--> Abstract: Colombia: A Source of Hydrocarbons for the World, by J. B. Olivella; #90988 (1993).

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OLIVELLA, JORGE BENDECK, no affiliation given

ABSTRACT: Colombia: A Source of Hydrocarbons for the World

Colombia progressively has become attractive to those exploring for oil.

The policy established by the government in 1974 has attracted large-, medium-, and small-sized companies to come to the country in search for petroleum and gas reserves in the 780,000 sq km which encompass its 13 sedimentary basins.

The dynamics wit which association contracts can be signed with the state company Ecopetrol, has been a decisive factor in the success of its oil policy, a success reflected in the existence of over 90 contracts in force and the involvement of more than 40 foreign oil companies in operations in Colombia.

Historically, exploration was carried out to search for hydrocarbons in known zones and in pursuit of traditional structures, which brought both, great discoveries and resounding failures.

State of the art in exploration has permitted a better understanding of the geological phenomena which have led to the accumulation of hydrocarbons.

Ecopetrol has begun to explore with the new "play concepts" taking into account aspects never before considered, weighing risk factors against the possibility of discovering important quantities of hydrocarbons in "frontier regions." These new ideas allow the construction of geological models before deciding to drill.

This "new focus" is based on global geological analogies. We can say, for example, that the important hydrocarbon discoveries in the Eastern Plains alongside the Colombian Eastern Range foothill, have been the result of geological concepts evolution, now managed with highly adaptable designing and planning with universal criteria. All along its 1200 km appears to be the area of greatest oil potential.

Besides, Ecopetrol has identified important structures underneath the synclinal edges, as well as beyond the igneous contacts overlying the sedimentary strata.

The heterogeneity of structures which can be expected, themselves establish objectives for identifying each area of interest.

The key is to apply every effort toward regional and then local evaluations, using multidisciplinary, talented, and trained teams complemented with good quality information.

The recognition of stratigraphic sequences and condensed sections on seismic lines allows mapping in time of features which show erosion surfaces and the timing of the structural style superimposed by the middle Miocene compressive event.

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