Print this pageFalcon Basin, Venezuela, An Underexploited Hydrocarbon Province
EVERETT, JOHN R., RONALD J. STASKOWSKI, JOHN F. AMOS, and WESTON R. DRIPPS
During the course of water exploration in the State of Falcon, the integration of digital geologic, hydrologic, geophysical, and environmental data sets in the GIS environment suggests that the basin has substantial unrealized hydrocarbon exploration potential. Existing production at older fields, such as Cumarebo and La Vela, are prima facie evidence for mature Tertiary source rocks despite the absence of the well-known Cretaceous La Luna Formation. The distribution of fields and seeps suggest that these rocks are mature over a substantial portion of the basin. Structural and stratigraphic relationships along the margins of the basin suggest a Tertiary time of emplacement for this allochthonous terrain. Steeply-dipping Pliocene units in the east-northeast-trending folds demonstrate a late Tertiary episode of deformation probably associated with right-slip convergence between the South American and Caribbean tectonic plates. The area east of the Mitare River is 3000 meters structurally higher than the area to the west of the river. This implies considerable exploration potential to the west.
Based on the digitized and GIS integrated structural, lithologic, and land-use/land-cover analysis of satellite data (Landsat Thematic Mapper, ERS-1 Radar), stereo air photographs, and site specific structural field mapping and geophysical surveys, initial groundwater well drilling has resulted in wells that produce 15 liters/second (238 GPM) from fractured reservoirs. The search for fracture-related porosity and permeability may be an element of successful petroleum exploration in this area.