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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 34 (1950)

Issue: 12. (December)

First Page: 2383

Last Page: 2383

Title: San Joaquin Valley: ABSTRACT

Author(s): J. E. Kilkenny

Article Type: Meeting abstract

Abstract:

The San Joaquin Valley sedimentary basin is approximately 250 miles long and averages 50 miles in width, comprising an area of 14,100 square miles. Maximum depth to basement is close to 35,000 feet. Volume of sediments is estimated at 31,000 cubic miles of which about 85 per cent is marine.

Acreage productive of oil and gas amounts to 369 square miles, 2.62 per cent of the sedimentary area. There were 23,768 wells drilled of which 3,106 have been dry holes and 92 oil fields and 14 gas fields have been discovered.

Future fields will probably be found primarily in traps where the stratigraphic element is predominant, although there are very likely a number of undiscovered fault traps and perhaps a few closed anticlines that have escaped detection.

Deep prospects are better on the west side of the valley as numerous east-side wildcats have been drilled to basement in contrast to very few on the west side. The lower Miocene and older beds on the west side are probably devoid of oil and gas showings at great depths due to low-grade metamorphism.

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