AAPG FOUNDATION PRATT CONFERENCE: PETROLEUM PROVINCES, 21st CENTURY
January 12-15, 2000
San Diego, California

FELIPE AUDEMARD and ISABEL SERRANO, PDVSA Exploration and Production, Caracas, Venezuela

Abstract: Future Petroliferous Provinces of Venezuela

Recent regional studies have indicated that a resource potential greater than 40 BBOE remains to be found in Venezuela. Evidence for new petroliferous provinces that hold this potential will be presented in this paper.

Venezuela is a showcase for the exceptional foredeep basins of northern South America, together with outstanding oil source rocks and reservoirs next to unconformities within these foredeeps.

In the southwest of the country, sandstones above and below the foredeep unconformity, form potential strat-traps, a possible western extension of the prolific Eastern Venezuelan Basin (EVB). This would be an exceptional area to evaluate weathered/fractured basement plus Jurassic fills of half grabens located below the passive margin sequence. Also in the west, the northern and southern flanks of the Merida Andes, with 70 oil seeps, remains virtually unexplored.

Of importance are: the 25,000 feet of mostly Neogene sediments offshore the Orinoco Delta where five wells have tested 5 TCF and condensate; a 100 mile long diapir wall in the middle of the EVB with three major fields, and the 70 mile long downthrown Anaco inverted structure, tested in two localities. The mountain fronts to the north are being drilled to evaluate the northern extension of the giant Furrial trend and a new thrust play to the northwest.

The 150,000 sq km offshore area has only 50 wildcats, most drilled as tests for conventional traps; however, complex strike-slip structures, strat-traps and deep water plays could exist. Oil seeps and shows in wells indicate this is an oil prone basin.

©Copyright 1999.  The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.  All Rights Reserved