SPE 69446

Applications and Developments of Sequence Stratigraphy in Latin America: Synthesis

of Exploration and Development Experiences in the Sub-Andean Basins
M.A. Torres, R. Porta and I. Brisson, Repsol-YPF, Denver Technical Center.
Copyright 2001, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum
Engineering Conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2528 March 2001.
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Abstract
Applying sequence stratigraphy concepts to the interpretation
of petroleum and depositional systems constitutes a
fundamental approach for regional exploration and detailed
development analysis. Distribution of reservoir, seal and
source rock represent primary parameters in the definition of
petroleum systems; description and weightiness of these
components are critical in prospects; spatial distribution and
architecture of rock facies are essential in appraisal and
development of fields. Sequence stratigraphic concepts are a
proven powerful tool that gives the analyst a competitive
advantage when defining the hydrocarbon potential from a
basin to a field scale project. It has proven particularly useful
when looking at old plays or mature basins in the search for
upside or new plays. Forward modeling and prediction of
basin fill facies in data starved frontier areas has been another
benefit from this technique. Application of the sequence
stratigraphic tools is less obvious when dealing with terrestrial
deposits dominated basins.
Subandean basins present a variety of evaluation
scenarios from the mature to the unexplored exploration/
development settings. A few examples of Repsol-YPF assets
from the Eastern Venezuela basin; the Colombia Llanos basin;
the Maraon and Ucayali basins in Peru and the Cuyo and
Neuquen basins from Argentina are analyzed using these
concepts.
Introduction
Prolific petroleum systems in the subandean basins have been
in production since the early 1900s and are known for its
large production and exploration potential from Venezuela to

Argentina. The Subandean basins of Latin America are the

result of a polyphase tectonic history that includes in most
cases a rift, back-arc and a foreland stages as a result of the
transition from a passive margin in the Lower Paleozoic to an
active margin in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. A variety of
source rocks and reservoirs are controlled by a combination of
factors such as tectonics and eustacy giving a unique character
to each basin fill in the Subandean dominion. Modern
techniques such as sequence stratigraphy allows the interpreter
to give a renovated look to old plays and attempt the
exploration of frontier areas. Is now a generalized procedure
to interpret basin fill histories and their petroleum systems and
applications range from the reservoir to the basin scale. A few
examples from Subandean basins are presented below to
demonstrate the use and wide applications of the technique.
Sequence stratigraphy concepts
Peter Vail, Robert Mitchum and colleagues1 in the classical
AAPG Memoir 26 first introduced sequence stratigraphy to
the world; even tough it was probably in use as an internal
Exxon tool since the early 70s. The introduction of this
concept revolutionized the geological thinking since it was a
step forward from the facies and lithostratigraphic ideas of the
60s. The new idea helped the geologist to think in terms of
seismic and created a strong link between the two disciplines.
The concept of seismic markers being chronostratigraphic
lines that represent sequence (or parasequences) boundaries
that could also be observed in well logs or outcrops made the
geological geophysical world a single integrated powerful
entity.
The concepts behind sequence stratigraphy could be
explained trough the factors controlling the stratal patterns,
that is: subsidence and eustacy. Subsidence is mainly a
response to tectonic processes, such as faulting, thermal
cooling and flexural loading, among others. It is assumed that
subsidence and the space created for deposition is represented
by a lineal function, regardless the implied process. The
sinusoidal eustatic imprint is superimposed to this lineal
function to obtain a resultant function regarded as the relative
change of sea level that incorporates the tectonic and the
eustatic signatures. The resultant created space for
sedimentation is known as accommodation space and is the
sum of both components2. Facies changes and stratal patterns

M.A. TORRES, R. PORTA, I. BRISSON

are explained under these assumptions by a series of cycles (or

sequences) that are mainly a response to sea level change.
Different type of stratal patterns and sequences are recognized
in different tectonic settings (foreland, extensional, passive or
active margins, etc). A sequence is defined as a: relatively
conformable succession of genetically related strata bounded
by unconformities or their correlative conformities1. A
sequence is deposited between eustatic fall inflection points
(or 3rd order cycle: 0 .5 to 3 m. years) and is of a magnitude of
the minimum interval that could be recognized on seismic.
These cycles are believed to be controlled by glacio-eustacy2.
A sequence is further subdivide in system tracts which are
defined as a linkage of contemporaneous depositional
systems3 each associated with a specific segment of the of the
eustatic curve. Sequence sets consist of a series of third order
sequences with an average duration of 9-10 million years and
are characterized by large eustatic falls.
Vail and colleagues1 also introduced the concept of
sea level curves at a global scale. The global sea level curve
was later modified by Haq and others4 and presently is tied
directly into the interpretation routine, particularly in
exploration scenarios with poor coverage and frontier areas.
The global sea level curve idea is still controversial although
has demonstrated to be a very useful tool in some parts of the
world. A few examples are intended to present some cases in
this direction.
Venezuela: Eastern basin
Appraisal and Development of the Quiamare Field
The Middle Miocene Oficina Formation is the most important
producing unit at Quiamare Field. The Oficina Formation
consists of a succession of littoral to shallow marine deposits
prograding to the N-NE. This oil-bearing parasequences
shows typical coarsening and thickening upward pattern,
where coastal plain, foreshore, upper-, middle-lower-shoreface
and offshore facies were recognized. These shallow marine
parasequences shows a consistent facies change to the NE
with a paleo-coastline striking from N-NW to S-SE. This
reservoir spatial architecture combined with the East-plunging
nose-anticline of Quiamare structure creates the trap. Some
parasequences shows an internal facies shift, where coastal
plain facies are flanked landward and basinward by shoreface
deposits; this discontinuity of facies tracts is interpreted as
attached lowstand shoreline wedges or a forced regression.
The importance of these reservoir wedges is reflected in the
sandstone properties, controlling the primary porositypermeability distribution, which host the oil, and the
secondary fracture density, which yield the oil, consequently
the facies have an effect on reserves calculations and the wells
performance (Fig. 1).
Eighteen wells were drilled during the appraisal and
development stages, and were located according to reservoirfacies architecture. A production incremental from 800 to
16,000 BOPD was accomplished from the beginning of 1996
to 1997.

SPE 69446

Venezuela: Eastern basin

Exploration of the Talara Dome
The exploration of the external zone of the Serrania del
Interior Thrust Belt, Eastern Venezuela Basin, since the mid
1980s has resulted on the discovery of the supergiant El
Furrial field complex. The majority of these exploration
efforts was and is focused on the Pirital thrust system located
east of the oblique ramp known as Urica fault. Thin-skinned
deformation is common with most oil and gas production from
anticlinal traps involving Oligocene and Cretaceous sandstone
reservoirs. The Miocene section is composed by shaly facies
of Carapita formation that constitutes the super-seal.
In contrast, west of the Urica lateral ramp, there has
been little exploration conducted in the Tala thrust system.
There, a major stratigraphic change is present in the Lower
Miocene, which is reflected by a facies change from slopeshaly facies of Carapita Formation to the sandy shallow
marine-deltaic facies of Capaya Formation. This sandy unit is
limited at its base and top by flooding events dated at the
beginning and end of the Lower Miocene. Both flooding
surfaces acted as decollement planes during south vergent
compression, resulting in the development of a duplex
involving competent sandstones of Capaya Formation. The
Capaya sequences consist of coastal plain/ deltaic to fully
marine deposits that reflects deposition in low-relief ramp
setting. Lowstand system tract containing incised and sheet
like fluvio-deltaic deposits or forced regressive shoreline
wedges compose a typical sequence. Onlap terminations and
facies shift without facies transition marks the unconformity
sequence boundaries. The transgressive systems tract is
comprised by backstepping of shallow marine sands and
offshore shales. Highstands shows similar facies arrangement
than transgressive system tracts in an agradational pattern. The
main reservoirs are associated to the lowstand sandy wedges,
which are involved in the duplex structure that constitutes the
trap (Fig. 2).
In 1998 was drilled and completed the wildcat Tacata
x-12 well that tested the play concept of Talara Dome proving
oil in several Capaya sands, today the well is producing 4,400
BOPD from two intervals and three appraisal wells were
drilled to delimitate and develop the discovery.
Colombia: Llanos basin
Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary stratigraphy
and petroleum systems
During the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous back-arc rifting
phase, mainly marine sedimentation is recorded in the Eastern
Cordillera and Llanos basin. The final accretion of the
Western Cordillera in the Late Cretaceous Paleocene created
the conditions for shallow marine to coastal deposition in a
proto-foreland basin in the Magdalena and Llanos basins5.
Renovated easterly thrusting and advance of the thrust front
during the Oligocene - Miocene moved the axis basin towards
the east with an open seaway to the north (proto-Orinoco) to a
complete closure during the late Miocene6. A strong eustatic
signature controlled the stratigraphic setting during the
Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary characterized by a lack of

SPE 69446

APPLICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS OF SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY IN LATIN AMERICA

accommodation space and important facies shift in shallow

shelf to coastal environments.
Proven petroleum systems of the Llanos Foothills are
related to the Santonian Turonian global highstand shales of
the Gacheta / La Luna / Plaeners Fms and the Tertiary source
rocks of the Mirador (Eocene) and Carbonera (Oligocene)
formations. Both petroleum systems are proven in fields like
Cusiana-Cupiagua and Cano Limon with 2.7 and 1.5 BBO,
respectively.
A sequence stratigraphic analysis of subsurface
information helped determining the depositional history of the
Llanos basin and understanding its exploration potential. The
present analysis is based on logs, seismic and biostratigraphic
data (Fig. 3).
It is interpreted that the cycle (sequence set 1) that
includes the Fomeque/Villeta shales started in the Aptian at
112 ma with a major marine transgression and a maximum
flooding surface at the 103 98 ma interval6. Seismic
backstepping geometries indicate transgressive conditions for
most of the cycle and potential source rocks are expected in
this interval7. The end of the cycle is interpreted at 94 ma. No
biostratigraphic or well data was available for this unit.
The next cycle (94 90 ma) (sequence set 2) begins
with a widespread forced regression at 94 ma in the fluvialdominated to brackish marine (estuarine) Une sandstone. The
Une sandstone is considered a primary exploration target in
the Llanos basin for its excellent petrophysical conditions and
proximity to proven source rocks. Some controversy exists
with regards to the Une nomenclature and some authors use
this name for the onlapping units of Aptian Albian age
(sequence set 1). The global Turonian - Cenomanian
transgression established tidal marsh conditions starting a
regional marine episode known as the Gacheta / La Luna
shales. Only shallow marine to coastal facies in the Llanos
basin represents the global highstand of the Turonian and
more basinal, source rock quality facies are found to the west
in the depocenter areas in the present Eastern Cordillera8. The
cycle is capped by a forced regression deposited during a sea
level lowstand at 90 ma that initiated the next eustatic cycle
(90 80 ma) (sequence set 3). Open marine conditions with
normal salinities (inner neritic) dominated the Santonian
Campanian sequence set in the Gacheta / La Luna / Plaeners
transgression. The persistence of the open marine conditions
during this cycle is indicated by the presence of a local
Cretaceous maximum flooding in the Santonian. The marine
to coastal Campanian Upper Guadalupe (85 80 ma
sequences) prograding sandstones culminated the cycle.
Guadalupe Fm provenance is from the eastern Guyana shield
with the typical high compositional maturity (quartzarenites
up to 75%). Guadalupe Fm presents two or three prograding
cycles and the best reservoir units are located at the top of
these cycles. At the base of sequence set 4 (80 - 68 ma) (Late
Campanian Maastrichtian) a massive fluvial deltaic
sandstone unit overlie the Upper Guadalupe sandstones
indicating a facies downward shift. This cycle is interpreted to
be deposited under global regressive conditions dominated by

progradational sequences and possibly erosion. This unit is a

producing reservoir in fields like Cusiana and Cupiagua.
The following sequence set (sequence set 5) is
interpreted to correspond to the 68 56 ma cycle
(Maastrichtian Paleocene). Shallow marine with normal
salinity conditions were briefly reestablished and registered in
a shaly interval below the Barco Fm. This Danian short-lived
marine episode (mfs at 65 ma) is truncated by the massive
Barco sandstone deposited in a costal environment in a
brackish tidal setting with fluvial influence indicating the
persistence of the regressive conditions and an upward loss of
accommodation space. Barco Fm provenance is also from the
Guyana shield and is characterized by its high textural and
compositional maturity being composed by 95%
quartzarenites. The Barco sandstone is a producing reservoir
unit in Cusiana and Cupiagua fields. Finally, this
sedimentation episode finishes with a major erosional
unconformity at the 56 ma sequence boundary. The erosional
unconformity represents a hiatus ranging from 56 to 42 ma
(Ypresian - Lutetian). After this period of sediment by-pass,
fluvial sandstones are deposited above the unconformity
(Mirador Fm) followed by a marine transgression evidenced
by a thin shaly unit interpreted as belonging to the Barthonian
(Late Middle Eocene) (sequence set 6). Some controversy
exists regarding the age of the Mirador sandstone and other
authors place this unit as upper Eocene5,6. The Mirador
sandstone is the main reservoir unit at Cusiana and Cupiagua
fields. During the Early Oligocene a major marine
transgression flooded the entire basin known as the Carbonera
8 unit. This flooding is interpreted as the beginning of the 39
30 ma sequence set (sequence set 7) under transgressive
conditions. Proven source rocks intervals were deposited
during these transgressive events in sequence sets 6 and 7.
Tertiary oil families from the Cao Limon, Cusiana and
Cupiagua fields are correlated with these events. The 30 21
ma cycle (sequence set 8) registered regressive conditions and
deltaic and fluvial units were deposited. This cycle includes
the Carbonera 1 to 7 units. By late Miocene times, after four
episodes of Oligocene Early Miocene northward deltaic
progradation the seaway finally closed. These deltaic
sandstones represent important reservoir units in fields like
Cao Limon.
Peru: Maraon basin
Depocenter exploration and Cretaceous stratigraphy
The Maraon basin is the Peruvian southern extension of the
Putumayo-Oriente basins of Colombia and Ecuador. The basin
in Peru is limited by the Iquitos arch (Brazilian shield) and the
Peruvian Andes fold and thrust belt to the east and west
respectively. The Contaya Paleozic high is the boundary with
the Ucayali basin even though they share a common Mesozoic
depositional history. The 200,000 km2, pericratonic, polyphase
asymmetric Maraon basin produces 80,000 BOPD from a
total of 16 producing fields. Estimated ultimate recoverable
reserves are calculated to be near 1BBO.

M.A. TORRES, R. PORTA, I. BRISSON

All of the known reservoirs in the Oriente Maraon

basin are of Cretaceous age and of a shallow marine or
coastal/deltaic origin. The basin during this period was an
interior sea with an opening towards the NW and bounded to
the west by the Maraon high and the Brazilian shield to the
east7. The basin geometry presented a depocenter in the
Peruvian Maraon area. During the Mesozoic, particularly in
the Upper Cretaceous, back-arc thermal cooling, active downto-basement normal faulting and a rapid sea level rise
accounted for the creation of the considerable accommodation
space. Eustacy was the principal depositional controlling
factor as suggested by the cyclical and continuous nature of
the sedimentary column in the Oriente Maraon basin. The
producing areas are located in the eastern portion of the basin
where the traditional stratigraphic nomenclature was
developed, usage that was applied loosely in the vast
depocenter sector. A sequence stratigraphic study was
conducted in order to define a chronostratigraphic framework
and to analyze the petroleum systems of the depocenter areas
and their relationships with the producing areas to the east.
This chrono-stratigraphic framework will help establish
depositional histories, improve thermal modeling, understand
reservoir distribution, identify potential exploration targets and
mainly to define a reliable stratigraphic nomenclature through
the basin.
The analysis of the Cretaceous interval defined a
series of 3rd order sequences (sensu Vail1 and Wan Vagoner9)
extending from the Albian through the Paleocene. This group
of sequences were grouped in sequence sets as follows: 1)
Aptian (112 - 107 ma), 2) Albian (107 98 ma) 3) Albian to
Cenomanian (98 94 ma) 4) Cenomanian - Turonian (94 90
ma) 5) Coniacian to Campanian (90 80 ma) 6) Campanian to
Maastrichtian (80 68 ma) and 7) Danian Thanetian (68 58
ma) (Fig. 4). As evidenced on seismic, the studied interval
sequences have an onlapping backstepping arrangement that
evolves to prograding in the upper portion, due to a rapid
relative rise during the Albian - Cenomanian and a subsequent
loss of accommodation space during the Campanian
Paleocene interval (Fig 4).
During the Aptian Albian (sequence sets 1 and 2)
(112 107 ma and 107 98 ma) the sequence architecture, as
evidenced by log and core data, is dominated by a thick
transgressive system tracts and a sandy lowstand (forced
regressions) at the base, represented by fluvial and estuarine /
shallow marine facies, respectively. The highstand is thin or
not present possibly due to erosion by the overlying lowstand
system tract. These sequences are known as the Cushabatay
(sandstones), and the Raya Fms (shales), nomenclature that is
applied vaguely to the units. It is postulated here that the
mentioned stratigraphic names are a simplification of several
transgressive sequences. Sequence set 1 is not penetrated
anywhere in the basin and was defined based on seismic data.
During the Albian - Cenomanian (sequence set 3) (98
94 ma) the sequence architecture, facies and stratal patterns
are the same as in the previous sequence sets. Seismic
geometries are characterized by onlapping in an overall
transgressive setting. The lithological units included in this

SPE 69446

cycle are known as the Agua Caliente Fm and Chonta

sandstones. In sequence set 4 (94 90 ma) during the
Cenomanian Turonian global maximum flooding event, an
extended shallow shelf that inhibited the clastic input in most
of the basin was developed. The conspicuous and widespread
Chonta limestone initiated the Cretaceous open marine
conditions in the Maraon basin. As in the Llanos basin of
Colombia the Turonian global highstand is represented largely
by shallow marine facies due to the internal and restricted
nature of the basin but represent a distinctive change in the
sedimentary patterns. Sequence architecture is dominated by
onlapping shelf carbonates (grainstones and oolitic limes
grading upwards to mudstones) that grade landwards and
upwards into fine clastics. The Chonta shallow shelf
progressed upwards into a large progradational body
composed of several 3rd order sequences. The well-known
Cetico reservoir in the eastern producing areas is possibly a
forced regression on top of this extended shallow shelf. In
sequence set 5 (Coniacian Campanian) (90 80 ma) an
important drop in sea level and loss in accommodation space
is observed evidenced by onlapping geometries below the
previous shelf break. The sequences progressively onlapped
the slope to finally flood the entire shelf in Campanian times.
During this cycle source rock quality facies were deposited
only in the Santiago basin to the west of the Maraon basin.
Low TOC concentrations and Type 3 source rocks are
observed in the rest of the basin. A local maximum flooding
surface could be interpreted in this sequence set. The shale
lithological units of this interval are known as the Chonta
shales, Pona or Lupuna members. The laterally equivalent
shallow shelf and deltaic sandstones deposited landward are
named Vivian Fm. The Campanian - Maastrichtian (sequence
set 6) (80 68 ma) represent the beginning of the loss of
accommodation space of the shallow shelf that migrated
basinward creating a large sediment by-pass zone to the east.
Loss of accommodation space is also indicated by toplap
seismic geometries, progradational and coarser facies patterns
on logs. This cycle could be homologated with a late
highstand stage in broader scale. A basinward facies
downward shift with an internal offlapping pattern is
observed at the base of the interval. This event is interpreted
as a forced regression type lowstand with fluvial to coastal
facies on top of shallow marine / deltaic facies. The lowstand
is followed by a marine transgression and a well-developed
highstand progradation in the deeper areas. This unit is not
present in the platform producing areas and the Vivian
nomenclature has been incorrectly used to identify this
interval.
The final cycle in the Danian Thanetian (68 58
ma) (sequence set 7) is deposited on top of the erosional / by
pass surface and is represented by fluvial facies that blankets
over most of the basin with toplap geometries. These deposits
are known as the Vivian, Cachiyacu or Casablanca sandstones.
The seven described sequence sets are difficult to
resolve in the basin flank areas and are easily observed in the
deeper basinal areas, as the section gets thicker and finegrained. The described cycles should improve the correlation

SPE 69446

APPLICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS OF SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY IN LATIN AMERICA

between the producing areas and the rest of the basin and
possibly aid in the identification of new plays.
Peru: Ucayali basin
Paleozoic stratigraphy and petroleum systems
A synopsis of the complex stratigraphic history, driven by the
development of an early Palaeozoic rifting phase,
subsequently overprinted by numerous inversion phases
throughout the Phanerozoic (low frequency cycles) and the
influence of eustatic effects (higher frequency cycles), is
presented in Figure 5. Although tectonics have been
postulated to be controlling the present day distribution of the
sedimentary units, the variation in accommodation space has
driven the successive alternation between starved and
overloaded basin condition that yield the development of the
main reservoirs and source rocks present in the Ucayali basin.
The reservoir units are consistently deposited under
conditions of a very restricted availability of accommodation
space, which has produced laterally continuous, sheet-like,
sandstone bodies with good connectivity. This is observed as
sedimentation under conditions of normal regression (Ambo
Group), forced regression (Green Sandstones, Ene Formation,
Chonta Formation) and even valley incision (Mainique
Formation and Vivian Formation).
The early Paleozoic Contaya Formation10 and the
Cabanillas Group10 are irregularly distributed within isolated
depocenters showing a patchy pattern, with very
discontinuous, sometimes thick, wedge shaped deposits. Some
sections, which are unconformable overlying the basement,
measured in excess of 200 m, wedging out to the north. On
seismic this units show uplap termination onto the master
faults and a wedge geometry with at least one evident internal
unconformity showing progressive rotation of the blocks.
Described as shallow marine medium to coarse, light greenish
gray, crossbedded, quartzose sandstones, this unit is assumed
to be Early to Middle Devonian (Cabanillas Group) based on
stratigraphic position and lithology. These sandstones are
interbedded with shales and are arranged in two major
sedimentary cycles. General log response shows both of them
displaying strong aggradational patterns with less
accommodation space in the top cycle. This pattern suggests
that the high rate of sediment supply and accommodation
space seem to be in pace for the whole unit, with high
frequency retrograding cycles that resemble a continental
stacking pattern. Devonian shales have proven to be suitable
source rocks11.
As a result of the lesser control of the preEohercynian faults, which only cut the oldest Carboniferous
deposits, post-Devonian sedimentation was extensive. The
Late Devonian palaeorelief was blanketed by the offshore and
pro-deltaic shales and overlying coarser clastics of the Early
Carboniferous Ambo Group10 (Fig. 5). Three mainly eustatic
controlled progradational cycles are interpreted in this unit
with clearly developed, high TOC, condensed sections. Since
Paleozoic biostratigraphical resolution is below the sequence
rank, the cyclicity hierarchy could not be easily determined.
The Ambo Fm unit is in the order of tens of million years and

therefore the cycles were assigned to the sequence set order.

The Ambo Group is important as both a source rock and
reservoir. The importance of Ambo shales as a source rock
for hydrocarbons has been proven by correlation with the
producing Aguaytia Field and the giant Camisea gas and
condensate field10,12 and by recent geochemical analyses of
outcrop samples. Each cycle is capped by a thick delta front
sandy facies that prograde far into the basin when
accommodation space becomes smaller. The sandstones are
generally fair to good quality reservoirs. The age of the
described section has been bracketed as Tournaisian-Visean
(Early Carboniferous) based on spores. A tendency of the
prograding lobes to drift towards the north is recognized and
the dispersion of the sandstones is very sensitive to the
position of the feeding channels. Seismic reveals a low angle
prograding pattern.
The Late Carboniferous Tarma Group10 is divided
into a basal sandstone unit, informally denominated as Green
Sandstones, and an upper section of thick limestones (Fig. 5).
The Tarma Group is dated as Middle Pennsylvanian based on
foram content and is interpreted as a shallow marine/carbonate
shelf deposit13. The unit rests unconformable on the Early
Carboniferous Ambo Group. The parallelism in seismic
reflections appears consistent with the Namurian hiatus
proposed in Ref.11 of eustatic origin12. The Green Sandstones
have been characterized as shoreline deposits, with a
strandplain architecture, formed by the rapid accretion of
beach ridges towards the depocenter in a period of little
available accommodation space, corresponding to the Late
Namurian - Early Westphalian (early Middle Carboniferous)
global sea level low. These sandstones constitute one of the
main reservoirs in the central Ucayali basin. The subsequent
rise in sea level during the late Middle Carboniferous caused
the deposition of a transgressive sequence as evidenced by the
intercalations of offshore shales and shelf carbonates of the
uppermost Tarma Group. On seismic the Tarma Group is
characterized by a series of (sub)parallel, high amplitude
reflections.
The Upper Tarma Group (Late Carboniferous) and
Copacabana Group (Early Permian) consist of a series of
massive, stacked limestones with no recognizable
discontinuities. Based on the contrast of fossil fauna and
regional evidence13 between the two Groups, and on the
absence of the uppermost Pensylvanian fossil zone an
unconformable relationship between the two groups is
proposed. The thick limestone section is a landmark in the
stratigraphic evolution of the basin, recording the temporary
inhibition of clastic sediment supply.
Clastic deposition resumed during the uppermost
Palaeozoic with the deposition of the Ene and the Mainique
Formations (Mitu Group)10. Deposition of both formations
was the result of a general drop in sea level during the upper
Permian, which caused the development of forced regression
sand bodies overlying offshore marine shales.
This
mechanism, driven by eustacy, is overprinted by two
deformation phases at the end of the Palaeozoic. It is observed
on seismic that the Ene and Mainique Formations are bounded

M.A. TORRES, R. PORTA, I. BRISSON

at the base and top by unconformities (onlap basal/truncation

and onlap fill/truncation respectively). The upper
unconformity is assigned to the base of the Middle to Late
Cretaceous involving a hiatus of 120 million years minimum
time span (erosional plus non depositional hiatus). The Early
Permian marine shales and shoreface clastics of the Ene
Formation constitute both source (high TOC-high quality) and
reservoir rocks. The Mainique Formation comprises of three
different units: a lower sandy unit, that is interpreted to be
fluvial, a middle shaly unit that is considered marine, and an
upper sandy unit described as continental fluvial deposits.
Both the Lower and the Upper sections are considered good
quality reservoirs.
Argentina: Neuquen basin
Stratigraphy of Agrio, Chorreado and Troncoso Inferior
The Neuquen basin is located in the central western part of
Argentina (Fig. 6) and is the main producing basin in the
country. Studied since the early 1900s and producing for
more than eighty years resulted in a strong stratigraphic,
paleontological and geochemical database. A very dense
seismic 2D and 3D coverage provide reliable
seismostratigraphic interpretations.
The Neuquen basin has been defined as an ensialic
back arc basin14 that collected sediments from the latest
Triassic to the recent. Despite of some important tectonic
control during the late Triassic and early Jurassic rifting phase,
and some sporadic tectonic pulses during the Kimmeridgian
and Valanginian, the pre Andean sedimentation was mainly
driven by eustatic control15,16 producing a well developed third
order cyclicity.
The studied stratigraphic interval corresponds to the
Late Cretaceous Upper Member of the Agrio Formation (Late
Hauterivian) and the Huitrin Formation (Barremian-Aptian) in
the southern part of the Mendoza and the northern part of the
Neuquen provinces. This interval shows a high frequency
modulation of generation of accommodation space that has
controlled the development of a complex succession of
reservoirs and seals17.
The top of the Upper Agrio Formation is dated as
113.5 ma, age that corresponded to the Intra-Barremian
unconformity upon which the forced regression of the
Chorreado Member (base of Huitrin Fm) is registered. A
second and more important unconformity separates the last
member from the overlying Troncoso Inferior Member. This
discontinuity is assigned to the Intra-Aptian unconformity
(112 ma) that is responsible of the incision of the valley later
filled with the fluvial/eolian deposits of Troncoso Inferior
(Fig. 6)18,19. These two unconformities have been interpreted
to have a eustatic origin20.
The Upper Agrio Formation was deposited in an
open marine mostly epiclastic shelf environment with a very
pervasive fine-grained lithology, under almost starved basin
conditions in a high accommodation space setting. It shows
fairly parallel to very low angle reflections on seismic with
some evidence of truncation basinward due to the action of the

SPE 69446

Intra-Barremian unconformity. This geometric relationship is

also evident in the well logs correlations (Fig. 6).
The overlying Chorreado Member has two sections, a
lower mixed clastic/carbonatic unit (Chorreado Inferior) and
an upper evaporitic (Chorreado Superior) unit. The Chorreado
Member has a sigmoid profile thinning both basinward and
landward and shows a moderate high angle, oblique, seismic
internal reflection, with downlap to the center of the basin and
toplap and erosive truncation at he top (Fig. 6). The Chorreado
Inferior was built by the alternation of: 1) epiclastic
shoreface/offshore sediments, with SW-NE depositional strike
that correspond to sometimes detached and sometimes
attached beach ridges that can develop a more or less extended
strandplain complexes depending on the rate of progradation;
and 2) limestones deposited in a temperate water ramp setting
with scarce and isolated biohermal buildups (Fig. 6). The
shoreface facies are good reservoirs that tested oil and gas in
the studied area. Occasionally, this facies are dissected by
small channels that disperse the sediments further into the
basin developing lobe shaped sand bodies embedded by shales
that has proven to be excellent reservoirs. The carbonates
facies are good reservoirs only when fractured. Seven of these
lithological couplets (although the limestones are not always
present) have been identified and interpreted as parasequence
sets. Their stacking pattern shows a progressive losing of
accommodation space. The set displays aggradational or even
a slight backstepping at the base of the sequence (two first
parasequences sets) and finishes with a strong progradational
stacking pattern. Each parasequence set includes a shoreline
prograding deposit (interpreted as a high frequency forced
regression) and a carbonatic/shaly ramp that corresponds to a
deeper water level with an erosive transgressive surface in
between conforming a fourth order complex sequence (in the
sense of Van Wagoner et al9).
The evaporitic Chorreado Superior Member is better
developed to the north of this area and has been interpreted as
an independent third order sequence15. A strong drop of sea
level during the Aptian (112 ma) produced an incision of
almost 100 meters that was subsequently filled during four
successive stages (Fig. 6). The lower stage (Chorreado
Superior) corresponds to a hipersaline episode with onlapping
geometries in a restricted sea that progressed into a terrestrial
basin after the seaway closing. The Troncoso Inferior member
is entirely terrestrial and has been divided into three units and
interpreted as a prograding wedge during a base level
lowstand. The lower sandy/shaly section is restricted to the
lowest part of the valley and has some relictic marine
influence18. The middle section is mainly sandy fluvial/eolian
sediments, still confined into the main (deepest) valley and
minor channels. This section lies unconformably upon the
lower section. The uppermost section onlaps the previous and
older units, conforming a table like, more continuous, fluvial
ephemeral/isolated dunes (foreerg)/overbank interdunes
sedimentation. The rocks of middle section and the isolated
and stacked dunes constitute the main reservoirs in this sector
of the Neuquen basin in fields like El Porton Chihuido de la
Salina.

SPE 69446

APPLICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENTS OF SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY IN LATIN AMERICA

Argentina: Cuyo Basin

Exploration and development of Lower Rio Blanco
The Triassic Cuyo Basin is one of the most prolific
hydrocarbon producing basins in Argentina, with a cumulative
production of one-billon barrels of oil, this basin host two
giant fields in a combined structural-stratigraphic trap setting
Vacas Muertas-Punta de las Bardas and Vizcacheras fields.
This Triassic basin develops two rifting phases Rio
Mendoza-Las Cabras, and Potrerillos-Cacheuta-Rio Blanco,
that evolves from overfilled to under-filled and overfilled balance-filled - overfilled lake cycle respectively, reflecting
changes in accommodation and climate progression. Several
depositional sequences have been recognized and mapped
throughout the basin to accomplish the reservoir / source rock/
seal architecture, on the basis of this detailed work and
exploration program was delineated to investigate the Lower
Rio Blanco sequences oil potential.
Depositional sequences of the Lower Rio Blanco
embrace a deltaic lacustrine parasequence set where
fluvio/deltaic lowstand wedge onlap the Cacheuta source rock.
The lowstand wedge is covered by a transgressive restrictedlacustrine to fluvial deposits that comprise the seal. The
deltaic wedge in an updip termination constitutes the trap
mechanism (Fig. 7).
In 1992 an exploration well was drilled in the
southernmost area of Punta de las Bardas Field to prove the
concept and tested 1566 BOPD of 30 API oil, the discovery
was developed with 11 wells.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge
permission to publish this paper.

RepsolYPF

for

References
1. Vail, P. R., Mitchum, R. M. Jr., Todd, R.G., Widmier J. M.,
Thompson, S. III, Sangree, J. B., Bubb, J. N., and Hatleleid, W.
G.: Seismic stratigraphy and Global Changes of Sea Level
Seismic Stratigraphy-applications to hydrocarbon exploration,
Payton, C. E. (ed.) AAPG Memoir 26 (1977) 49
2. Emery, D and Myers, K. J. (eds): Sequence Stratigraphy
Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK (1999)
3. Brown, L.F. and Fisher, W. L.: Seismic stratigraphy
interpretation of depositional systems: examples from Brazil rift
and pull-apart basins Seismic Stratigraphy-applications to
hydrocarbon exploration, Payton, C. E. (ed.) AAPG Memoir 26
(1977) 213
4. Haq, B. U., Hardenbol, J. and Vail, P. R. : Chronology of
fluctuating sea-levels since the Triassic Science, 235. 1153.
5. Cooper, M. A., Addison, F. T., Alvarez, R., Coral, M., Graham,
R. H., Hayward, A. B., Howe, S., Martinez, J., Naar, J., Pulham,
A. J., and Taborda, A.: Basin Development and Tectonic History
of the Llanos basin, Colombia, and Middle Magdalena Valley,
Colombia AAPG Bulletin, V.79 No 10 (1995) 1421

6. Villamil,
T.:
Campanian-Miocene
tectonostratigraphy,
depocenter evolution and basin development of Colombia and
western Venezuela Palaeo (1999) 153, 239.
7. Pindell, J.L and Tabbutt, K. D.: Mesozoic-Cenozoic Andean
Paleogeography and Regional Controls on Hydrocarbon
Systems, Tankard, Suarez and Welsik (eds.) Petroleum systems
of South America, AAPG Memoir 62 (1995) 101.
8. Villamil, T. and Arango, C.: Integrated stratigraphy of Latest
Cenomanian and Early Turonian facies of Colombia
Paleogeographic Evolution and Non-glacial Eustacy, Northern
South America, SEPM Special Publication No. 58 (1998), 129.
9. Van Wagoner, J.C., Mitchum, R. M., Campion, K. M. and
Rahmanian, V. D.: Siliciclastic Sequence Stratigraphy in Well
Logs, Cores, and Outcrops. AAPG Methods in Exploration
Series, No 7. (1990) 22.
10. Perales Calderon F.: Glosario y Tabla de Correlacion de las
Unidades estratigraficas del Peru. I Congreso Latinoamericano
de Geologia, Lima, Peru(1970)
11. Mathalone J. & M. Montoya: Petroleum Geology of the SubAndean Basins of Peru. Petroleum Basins of South America,
AAPG Memoir 62,(1995) 423.
12. Schiefelbein C., H. Illich, J. Zumberge and Brown, S.: Peru Oil
Study. Regional Petroleum Geochemistry of Crude Oils from
Peru. Geomark Research, Inc, Houston, Texas (1996)
13. Benavidez, V.: Cuencas Paleozoicas en el Subandino Peruano
Exploracion Petrolera en las Cuencas Subandinas, Simposio
Bolivariano IV, Bogota, Colombia, Trabajo 34 (1991).
14. Mpodizis C. and Ramos, V.: The Andes of Chile and
Argentina. Geology of the Andes and its relation to hydrocarbon
and mineral resources Erickson G., M. Caas Pinochet and J.
Reinemund (eds.) Circum Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral
Resources Earth Science Series, v 11 (1990) 59
15. Legarreta, L. and Gulisano, C.: Anlisis estratigrfico secuencial
de la Cuenca Neuquina Cuencas Sedimentarias Argentinas
Chebli, G. and Spalletti, L. (eds.) (1989) 221
16. Legarreta, L. and Uliana, M. A.: Jurassic-Cretaceous marine
oscillations and geometry of back-arc basin fill, central Argentine
Andes. Sedimentation, Tectonics and Eustacy Macdonald, G
(ed.) (1991) 429
17. Brissn I., G. Olea, R. Varad, N. Vitulli and Bolatti N.: Control
de las Variaciones Recurrentes de Espacio de Acomodacin en
Sistemas Depositacionales Mixtos del Cretcico Temprano
Cuenca Neuquina, Argentina. II Congreso Latinoamericano de
Sedimentologa, Resmenens, (2000) 53.
18. Legarreta, L.: Anlisis estratigrfico de la F. Huitrin (Cretcico
Inf.), Prov. de Mendoza Tesis Doctoral, Universidad Buenos
Aires (1985)
19. Gutirrez Pleimling, A.: Estratigrafa de la F. Huitrin: un estudio
puntual-Prov. del Neuqun Boletin Informacion Petroleras YPF.
September, (1991) 85
20. Mutti E., C. Gulisano and Legarreta, L.: Anomalous Systems
Tracts Stacking Patterns within Third Order Depositional
Sequences (Jurassic-Cretaceous Back-Arc Neuquen Basin,
Argentina Andes). Second High Resolution Sequence
Stratigraphy Conference,. (1994) 137

QUIAMARE FIELD
FALCON BA SIN
CA RAC AS

M AR A CAI B O

B ARC E LO NA

1 0

MARA CAI BO
BA SIN
A nac o

ORIENTAL
BASIN

E l Ti gre

BAR INAS-APU RE
BA SIN

VENEZUELA

Location map

10 0 km

7 0

6 2

WEST

EAST

QG-38

QG-47

QG-48

1Km

2.4 Km

2.3 Km

QG-28
QG-28
0

RS

FS

QG-47

LSF

USF

QG-42

QG-26

NA-I

15 QG-24
15

FS
MFS
5100

QG-25

3000

QG-37
QG-8 QG-16QG-21 QG-20

14
12
16QG-716
QG-1 QG-10 QG-3 QG-5 QG-4 QG-12

USF

NA-J4

SB

20
21
18
16
17
QG-13 QG-15 QG-17 QG-14

30
QG-11

MFS
USF

QG-6
18

RS

18

15
20
24
QG-9 QG-19

28

QG-18

RS

5000

28

QG-30 QG-44

QG-46

QB-C

22
22
QG-48
25
QG-29 QG-38
QG-33
QG-36
28
20
22 QG-43
16 QG-31
QG-35
QG-4033
Q-AY
31
22
QG-45
30
QG-34 QG-39
35
QG-41

5000

18

26

23

26
QG-23

25

23

QG-27
20

COAL

QG-22

CI: 4 FT

10

25

500

1000

LSF

FS

NA-K2

Isopach Upper Shoreface Net Sand Map

Stratigraphic correlation
QG-28

QG-47

QG-25

HIGH
11500

QB-C

11300
11100

IMPEDANCE

QG-24

QG-44QG-46
QG-42QG-30
10.6 11.7
QG-41 10.9
QG-48
QG-29QG-38
QG-33
9.3
QG-36
11.5QG-43 12.6
QG-31
QG-35QG-40
10.6
Q-AY
12.6
11.9
9.3
QG-45
9.5
QG-34QG-39

10900

11.8

7.4

QG-37
QG-20

NA-G3

10700

QG-23

10500

QG-27

10300

NA-I

10100

QG-22

9900

NA-K2

LOW
9700

Inverted seismic line

Figure 1Venezuela: Eastern Basin. Appraisal and Development of Quiamare Field

500

1000 M

1100000
1095000

QUIAMARE FIELD
F AL CON B A SIN

QG -2 8

BARC ELONA

M ARA CAI B O
BA SIN

1090000

CA RAC AS

MAR ACAIBO

1 0

QG-4
QG
-320 -4 6
4
QG
QG -2 6
QG -4 1 QGQG
8QG -4 8
-2
9-3
QG -2 4
QG -3 3
QG
QG
-4
-435
QG
QG
-3-4
5 0QGQG
-3 6-3 1
QG
3000
QG
-3-3
49
QG -6
QG -2 5
QG -3 7
QGQG
-8 QG
-1 QG
6-2 1-2 0
QGQG
-1 -1
QG
0QG
-3 QG
-5 QG
-4 QG
-1 2 -7 QG -2 3
QG -2 7

QG -4 7

2945

QG -3 2QG -1 1QG QG
-1 3QG
-1 5QG
-1 7-1 4

QG -2
QG -2 01X

QGQG
-9 -1 9

QG -2 2

QG -1 8

El Tigre

1080000

ORIENTAL
BASIN

1085000

Anaco

BAR INA S- APU RE

BA SIN

CP M -1X

DIV - 1
CP Z -4

CP Z -5S

S TR -12

V Z- 32 E

CP Z -8S

V Z- 25
V ZZ- 22
21
V
V ZV Z3V13
V ZV Z- 18
Z6 28
V10
Z-V
11
Z-V
20
Z- 23
V Z- 26V ZV
ZZ17
519V
V ZV
1V
4
ZZ14 V Z- 24
V
7ZV Z1215
VV
Z-V
9Z-V
Z8 Z- 2V Z- 16

CP Z -7
CP Z -2 CP Z -6S
CP Z -3
CP Z
Z -1A
-1
CP

Isopach Map Capaya Fm.

1075000

VENEZUELA

S TR -5
S TR -6 S TR -7

S TR -4
S TR -8
S TR -2S TR -3
S TR -1

CP Z -9
CP Z -11

CP Z -10 E

2709

2508

S TR -9
S TR -11
S TR -10

V Z-V
29
Z-S
31 E
V Z- 27 S

V Z- 10 4S
V Z- 10 3S

V Z- 30 S

CP G- 1
V Z- 10 2S

V G- 1S

V G- 2S

GO
GOS
S-1A
-1

V G- 101

V Z- 10 1S
CG- 9

1070000

CG- 8
CG- 2
CG- 26

2061

CG14 24
CGCG- 1
CG- 34
CG- 28 CG- 29
CG-CG33CG43 CG0 21
12 222 0 4CGCG-CG3
44
CG- 13 CG- 37 CG- 45
CG- 39
CG- 17
27
CG- 35CG-CG42
CG-CG18 10
CG- 36
CG- 4CG41
32CG- 11
CG-CG23 CG31
30
CG- 25
CGCG38CG7
CG- 5
CG- 20
CG- 16CG- 15
CG- 6
CG- 40
RZ -5
RZ -4
1CG914
19 X
RZ -3

CG- 46
CG-247
117

2077

1065000

RG- 20 1

RM -2 01
ROS - 1
ROS - 2

RG- 20 2

V AC- 1

URI- 1

URS - 1

P GC- 2
T AL- 1

1852

RZ -5 1

URS - 2

V Z- 20 1S
CM -1 052 CE B- 1

RZ -6 RZ -2
RZ -1

T AG3
T AG11E
T AG- 4

AG-12E
2
TTAG-

1888
S V A-1

T AG- 6
T AG- 5
T AGT AG7 9
T AG- 10

S CE -1
RZ -5 0

T AR-1

RZ -7

1060000

CAP - 2

T AG- 1

CAP
-1-6
CAP

1986

CAP - 8

T AT- 1

P GC- 1

E RD- 1

P GC- 4

T AC-1

1055000

P GC- 3

100km

7 0

1050000

6 2

P AG- 5E
P AT O-1

Location map

P AG- 6E
P AG- 4X

335000

340000

345000

350000

355000

360000

365000

370000

375000

380000

P AG- 3X

385000

390000

395000

400000

S E I S M IC L I N E S O U T H O F T A C A T A D IS C O V E R Y

N
b

C O N TR O L W ELL

C O N T R O L W E L L ( P r o je c t e d )

C O N T R O L W E L L ( P ro j e c t e d )

L A S P IE D R A S F

M ID - M I O C E N E

L O W ER

M IO C E N

O C EN

O LIG

AC
C R ET

EOU

4 SEC

Seismic Line Talara Dome

S W

Seismic Line Foreland Domain

R Z -7

R Z -5 1

C G -6

23

42

37

22

C G -1

C G -2

C G -8

O
AL E

C G -9

ZO

IC

BA

SE

ME

NT

V Z -1 0 1

V Z -1 0 4

N E

680 0

5
100
12
400

320 0

820
0
6 30 0
470 0
380 0

CO-J

510 0

5
500

5
300
210 0
440 0

5
20
0
690 0

5
200
12
500

830
0

12
600

840
0

330 0

6 40 0
480 0

CO-K

390 0

520 0

5
600

5
400
220 0

5
30
0

450 0

5
300
340 0

LM-4

6 50 0
490 0

CO-M1

400 0

530 0

5
700

5
500
230 0

5
40
0

460 0

710 0

5
400
12
700

350 0

850
0
6 60 0
500 0

410 0

CO-M2
540 0

5
800

5
600
240 0

5
50
0

470 0

720 0

CO-M3
12
800

860
0

12
900

870
0

5
500
360 0

6 70 0
510 0
420 0

550 0

5
900

5
700

6
000

5
800

250 0

5
60
0
730 0

480 0

CO-M4
5
600
370 0
6 80 0

CO-N1

LM-3

520 0
430 0

560 0

CO-N1L

260 0

5
70
0

490 0

740 0

13
000

5
700

CO-N2

880
0

380 0

6 90 0
530 0
440 0

570 0

Schematic
Cross-Section

6
100

5
900
270 0

5
80
0

500 0

750 0

CO-P1
13
100

5
800
390 0

890
0
7 00 0

Coal (?)

540 0
450 0

CO-P2

580 0

6
200

6
000
280 0

5
90
0

510 0

LM-2

760 0

5
900
13
200

400 0

900
0
7 10 0
550 0
460 0

CO-P3

590 0

6
300

6
100
290 0

6
00
0

520 0

770 0

6
000
410 0

13
300
7 20 0
560 0
470 0

600 0

6
400

6
200

6
500

6
300

300 0
780 0

CO-R1

530 0

6
10
0
6
100

420 0

13
400
7 30 0
570 0

CO-R2

480 0

610 0

310 0

6
20
0

LMF-1

540 0

790 0

CO-SU

13
500

6
200
430 0

CO-SL
7 40 0

580 0
490 0

620 0

6
600

6
400
320 0

6
30
0

550 0

800 0

6
300

440 0

13
600
7 50 0
590 0

500 0

630 0

6
700

6
500
330 0

6
40
0

560 0

810 0

6
400
450 0

200 ft

600 0
510 0

640 0

6
50
0

340 0
570 0

6
500
460 0

500 m

C O A S TA L
D E L T A P L A IN

D IS T R IB U T A R Y
C H A N N E L

D IS T R IB U T A R Y
M O U TH B A R
S H O R EF A C E

520 0

P R O D EL TA
O FF SH O R E

Figure 2Venezuela: Eastern Basin. Exploration of Talara Dome

350 0

470 0

UO-5

L O W RE MOI C E E
N

CO-L

CAPAYA FORMATION

700 0

Lithostratigraphy

Age

Sequence
Stratigraphy

Depositional Sequence
Environments
Sets
+ Sea level -

Early Miocene

8
30ma

Carbonera

Coastal Plain
Deltaic

Oligocene

7
39 ma

Mirador
Barco
Guaduas

Middle Eocene

Shallow Marine
LST

Paleocene
Maastrichtian

Guadalupe

56 42ma
60ma

Tidal Flats / Marsh

LST

68ma

Marine Neritic

LST

80ma

Llanos
basin

L.Guadalupe
Gacheta / La Luna

Une
Villeta / Fomeque

Location map

Coniacian
Santonian

KMFS
LST

Turonian

Cenomanian
Aptian - Albian

Fluvial

LST

90ma
94ma

Open Marine
Neritic

5
4
3

Shallow Marine
Tidal, Marsh

Fluvial, Estuarine
Shallow Marine

112ma

Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary stratigraphy and depositional environments

Figure 3Colombia: Llanos Basin

Marine, Fluvial Infl.

Tidal

Campanian
Plaeners

Fluvial, Estuarine

2
1

C O LO M B IA

EC U A D O R

M araon
Iquitos

B RA SIL
T rujillo

Lim a

B O LIV IA

Ocano Pacfico

SE Q U EN C E SETS

AGE

Regional seismic line.

L IT H O

SE A LE V EL

S T R A T IG R A P H Y

R IS E
A G E ( M .A .)

58

PA LE O C E N E

EAST

YA H U A R A N G O

M A H U A C A -1

U N G U M A Y O -1

T IG R IL L O -1

C A C H IY A C U

7
68

M A A S T R IC H T IA N
C A M P A N IA N

V IV IA N

6
80

S A N T O N IA N

PO NA

C O N IA C IA N

68
80

6
5

90
90

T U R O N IA N

94

U P P E R C E TIC O
C A L IZ A

98

LO W ER
C E TIC O

107

4
94

C E N O M A N IA N

LU P U N A

98

2
1

112
AG UA
C A L IE N TE

2
103

R A YA

A L B IA N

C U S H A B AT AY
107

1
1

SE Q U E N C E S E T

11 2

Maraon Basin Cretaceous stratigraphy.

P A L E O Z O IC

Regional East-West seismic line showing sequence sets geometries.

Figure 4Peru: Maraon Basin. Depocenter exploration and Cretaceous stratigraphy

W EST

7 9

7 5

7 1
0

ECUADOR

COLOMBIA

P R O G R ES O
B A SI N

4
ZO

R RI

TO

IG
SH

M AR A O N B AS IN

Tumbes

Iquitos
4

SANTIAGO
BAS IN

LA N C O N E S
B A SI N

Talara

Piur a
C

HU

Yurimaguas

A SI
RA B

Bayovar

TH
O U

BAGUA
B A SI N

SE

TA LA R A
B A SI N

RU
SA

LO
JI L

UCAYALI BASIN

T I
C

AN

BRAZIL
Pucallpa

ATL

O C E AN
C I FI C

ON
E AN FR

A M ER IC A

H U A LLA G A
B A SI N

Tr ujillo

AN

Chiclayo

LA

RY

S IN

R
V E

BA

Location map

BA

S IN

P
L
IM
A

BA
N

M AD R E DE D IOS B A SIN

T
ON

I F

FR

SI

ENE
B A SI N

LIMA

12

Pto. Maldonado

I C

D EA
N

FR

ON
T

Ica

AN

Cuzco

P IS

C
O

S
BA
IN

BOLIVIA

AND EA N

A
1 2

T I T I C AC A B AS I N

1 6

16
MO

N
M

100

100

200 KM

L LE

ND

Ar equipa
Q

UE

BA

SI

Moquegua
O

AS

Tacna

IN

SCALE
79

CHILE

75

71

ANAQUIARI
Pz/Rc
* TOC : 0.14

North-South Stratigraphic cross-sectionFlattened to the top of Tarma Gp.

CHONTA Fm. - LK

ORIENTE Gp. - MLK

PERRO

SSB

22 0 M y Finihercynian

TOC :
0.3 2
* TOC : 1.29 /R o: 0 .7 4
Pm/Tr

SSB

. - LPm
MAINIQUE Fm

270 My Tard ihercynian

* TOC : 2.59 /R o: 0 .8 3

* TOC : 1.61

T 1-SB
MFS

T 1-SB - SSB

MFS

ENE

* TOC : 0.85 -2.6/Ro: 0.85

GATO

Pm
.-E
Fm
SSB

TOC : 3.59 *

T2s -SB?
T 1-SB? - BDS?

* TOC : 1.3-2 .2 /R o: 0 .8 0

TOC : 1.15 -1.75 *

Pm/Tr
TOC : 1.02 -2.18 *
* TOC : 1.1-1 .8 /R o: 0 .7 7

Chronostratigraphic chart

TARIZA

CATSINGARI SUR

CHORINASHI

MASHANTONI

VIVIAN Fm.

COPACABANA Gp. - EPm

CHIPANI

* TOC : 0.37

* TOC : 0.29

ust
Shira Thr

* TOC : 0.31

* TOC : 0.36

* TOC : 0.29
* TOC : 0.51

COPACABANA Gp. - EPm

* TOC : 0.45

SSB
* TOC : 0.5
LDv/ECb

AM
BO

DATU M

* TOC : 0.17

TARMA Gp. - LCb

MFS-SB?
* TOC : 0.79

c-

* TOC : 0.6-1 .4 6/Ro: 1.19

LDv/ECb

Green sst.

T 1 SB - SSB

TOUR/VIS
* TOC : 0.8-1 .4 /R o: 1 .0 3

ECb/LDv
* TOC : 10.3 8 (HI:98 )/R o:1.37

* TOC : 2.77 (3 5.63 )/R o:1.15

TOUR/VIS

Gp
.-

TARMA Gp. - LCb

* TOC : 0.5-2 .2 7/Ro: 1.1

ECb/FAMM.
* TOC : 0.32 -0.71
* TOC : 0.96

EC
b

ECb/LDv
* TOC : 0.4-1 .7 4

MFS-SB?
* TOC : 1.33 /R o: 1.15

AMBO Gp. - ECb

LDv/ECb
* TOC : 0.23

Te
rt
ia
r

tr
hu
st

MFS-SB?

T 1 SB - SSB

MFS
355 My Eo hercynian

BASEMENT - pC
DEL MARAON Gp.

CABANILLAS Gp. - EDv

4 38

My T
aco ni
an

Figure 5Peru: Ucayali Basin. Paleozoic stratigraphy and petroleum systems

NW

SE

Litho log y

A ge

v
E
s
rite
o
p
a

P
U
.S
O
R
T

ve
i
g
s
n
ra
T
?

ia
v
lu
F

c
f

b
e
rd
B
ia
v
lu
F
n
tia
p
A

n
iW
d
a
o
rP
e
p
U
g
g
d
e

SN
C
N
O
R
T
IO
R
E
F

Tope TRONCOSO INF.

go
R
e
rc
(F
d
n
ta
s
w
o
L
sn
)i

-1
H

Top C HORREADO INF.

Tope AGRIO SUP.

PA

Location map.

h
rs
a
M
L
W
r.P
e
w
o

ip
r.H
a
M

NW-SE Seismic Line-Flattened to the top of Troncoso Inferior.

M
5
S

P
U
.S
O
H
C

T
S
L
B
in
m
re
a

fC
l
e
h
S
tc
is
n
o
rb
a

F
IN
D
A
E
R
O
H
C

-4
S
M

S
T

eo
lR
rm
o
(N
d
n
ta
s
h
ig
H
sn
)i

via
t
u
rH
e
p
U
n

.
P
U
S
IO
R
G
A
fS
l
e
h

H
T
S

S
-3
M

Detailed stratigraphic column.

Sandstone/Siltstone
Fluvial/Marsh

Sandstone/Conglom.
F lu vial channeli zed

Sandstones
Fluvial non channelized

Sandstones
Dunes

Limestones
Shelf

Shales
Lower shoreface/
Prodelta

Sandstones
Shoreface/Delta front

Limestones/D olomites
Carbonate ramp

Evaportes
Marine hypersaline

M. Troncoso Superior
M. Troncoso Inferior

Uncon.(112 Ma .?)

N-S Stratigraphic Cross sectionsFlattened to the top of Troncoso Inferior.

( 113,5 M a.?)
2 ,5 K m

M. Chorread o Inferior

E x ag . V e rt.: x 45

F. Agrio (M. Superior)

Lower prograding wedge
Non reservoir

Upper progradin g wedge

Reservoir

Transgressive S.T.
Non reservoir

Figure 6Argentina: Neuquen Basin. Stratigraphy of Agrio, Chorreado and Troncoso Inferior

M. Chorreado
Superior

NORTH

B-2

A-1

C-3

SOUTH

BARRANCAS FM

UPPER RIO BLANCO

RIO BLANCO FM
VILLAVICENCIO FM

LRB

Location map

Isopach Map
Potrerillos +
Cachueta Fms.

M
AF
EUT
H
M
C
CA
SF
LO
L
I
ER
TR
PO

Isopach Map
Lower Rio Blanco

Figure 7Argentina: Cuyo Basin. Exploration and Development of Lower Rio Blanco

CABRAS FM

Stratigraphic
Cross-Section