GIL, E., J. ROTUNDO, and L. HERNANDEZ, Exploration Management, Corpoven S. A., Venezuela

ABSTRACT: Prospectivity of Northern Barinas Area Through Modern Seismic Data

The area of study is located to north of the Merida arch, in the Barinas-Apure basin.

The geologic section comprises early Cretaceous (Albiense) to Quaternary deposits. The Cretaceous sequence lies unconformably over the metamorphic basement; the lower section of Navay Formation, of Cretaceous age, is consider to be the source rock, and it is associated with maximum transgression (91.5 mma). In Barinas, this represent the lateral equivalent of La Luna Formation of the Maracaibo Lake. The Gobernador and Paguey Formations (later middle Eocene), overlie unconformably the Cretaceous rocks. The lower section of the later formation is associated with maximum transgressive cycles as a result of the collision of the South American and Caribbean plates.

Former interpretation of analogic seismic data showed small structures that were less evident towards the deeper part of the basin. Recently, Corpoven acquired 2350 km of excellent digital seismic data with a coverage of 3000%. This has allowed us to subdivide the area in three hydrocarbons prospective zones:

Northern Barinas Zone: Characterized by faults and structures very similar to other prospective fields of the area.

South Andean Slope: This was affected by the Andean orogenesis. In this zone we find the same sedimentary column, but the structures are bigger than the former producing.

Southern Guanare Zone: This zone shows light faulting and abundant acoustic anomalies probably associated to facies changes.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90988©1993 AAPG/SVG International Congress and Exhibition, Caracas, Venezuela, March 14-17, 1993.