Petroleum Basins of South America

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Petroleum Basins of South America Petroleum Basins of South America edited by A. J. Tankard R. Suarez Soruco HJ.Welsink AAPG Memoir 62 Published jointly by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos Academia Nacional de Ciencias de Bolivia Printed in the U.S.A. Contents Preface XJ Regional Setting Structural and Tectonic Controls of Basin Evolution in Southwestern Gondwana During the Phanerozoic 5 A. J. Tankard, M. A. Uliana, H.}. Welsink, V. A. Ramos, M. Turk, A. B. Frangz, E.}. Milani, B. B. de Brito Neves, N. Eyles, J. Skarmeta, H. Santa Ana, F. Wiens, M. Cirbidn, O. Lopez P., G.}. B. Germs, M.}. De Wit, T. Machacha, and R. McG. Miller Oil and Gas Discoveries and Basin Resource Predictions in Latin America 53 G. E. Kronman, S. W. Rushzvorth, K. Jagiello, and A. Aleman Petroleum Basins of Southern South America: An Overview 63 C. M. Urien,}. J. Zambrano, and M. R. Yrigoyen Tectonic Subsidence Analysis and Paleozoic Paleogeography of Gondwana 79 K. E. Williams Mesozoic-Cenozoic Andean Paleogeography and Regional Controls on Hydrocarbon Systems 101 /. L. Pindell and K. D. Tabbutt Phanerozoic Correlation in Southern South America 129 A. B. Franqa, E. J. Milani, R. L. Schneider, O. Lopez P., J. Lopez M., R. Sudrez S., H. Santa Ana, F. Wiens, O. Ferreiro, E. A. Rossello, H. A. Bianucci, R. F. A. Flares, M. C. Vistalli, F. Fernandez-Seveso, R. P. Fuenzalida, and N. Munoz Paleozoic Basins Hydrocarbon-Bearing Late Paleozoic Glaciated Basins of Southern and Central South America 165 N. Eyles, G. Gonzalez Bonorino, A. B. Franca, C. H. Eyles, and O. Lopez Paulsen Phanerozoic Tectonics and Sedimentation in the Chaco Basin of Paraguay, with Comments on Hydrocarbon Potential 185 F. Wiens Phanerozoic Evolution of Bolivia and Adjacent Regions 207 T. Sempere Evidence for a Middle-Late Paleozoic Foreland Basin and Significant Paleolatitudinal Shift, Central Andes .231 P. E. Isaacson and E. Diaz Martinez Silurian-Jurassic Stratigraphy and Basin Evolution of Northwestern Argentina 251 D. Starck Tectonic Evolution of the Andes of Northern Argentina 269 R. Mon and J. A. Salfity Tectonics and Stratigraphy of the Late Paleozoic Paganzo Basin of Western Argentina and its Regional Implications 285 F. Fernandez-Seveso and A. ]. Tankard vii viii Contents Mesozoic Rifts Structural Inversion of a Cretaceous Rift Basin, Southern Altiplano, Bolivia 305 H. J. Welsink, E. Martinez, O. Aranibar, and }. ]arandilla Geometry and Seismic Expression of the Cretaceous Salta Rift System, Northwestern Argentina 325 A. H. Cominguez and V. A. Ramos Cretaceous Rifting, Alluvial Fan Sedimentation, and Neogene Inversion, Southern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina 341 C. /. Schmidt, R. A. Astini, C. H. Costa, C. E. Gardini, and P. E. Kraemer Structural Inversion and Oil Occurrence in the Cuyo Basin of Argentina 359 D. Dellapeand A. Hegedus Inversion of the Mesozoic Neuquen Rift in the Malargiie Fold and Thrust Belt, Mendoza, Argentina 369 R. Manceda and D. Figueroa Tectonic Evolution and Paleogeography of the Neuquen Basin, Argentina 383 G. D. Vergani, A.}. Tankard, H.}. Belotti, and H.}. Welsink Hydrocarbon Accumulation in an Inverted Segment of the Andean Foreland: San Bernardo Belt, Central Patagonia 403 G. O. Peroni, A. G. Hegedus,}. Cerdan, L. Legarreta, M. A. Uliana, and G. Laffitte Andean Basins Petroleum Geology of the Sub-Andean Basins of Peru 423 /. M. P. Mathalone and M. Montoya R. Petroleum System of the Northern and Central Bolivian Sub-Andean Zone 445 P. Baby, I. Moretti, B. Guillier, R. Limachi, E. Mendez, ]. Oiler, and M. Specht Structural Geology of Sub-Andean Fold and Thrust Belt in Northwestern Bolivia 459 D. Roeder and R. L. Chamberlain Andean and Pre-Andean Deformation, Boomerang Hills Area, Bolivia 481 H. J. Welsink, A. Franco M., and C. Oviedo G. Devonian-Carboniferous Stratigraphy in the Madre de Dios Basin, Bolivia: PandoX-1 and Manuripi X-l Wells 501 P. E. Isaacson, B. A. Palmer, B. L. Mamet, J. C. Cooke, and D. £. Sanders Is the Bend in the Bolivian Andes an Orocline? 511 B.M.Sheffels Structural Styles and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Sub-Andean Thrust Belt of Southern Bolivia 523 /. F. Dunn, K. G. Hartshorn, and P. W. Hartshorn Structural Styles and Petroleum Occurrence in the Sub-Andean Fold and Thrust Belt of Northern Argentina 545 H. J. Belotti, L. L. Saccavino, and G. A. Schachner Contents ix Northern South America Northern Part of Oriente Basin, Ecuador: Reflection Seismic Expression of Structures 559 H. R. Balkwill, G. Rodrigue, F. I. Paredes, and J. P. Almeida Reservoir Characterization of the Hollin and Napo Formations, Western Oriente Basin, Ecuador 573 H. J. White, R. A. Skopec, F. A. Ramirez, J. A. Rodas, and G. Bonilla Intermontane Late Paleozoic-Neogene Basins of the Andes of Ecuador and Peru: Sedimentologic and Tectonic Characteristics 597 R. Marocco, A. Lavenu, and R. Baudino Basin Development in an Accretionary, Oceanic-Floored Fore-Arc Setting: Southern Coastal Ecuador During Late Cretaceous-Late Eocene Time 615 E. Jaillard, M. Ordonez, S. Benitez, G. Berrones, N. Jimenez, G. Montenegro, and I. Zambrano Eastern Cordillera of Colombia: Jurassic-Neogene Crustal Evolution 633 D. Roeder and R. L. Chamberlain Geodynamic Evolution of the Eastern Andes, Colombia: An Alternative Hypothesis 647 P. B. Jones Basin Development and Tectonic History of the Llanos Basin, Colombia 659 M. A. Cooper, F. T. Addison, R. Alvarez, A. B. Hayward, S. Howe, A. J. Pulham, and A. Taborda Crustal Architecture and Strain Partitioning in the Eastern Venezuelan Ranges 667 H. Passalacqua, F. Fernandez, Y. Gou, and F. Roure • Stratigraphic Synthesis of Western Venezuela 681 F. Parnaud, Y. Gou, J.-C. Pascual, M. A. Capello, I. Truskowski, and H. Passalacqua Jurassic-Eocene Tectonic Evolution of Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela 699 /. Lugo and P. Mann Two-Dimensional Computer Modeling of Oil Generation and Migration in a Transect of the Eastern Venezuela Basin 727 O. Gallango and F. Parnaud Petroleum Geology of the Central Part of the Eastern Venezuelan Basin 741 F. Parnaud, Y. Gou, J.-C. Pascual, I. Truskowski, O. Gallango, H. Passalacqua, and F. Roure Cenozoic Sedimentation and Tectonics of the Southwestern Caribbean Pull-Apart Basin, Venezuela and Colombia 757 C. E. Macellari Index 781.
Recommended publications
  • Basement Composition and Basin Geometry Controls on Upper-Crustal Deformation in the Southern Central Andes (30–36° S)
    Geol. Mag.: page 1 of 17 c Cambridge University Press 2016 1 doi:10.1017/S0016756816000364 Basement composition and basin geometry controls on upper-crustal deformation in the Southern Central Andes (30–36° S) ∗ ∗ ∗ JOSÉ F. MESCUA †, LAURA GIAMBIAGI , MATÍAS BARRIONUEVO , ∗ ∗ ANDRÉS TASSARA‡, DIEGO MARDONEZ , MANUELA MAZZITELLI ∗ & ANA LOSSADA ∗ Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA), Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza, CONICET. Av. Ruiz leal s/n Parque General San Martín, Mendoza (5500) Argentina ‡Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Concepción, Victor Lamas 1290, Barrio Universitario, Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Chile (Received 13 December 2015; accepted 5 April 2016) Abstract – Deformation and uplift in the Andes are a result of the subduction of the Nazca plate below South America. The deformation shows variations in structural style and shortening along and across the strike of the orogen, as a result of the dynamics of the subduction system and the features of the upper plate. In this work, we analyse the development of thin-skinned and thick-skinned fold and thrust belts in the Southern Central Andes (30–36° S). The pre-Andean history of the area determined the formation of different basement domains with distinct lithological compositions, as a result of terrane accretions during Palaeozoic time, the development of a widespread Permo-Triassic magmatic province and long-lasting arc activity. Basin development during Palaeozoic and Mesozoic times produced thick sedimentary successions in different parts of the study area. Based on estimations of strength for the different basement and sedimentary rocks, calculated using geophysical estimates of rock physical properties, we propose that the contrast in strength between basement and cover is the main control on structural style (thin- v.
    [Show full text]
  • IV. Northern South America EIA/ARI World Shale Gas and Shale Oil Resource Assessment
    IV. Northern South America EIA/ARI World Shale Gas and Shale Oil Resource Assessment IV. NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA SUMMARY Northern South America has prospective shale gas and shale oil potential within marine- deposited Cretaceous shale formations in three main basins: the Middle Magdalena Valley and Llanos basins of Colombia, and the Maracaibo/Catatumbo basins of Venezuela and Colombia, Figure IV-1. The organic-rich Cretaceous shales (La Luna, Capacho, and Gacheta) sourced much of the conventional gas and oil produced in Colombia and western Venezuela, and are similar in age to the Eagle Ford and Niobrara shale plays in the USA. Ecopetrol, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Shell, and others have initiated shale exploration in Colombia. Colombia’s petroleum fiscal regime is considered attractive to foreign investment. Figure IV-1: Prospective Shale Basins of Northern South America Source: ARI 2013 May 17, 2013 IV-1 IV. Northern South America EIA/ARI World Shale Gas and Shale Oil Resource Assessment For the current EIA/ARI assessment, the Maracaibo-Catatumbo Basin was re-evaluated while new shale resource assessments were undertaken on the Middle Magdalena Valley and Llanos basins. Technically recoverable resources (TRR) of shale gas and shale oil in northern South America are estimated at approximately 222 Tcf and 20.2 billion bbl, Tables IV-1 and IV- 2. Colombia accounts for 6.8 billion barrels and 55 Tcf of risked TRR, while western Venezuela has 13.4 billion barrels and 167 Tcf. Eastern Venezuela may have additional potential but was not assessed due to lack of data. Colombia’s first publicly disclosed shale well logged 230 ft of over-pressured La Luna shale with average 14% porosity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Venezuelan Hydrocarbon Habitat, Part 1: Tectonics, Structure, Palaeogeography and Source Rocks
    Journal of Petroleum Geology, vo1.23(1), January 2000, pp 5-53. 5 THE VENEZUELAN HYDROCARBON HABITAT, PART 1: TECTONICS, STRUCTURE, PALAEOGEOGRAPHY AND SOURCE ROCKS K. H. James* Venezuela forms part of an important hydrocarbon province, defined by the presence of prolific Cretaceous source rocks, which extends across northern South America. By early 1997, the country had produced 53 billion barrels of oil. Reserves are estimated to total 73 billion barrels of oil and 146 TCF of gas with 250 billion barrels recoverable in the Heavy Oil Belt. Most reserves are located within the intermontane Maracaibo and foreland Barinas-Apure and Eastern Venezuela BasinxThey correspond to more than 1.5 trillion BOE originally in place. The province S hydrocarbon history began with a broad passive margin over which the sea transgressed throughout much ofthe Cretaceous. Limestones and shales followed basal sands and included rich source rocks. Convergence between the distal part of the area and the Caribbean Plate created an active margin that migrated southwards, so that flysch and wildflysch followed the transgressive facies. The process culminated in Lute Cretaceous to Middle Eocene orogeny with the emplacement of southward-vergent nappes and the development of northward-deepeningforedeeps. Flysch and wildflysch formed in the north while important deltaic - paralic reservoir sands accumulated in the south. Major phases of hydrocarbon generationfrom Jurassic-Cretaceoussource rocks occurred across the entire margin of northern South America during the orogeny. They are recorded by Jurassic - Middle Cretaceous graphitic marbles, schists and quartzites (metamorphosed, organic limestones and shales and oil-bearing sandstones) in the Coastal and Northern Ranges of Venezuela and Trinidad.
    [Show full text]
  • Detrital Zircon Record of Phanerozoic Magmatism in the Southern Central Andes GEOSPHERE, V
    Research Paper GEOSPHERE Detrital zircon record of Phanerozoic magmatism in the southern Central Andes GEOSPHERE, v. 17, no. 3 T.N. Capaldi1,*, N.R. McKenzie2, B.K. Horton1,3, C. Mackaman-Lofland1, C.L. Colleps2, and D.F. Stockli1 1Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02346.1 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China 3Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA 11 figures; 1 table; 1 set of supplemental files CORRESPONDENCE: [email protected] ABSTRACT arc width reflects shallower slab dip. Comparisons geodynamic processes, upper-plate deformation, among slab dip calculations with time-averaged and subduction- related magmatism. CITATION: Capaldi, T.N., McKenzie, N.R., Horton, B.K., Mackaman-Lofland, C., Colleps, C.L., and Stockli, D.F., The spatial and temporal distribution of arc εHf and Th/U zircon results exhibit a clear trend of The South American plate at 28°S –33°S is com- 2021, Detrital zircon record of Phanerozoic magmatism magmatism and associated isotopic variations decreasing (enriched) magma compositions with posed of numerous north-south–trending terranes in the southern Central Andes: Geosphere, v. 17, no. 3, provide insights into the Phanerozoic history increasing arc width and decreasing slab dip. Col- of variable composition that may have induced a p. 876– 897, https://doi.org/10.1130 /GES02346.1. of the western margin of South America during lectively, these data sets demonstrate the influence spatial control on the geochemical signatures of Science Editor: Shanaka de Silva major shifts in Andean and pre-Andean plate inter- of subduction angle on the position of upper-plate subsequent Andean tectono-magmatic regimes Associate Editor: Christopher J.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Tertiary Climate Changes in Southern South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. Part 1: Oceanic Conditions
    Sedimentary Geology 247–248 (2012) 1–20 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Sedimentary Geology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/sedgeo Review A review of Tertiary climate changes in southern South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. Part 1: Oceanic conditions J.P. Le Roux Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Chile/Centro de Excelencia en Geotérmia de los Andes, Casilla 13518, Correo 21, Santiago, Chile article info abstract Article history: Oceanic conditions around southern South America and the Antarctic Peninsula have a major influence on cli- Received 11 July 2011 mate patterns in these subcontinents. During the Tertiary, changes in ocean water temperatures and currents Received in revised form 23 December 2011 also strongly affected the continental climates and seem to have been controlled in turn by global tectonic Accepted 24 December 2011 events and sea-level changes. During periods of accelerated sea-floor spreading, an increase in the mid- Available online 3 January 2012 ocean ridge volumes and the outpouring of basaltic lavas caused a rise in sea-level and mean ocean temper- ature, accompanied by the large-scale release of CO . The precursor of the South Equatorial Current would Keywords: 2 fi Climate change have crossed the East Paci c Rise twice before reaching the coast of southern South America, thus heating Tertiary up considerably during periods of ridge activity. The absence of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current before South America the opening of the Drake Passage suggests that the current flowing north along the present western seaboard Antarctic Peninsula of southern South American could have been temperate even during periods of ridge inactivity, which might Continental drift explain the generally warm temperatures recorded in the Southeast Pacific from the early Oligocene to mid- Ocean circulation dle Miocene.
    [Show full text]
  • Influence of Subduction History on South American Topography Nicolas Flament University of Sydney, [email protected]
    University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health 2015 Influence of subduction history on South American topography Nicolas Flament University of Sydney, [email protected] Michael Gurnis California Institute of Technology R Dietmar Muller University of Sydney Dan J. Bower California Institute of Technology Laurent Husson Institut des Sciences de la Terre Publication Details Flament, N., Gurnis, M., Muller, R. Dietmar., Bower, D. J. & Husson, L. (2015). Influence of subduction history on South American topography. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 430 9-18. Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] Influence of subduction history on South American topography Abstract The eC nozoic evolution of South American topography is marked by episodes of large-scale uplift nda subsidence not readily explained by lithospheric deformation. The drying up of the inland Pebas system, the drainage reversal of the Amazon river, the uplift of the ieS rras Pampeanas and the uplift of aP tagonia have all been linked to the evolution of mantle flow since the Miocene in separate studies. Here we investigate the evolution of long-wavelength South American topography as a function of subduction history in a time- dependent global geodynamic model. This model is shown to be consistent with these inferred changes, as well as with the migration of the Chaco foreland basin depocentre, that we partly attribute to the inboard migration of subduction resulting from Andean mountain building. We suggest that the history of subduction along South America has had an important influence on the evolution of the topography of the continent because time-dependent mantle flow models are consistent with the history of vertical motions as constrained by the geological record at four distant areas over a whole continent.
    [Show full text]
  • New Crocodylian Remains from the Solimões Formation (Lower Eocene–Pliocene), State of Acre, Southwestern Brazilian Amazonia
    Rev. bras. paleontol. 19(2):217-232, Maio/Agosto 2016 © 2016 by the Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia doi: 10.4072/rbp.2016.2.06 NEW CROCODYLIAN REMAINS FROM THE SOLIMÕES FORMATION (LOWER EOCENE–PLIOCENE), STATE OF ACRE, SOUTHWESTERN BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA RAFAEL GOMES SOUZA Laboratório de Sistemática e Tafonomia de Vertebrados Fósseis, Setor de Paleovertebrados, Departamento de Geologia e Paleontologia, Museu Nacional/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Quinta da Boa Vista, s/nº, São Cristóvão, 20940-040. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. [email protected] GIOVANNE MENDES CIDADE Laboratório de Paleontologia, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. [email protected] DIOGENES DE ALMEIDA CAMPOS Museu de Ciências da Terra, Serviço Geológico do Brasil, CPRM, Av. Pasteur, 404, 22290-255, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil. [email protected] DOUGLAS RIFF Laboratório de Paleontologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. Campus Umuarama, Bloco 2D, sala 28, Rua Ceará, s/n, 38400-902, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. [email protected] ABSTRACT – The Solimões Formation (lower Eocene–Pliocene), southwestern Brazilian Amazonia, is one of the most abundant deposits of reptiles from the Cenozoic of Brazil. Eight species of Crocodylia have been described from this formation, including taxa of all the three main extant clades: Gavialoidea (Gryposuchus and Hesperogavialis), Alligatoroidea (Caiman, Mourasuchus and Purussaurus) and Crocodyloidea (Charactosuchus). Here, we describe crocodylian fossil remains collected in 1974 by RadamBrasil Project. Specimens were described and identified to the possible lowermost systematic level. With the exception of the osteoderms, the associated postcranial elements were not identified.
    [Show full text]
  • MESOZOIC TECTONIC INVERSION in the NEUQUÉN BASIN of WEST-CENTRAL ARGENTINA a Dissertation by GABRIEL ORLANDO GRIMALDI CASTRO Su
    MESOZOIC TECTONIC INVERSION IN THE NEUQUÉN BASIN OF WEST-CENTRAL ARGENTINA A Dissertation by GABRIEL ORLANDO GRIMALDI CASTRO Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY December 2005 Major Subject: Geology MESOZOIC TECTONIC INVERSION IN THE NEUQUÉN BASIN OF WEST-CENTRAL ARGENTINA A Dissertation by GABRIEL ORLANDO GRIMALDI CASTRO Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Steven L. Dorobek Committee Members, Philip D. Rabinowitz Niall C. Slowey Brian J. Willis David V. Wiltschko Head of Department, Richard L. Carlson December 2005 Major Subject: Geology iii ABSTRACT Mesozoic Tectonic Inversion in the Neuquén Basin of West-Central Argentina. (December 2005) Gabriel Orlando Grimaldi Castro, B.S., Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina; M.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Steven L. Dorobek Mesozoic tectonic inversion in the Neuquén Basin of west-central Argentina produced two main fault systems: (1) deep faults that affected basement and syn-rift strata where preexisting faults were selectively reactivated during inversion based on their length and (2) shallow faults that affected post-rift and syn-inversion strata. Normal faults formed at high angle to the reactivated half-graben bounding fault as a result of hangingwall expansion and internal deformation as it accommodated to the shape of the curved footwall during oblique inversion. Contraction during inversion was initially accommodated by folding and internal deformation of syn-rift sedimentary wedges, followed by displacement along half-graben bounding faults.
    [Show full text]
  • Depositional Setting of the Middle to Late Miocene Yecua Formation of the Chaco Foreland Basin, Southern Bolivia
    Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 135–150 www.elsevier.com/locate/jsames Depositional setting of the Middle to Late Miocene Yecua Formation of the Chaco Foreland Basin, southern Bolivia C. Hulka a,*, K.-U. Gra¨fe b, B. Sames a, C.E. Uba a, C. Heubeck a a Freie Universita¨t Berlin, Department of Geological Sciences, Malteserstrasse 74-100, 12249 Berlin, Germany b Universita¨t Bremen, Department of Geosciences, P.O. Box 330440, 28334 Bremen, Germany Received 1 December 2003; accepted 1 August 2005 Abstract Middle–Late Miocene marine incursions are known from several foreland basin systems adjacent to the Andes, likely a result of combined foreland basin loading and sea-level rising. The equivalent formation in the southern Bolivian Chaco foreland Basin is the Middle–Late Miocene (14–7 Ma) Yecua Formation. New lithological and paleontological data permit a reconstruction of the facies and depositional environment. These data suggest a coastal setting with humid to semiarid floodplains, shorelines, and tidal and restricted shallow marine environments. The marine facies diminishes to the south and west, suggesting a connection to the Amazon Basin. However, a connection to the Paranense Sea via the Paraguayan Chaco Basin is also possible. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Chaco foreland Basin; Marine incursion of Middle–Late Miocene age; Yecua Formation 1. Introduction Formation (Marshall and Sempere, 1991; Marshall et al., 1993). A string of extensive Tertiary foreland basins east of the Marine incursions during the Miocene also are known from Andes is interpreted to record Andean shortening, uplift, and several intracontinental basins in South America (Hoorn, lithospheric loading (Flemings and Jordan, 1989).
    [Show full text]
  • Along-Strike Variation in Structural Styles and Hydrocarbon Occurrences, Subandean Fold-And-Thrust Belt and Inner Foreland, Colombia to Argentina
    The Geological Society of America Memoir 212 2015 Along-strike variation in structural styles and hydrocarbon occurrences, Subandean fold-and-thrust belt and inner foreland, Colombia to Argentina Michael F. McGroder Richard O. Lease* David M. Pearson† ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Houston, Texas 77252, USA ABSTRACT The approximately N-S–trending Andean retroarc fold-and-thrust belt is the locus of up to 300 km of Cenozoic shortening at the convergent plate boundary where the Nazca plate subducts beneath South America. Inherited pre-Cenozoic differences in the overriding plate are largely responsible for the highly segmented distribution of hydrocarbon resources in the fold-and-thrust belt. We use an ~7500-km-long, orogen- parallel (“strike”) structural cross section drawn near the eastern terminus of the fold belt between the Colombia-Venezuela border and the south end of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina, to illustrate the control these inherited crustal elements have on structural styles and the distribution of petroleum resources. Three pre-Andean tectonic events are chiefl y responsible for segmentation of sub- basins along the trend. First, the Late Ordovician “Ocloyic” tectonic event, recording terrane accretion from the southwest onto the margin of South America (present-day northern Argentina and Chile), resulted in the formation of a NNW-trending crustal welt oriented obliquely to the modern-day Andes. This paleohigh infl uenced the dis- tribution of multiple petroleum system elements in post-Ordovician time. Second, the mid-Carboniferous “Chañic” event was a less profound event that created mod- est structural relief. Basin segmentation and localized structural collapse during this period set the stage for deposition of important Carboniferous and Permian source rocks in the Madre de Dios and Ucayali Basins in Peru.
    [Show full text]
  • Tectonic Evolution of the Andes of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Northern
    CORDANI, LJ.G./ MILANI, E.J. I THOMAZ flLHO. A.ICAMPOS. D.A. TECTON IeEVOLUTION OF SOUTH AMERICA. P. 481·559 j RIO DE JANEIRO, 2000 TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE ANDES OF ECUADOR, PERU, BOLIVIA E. Jaillard, G. Herail, T. Monfret, E. Dfaz-Martfnez, P. Baby, A, Lavenu, and J.F. Dumont This chapterwasprepared underthe co-ordination chainisvery narrow. Thehighest average altitudeisreached ofE.[aillard. Together withG.Herail andT. Monfret,hewrote between 15°5 and 23°S, where the Altiplano ofBolivia and the Introduction. Enrique Dfaz-Martinez prepared the southernPerureaches anearly 4000 mofaverage elevation, section on the Pre-Andean evolution ofthe Central Andes. andcorresponds tothewidest partofthechain. TheAndean Again Iaillard, onthe Pre-orogenic evolution ofthe North­ Chain is usually highly asymmetric, witha steep western Central Andes. E.[aillard, P. Baby, G. Herail.A, Lavenu, and slope. and a large and complex eastern side. In Peru,the J.E Dumont wrote the texton theorogenic evolution of the distance between the trench and the hydrographic divide North-Central Andes, And, finally, [aillard dosed the variesfrom 240 to }OO km.whereas. the distancebetween manuscript with theconclusions. thehydrographic divide and the200m contourlineranges between 280 km(5°N) and about1000 kIn (Lima Transect, 8·S - 12°5). In northern Chile and Argentina (23·5),these distances become 300 krn and 500 km, respectively. Tn INTRODUCTION: southern Peru,as littleas 240 km separates the Coropuna THE PRESENT-DAY NORTH-CENTRAL Volcano (6425 m) from the Chile-Peru Trench (- 6865 m). This, together with the western location of the Andes ANDES (jON - 23°5) _ relative to theSouth American Con tinent,explains whythe riversflowing toward the Pacific Ocean do not exceed 300 TheAndean Chain isthemajormorphological feature of kmlong, whereas thoseflowing to theAtlantic Ocean reach theSouth American Continent.
    [Show full text]
  • 36490 UT Geofoun NL Rev.P65
    John A. and Katherine G. Jackson Geological Sciences Building at Austin The University of Texas Department of Geological Sciences and Geology Foundation 2001 NEWSLETTER 2001 NEWSLETTER The University of Texas at Austin Department of Geological Sciences and Geology Foundation Volume 51 East Mall view of the John A. and Katherine G. Jackson Geological Sciences Building Jackson Building Addition Provides for Expanded State-of-the-Art Instructional and Research Facilities An extraordinary gift from John A. and Katherine G. Jackson will fund a new 57,000 gross-square-foot addition to the present Geology Building. The new complex, consisting of the current building and the new addition, will be named the John A. and Katherine G. Jackson Geological Sciences Building in honor of the donors. As a defining element on the East Mall of the main campus, the building addition will have an exterior design that conforms to the traditional guidelines of the Campus Master Plan while gracefully complementing the shellstone cladding on the exterior of the present building (see covers). A bottom story of cut limestone will underlie three stories of brick with window arrangements echoing those found on the present building. The top story will be limestone with large glass windows under a red tile roof. Interior finishes will highlight natural colors and textures: terrazzo flooring and natural limestone and granite will be set into color schemes centered on a variety of earth tones. Four general-purpose classrooms and three specialized laboratory classrooms will be the focus of instructional activities in the building. The larger general-purpose classrooms all use a tiered or slanted seating arrangement to optimize sight lines to the instructor, and all have been designed to incorporate the latest in instructional technology—dual rear- projection digital display systems.
    [Show full text]