Origin, migration, and accumulation of oil in a giant oil field, Wilmington field, Los Angeles basin

Conference · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · AAPG Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6018415

Lee, C

Wilmington field has recoverable oil reserves of about 3 billion bbl, or 32% of the total reserves of the Los Angeles basin. Understanding the origin, migration, and accumulation of oil in the Wilmington field may provide a model for oil exploration in California. One of the most important factors determining Wilmington accumulation appears to be highly efficient oil expulsion and migration from the fractured shale source rock. The major source of Wilmington oil is believed to be the underlying Miocene Mohnian E shale; such a local source indicates that the migration distance was short. Organic geochemistry studies support this interpretation. The Wilmington anticline developed during the early Pliocene from the late Delmonian to early Repettian. This was followed by the initiation of significant oil generation. Major faulting was initiated during the early Repettian with renewed faulting throughout the Repettian. The E shale acted as both a source rock and a fractured shale reservoir. Because of fracturing, the expulsion and migration efficiency of oil must have been very high, perhaps 80-90%.

• Research Organization: Texas A and M Univ., College Station (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6018415
• Report Number(s): CONF-890404-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 73:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ANTICLINES
CALIFORNIA
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGIC TRAPS
MIGRATION
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
ORIGIN
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SOURCE ROCKS
USA