--> ABSTRACT: Giant Discoveries in Monagas Overthrust Belt, Eastern Venezuela Basin, 1987-1988, by Richard Aymard, Luis Pemental, Pablo Lopez, and Abdelkader Chaouch; #91022 (1989)

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Giant Discoveries in Monagas Overthrust Belt, Eastern Venezuela Basin, 1987-1988

Richard Aymard, Luis Pemental, Pablo Lopez, Abdelkader Chaouch

Two deep wildcats drilled on the northern flank of the Eastern Venezuela basin have tested large quantities of medium to light oil from massive Eocene and Oligocene sands. The wells, drilled in the Musipan and Carito areas, tested between 5,000 and 10,000 bbl of 26°-34°API gravity crude from the Caratas, Los Jabillos, and Naricual Formations; net oil sand for each well exceeded 500 m, with average porosities of 14%.

The structures found in the Monagas overthrust belt consist of eastwest-trending

anticlines associated with overthrust faulting. The surface area of the structures is 100 km2, which includes the Furrial field. Vertical closure exceeds 1,000 m.

The thick, subcompacted Carapite Formation shales form a very effective vertical seal. The Cenomanian-Turonian Querecual shales are the source rock for most of the oil found in the area.

Of the 12 prospective areas identified, two have been tested and three are being drilled. Delineation drilling has already begun on the newly discovered structures, and over 6 billion bbl of oil are expected to be found, making this area one of the largest oil plays in Latin America and in the Western Hemisphere.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91022©1989 AAPG Annual Convention, April 23-26, 1989, San Antonio, Texas.