Los Angeles basin suggest the likely formation of trapping mechanisms. Should stratigraphic similarities exist, then its oil and gas potential would be considered quite favorable.

• OSTI ID: 5185069
• Report Number(s): CONF-9103128--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Journal Volume: 75:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CALIFORNIA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
CONTINENTAL SHELF
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
OFFSHORE SITES
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
USA