Hydrocarbon prospectivity within the interval “A” of the Villeta Formation in the Putumayo Foreland Basin

The Putumayo Sub-Basin in southwestern Colombia is a significant region for hydrocarbon exploration, supported by its established petroleum systems, including the Villeta Formation, which acts as a source rock, reservoir, and seal. This study examines Interval "A," a limestone interval from the Upper Cretaceous of the Villeta Formation. Evaluating its structural framework, accommodation geometry, and hydrocarbon potential through the integration of well data and seismic interpretations from 2D and 3D datasets. Interval "A" comprises three depositional zones characteristic of a foreland basin: the wedge-top, foredeep, and forebulge. The wedge-top is shaped by compressional tectonics, dominated by high-angle reverse faults. The foredeep is controlled by extensional tectonics, characterized by high-angle normal faults, while the forebulge in the easternmost zone exhibits interval thinning and shallow normal faults. Depths for Interval "A" range from -1,220 feet in the foothills to -9,940 feet in the foredeep, with an average of -5,580 feet. Thicknesses range from 16 to 178 feet, averaging approximately 97 feet; with maximum accumulations concentrated in the south-central sub-basin. The hydrocarbon plays in Interval "A" are associated with two main structural domains. In the foothills, faulted anticline traps sealed by reverse faults dominate. However, their reliability is constrained by uncertainties regarding the timing of the completion of their formation relative to the phases of migration during the Miocene. In contrast, within the interior of the foreland basin, closures associated with normal faults predominate, which are temporally aligned with later migration phases. In this context, normal fault closures are considered more reliable exploration targets.

• Autores: Alaimo, Maria
• Tipo de recurso: Trabajo de grado de pregrado
• Fecha de publicación: 2024
• Institución: Universidad de los Andes
• Repositorio: Séneca: repositorio Uniandes
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.uniandes.edu.co:1992/75442
• Acceso en línea: https://hdl.handle.net/1992/75442
• Palabra clave: Hydrocarbon exploration; Putumayo Sub-Basin; Villeta Formation; 2D and 3D seismic interpretation; Foreland basin; Geociencias
• Rights: openAccess
• License: Attribution 4.0 International