Alonso F. Navarro¹
(1) PDVSA Exploration and Production, Caracas, Venezuela

Abstract: Structural setting of exploratory targets underlying thrusted tertiary sediments in the northern part of the Guarico Basin, Central Venezuela

Data on seismic, gravity, surface geology and remote sensing has led to the interpretation of structural plays underlying imbricated thrusts in the northern region of the Guarico Basin in Central Venezuela.

The oblique collision of the Caribbean and South American plates, created successive foredeeps where structural deformation and sedimentation were related. In the study area, foredeep formation started in the Late Eocene and ended in the Early Miocene. During this time a series of west-northwest-east-southeast trending normal faults formed, affecting pre-Cretaceous to Oligocene sediments. Mesozoic northeast-southwest trending faults were reactivated at this time. The foredeep was mainly fed by a southern sediment source until the Late Oligocene when an additional northerly source became evident.

Hydrocarbon was generated due to the burial of Cretaceous and Oligo-Miocene source rocks in the north. Subsequent migration occurred towards the south in the regional updip direction.

The progressive southeastward emplacement of a folded belt, generated a compressive force which resulted in thin-skinned thrusts with a shortening of about 50 km. The imbricated Paleogene to Neogene deformed sediments overlie relatively undeformed sediments of the same age. The underlying sedimentary column contains structures with likely oil accumulations which are exploratory opportunities yet to be drilled in the study area.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90914©2000 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana