Tomorrow's oil may come from southern California basins

Journal Article · Mon Jul 04 00:00:00 EDT 1977 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6561043

Feister, G H; Hall, E A

In late 1969, AAPG's Memoir No. 15 predicted that the S. California area, not including the San Joaquin Valley, contained 95 to 105 billion bbl of oil in place. Using a 20% recovery factor, this would equate to 19 to 21 billion bbl recoverable. Based on the results of industry activity since 1969, it is felt that these figures were somewhat conservative, and at least this much and probably more still remains to be found and produced. Basins of interest in S. California include (1) Santa Maria Basin; (2) Ventura Basin regional; (3) Ventura Basin-Santa Barbara Channel; (4) the Los Angeles Basin; and (5) S. California off shore. This latter area is occupied by 6 to 8 basins, depending on definition. Remaining reserves in the onshore areas are enough to justify continuing exploration for many years, even though the easy-to-locate and low exploratory risk areas have been heavily drilled. This will be true only if the industry is able to operate without unreasonable tax treatment or excessive governental regulation or unnecessary environmental restraints.

• Research Organization: Union Oil Co California
• OSTI ID: 6561043
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Vol. 75:27
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CALIFORNIA
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM
RESERVES
CONTINENTAL SHELF
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
WELL DRILLING
CONTINENTAL MARGIN
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
USA
020100* - Petroleum- Reserves- (-1989)