Título: Falcon Basin, Venezuela, An Underexploited Hydrocarbon Province

Autor: Everett, J. R.; Staskowski, R. J.; Amos, J. F.; Dripps, W. R.

Fuente: Annual. AAPG-SEPM-EMD-DPA-DEG Conv., Pap Abstr P A34, 1997

Lugar y fecha del Evento: Dallas, TX, United States, 4/6-9/97

Descriptores: Venezuela; Falcon Basin; Fractured Reservoir; Hydrocarbon Potential; Oil And Gas Entrapment; Source Rock; Stratigraphy; Structural Geology

Año: 1997

Tipo de documento: Conferencia

Resumen: During the course of water exploration in the State of Falcon, the integration of digital geologic, hydrologic, geophysical, and environmental datasets in the GIS environment suggests that the basin has substantial unrealized hydrocarbon exploration potential. Existing production at older fields, such as Cumarebo and La Vela, are prima facie evidence for mature Tertiary source rocks despite the absence of the well-known Cretaceous La Luna Formation. The distribution of fields and seeps suggests that these rocks are mature over a substantial portion of the basin. Structural and stratigraphic relationships along the margins of the basin suggest a Tertiary time of emplacement for this allochthonous terrain. Steeply-dipping Pliocene units in the east-northeast-trending folds demonstrate a late Tertiary episode of deformation probably associated with right-slip convergence between the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates. Based on the digitized and GIS integrated structural, lithologic, and land-use/land-cover analysis of satellite data, stereo air photographs, and site specific structural field mapping and geophysical surveys, initial groundwater well drilling has resulted in wells that produce 15 L/sec (238 GPM) from fractured reservoirs. The search for fracture-related porosity and permeability may be an element of successful petroleum exploration in this area. (Original not available from T.U.)