Recent advances in Neogene biostratigraphy of Los Angeles basin

Conference · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6206354

Blake, G H

The stratigraphic record associated with continental margin basins represents, in varying degrees, the dynamic nature of the oceanographic, sedimentary and tectonic evolution of individual basins. With the high interest in the present and potential petroleum reserves contained in these deposits, there has been renewed interest in basinal correlations between known producing formations. The Los Angeles basin is one of the most prolific basins in California. It is one of the Neogene basins along the California continental margin that was formed by tensional mechanisms related to complex wrench tectonism. These tensional mechanisms caused the pull-apart tectonics which resulted in rapid deepening of many of the southern California margin basins. Deposition in these basins was controlled by local and regional tectonics, in conjunction with climatic and oceanographic events of the later Tertiary. For the last 60 years, the biostratigraphic framework for correlation between the oil fields of the Los Angeles basin has been based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages. These assemblages were used to correlate the Neogene clastic reservoirs across the basin. The reservoirs range in age from late middle Miocene to late Pliocene. The basic problem with intrabasinal correlations, based on the appearance and/or disappearance of benthic assemblages, is that the occurrence of the assemblage within a stratigraphic sequence may reflect the effect of local environmental variations rather than evolutionary changes. However, with the understanding of the tectonic, sedimentologic, and oceanographic history of the clastic reservoirs, correlations can be established using the benthic foraminiferal assemblages which will provide stratigraphic correlations in addition to environmental interpretations.

• Research Organization: Unocal Corp., Ventura, CA
• OSTI ID: 6206354
• Report Number(s): CONF-870606-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 71:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CALIFORNIA
CENOZOIC ERA
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
FEDERAL REGION IX
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL FIELDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
STRATIGRAPHY
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA