The geologic history of California is extraordinarily complex. Numerous and varied sedimentary basins have developed within divergent, convergent, and transform tectonic settings that have generally succeeded one another through time and space. However, many basins have evolved under the simultaneous influence of contrasting tectonic styles. As a result, polycyclic, polyhistoric, and polygenetic basins are common. Because these basins are locally extremely rich in hydrocarbons, an understanding of their stratigraphic, tectonic, and depositional histories is critical to the development of suitable exploration and development strategies. Geometrically complex reservoirs are the norm, and multiple cycles of deposition and tectonism have yielded many problems in (1) understanding subsurface structural and stratigraphic relationships, (2) predicting the presence of suitable reservoirs, sources, seals, and traps, and (3) developing models that can be used for more than one formation in a small part of one basin. However, the remarkably prolific production from many basins and reservoirs continues to inspire the search for future reserves.

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