Research Programs | Tectonic Analysis

Exploration Framework Atlas 1: Colombia

2nd Edition, February 2009 - Upgrade, Reassessment, Integration with new Caribbean Models, GIS v.1.0

This upgraded Atlas comprises the first part of our research report: "The Colombian Hydrocarbon Habitat: Integrated Sedimentology, Geochemistry, Paleogeographic Evolution, Geodynamics, Petroleum Geology, and Basin Analysis" , which also includes detailed work on hydrocarbon geochemistry, descriptions of cores from key wells, interpreted and uninterpreted seismic data, and Cretaceous biostratigraphy.

The report was created in collaboration with ECOPETROL, allowing us access to enormous amounts of primary data including seismic lines, well logs, field reports and maps. The Atlas summarises this research, its assessments, and data compilations into 114 A3 (11" x 17") pages of color plates and text, with supporting appendices and data. The Atlas is transmitted on CD-ROM in a variety of editable formats.

Main Focuses of this Atlas:

Tectonics:

Plate-tectonic and geodynamic constraints on the evolution of the northern South American, Caribbean Plate boundaries (see also - Caribbean Page)
Migration of Caribbean (Western Cordillera, Guajira) and Cordilleran Terranes (Antioquia)
Palinspastic restorations of key hydrocarbon provinces (e.g. Western Lake Maracaibo, Eastern Cordillera, Magdalena Basins)
Sequential reconstruction of Eastern Cordillera cross-sections, with implications for changing patterns of middle and late Miocene hydrocarbon migration
Implications for neotectonics and seismicity for changing structural style since 6 Ma

Paleogeography:

Data, models synthesised through 20 palinspastic paleogeographic maps from early Mesozoic to Late Cenozoic time
Maps are annotated with formation names, lithologic information, key structural elements, place names and inset summary diagrams explaining keys ideas

Stratigraphy and hydrocarbons:

Detailed sequence stratigraphy ("slug diagrams") for the Cretaceous passive margin, based on extensive fieldwork and dramatically improved fossil zonation
Summary charts for 10 basins, incorporating the major hydrocarbon-systems elements
Outline maturation model derived from paleogeographic synthesis

Key seismic lines:

Basemap and 22 representative seismic lines selected from the portfolios of data in the "Colombian Hydrocarbon Habitat" report

Special problems and remaining questions:

At appropriate places throughout the text and maps, significant structural and stratigraphic problems and remaining questions are discussed, and possible solutions highlighted

Download Full Content List Download Sample Pages

Related Published Papers:

Kennan & Pindell, 2009, Dextral shear, terrane accretion and basin formation in the Northern Andes: best explained by interaction with a Pacific-derived Caribbean Plate
Forthcoming Geological Society of London Special Publication.
Pindell & Kennan, 2009, Tectonic evolution of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and northern South America in the mantle reference frame: an update
Forthcoming Geological Society of London Special Publication.
Pindell et al., 2005, Plate-kinematics and crustal dynamics of circum-Caribbean arc-continent interactions: Tectonic controls on basin development in Proto-Caribbean margins.
In: Ave-Lallemant and Sisson (eds.), 2005, Geological Society of America Special Paper 394, 7-52.
Kennan & Pindell, 2003, Sedimentary Basins in NW Peru and SW Ecuador: the Caribbean connection, and why it matters
A series of articles outlining the basics of the plate kinematic method, reconstructions of the Northern Andes and the Equatorial Atlantic, and implications for the evolution of the Gulf of Mexico
June-October 2000 AAPG Explorer [PDF, 1.7 Mb].
Mesozoic-Cenozoic Andean paleogeography and regional controls on hydrocarbon systems
In: Tankard, A. J., Suarez, R. & Welsink, H. J. (eds), 1995, Petroleum basins of South America, AAPG Memoir, 62, 101-128.
Mesozoic passive margin of northern South America
In: Salfity, J. A. (ed.), 1994, Cretaceous tectonics in the Andes, Vieweg Publishing, Earth Evolution Sciences, International Monograph Series, 1-60.
Pindell & Erikson, 1994, Mesozoic passive margin of northern South America.
Pindell, 1993, Regional synopsis of Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean evolution.
Transactions of GCSSEPM 13th Annual Research Conference, 251-274.
Pindell, 1991, Geologic rationale for hydrocarbon exploration in the Caribbean and adjacent regions.
Journal of Petroleum Geology, 2006, 14, 237-257.
Pindell & Barrett, 1990, Geological evolution of the Caribbean region; a Plate tectonic perspective.
In: Dengo, G. and Case, J. E. (eds), The Caribbean Region, Geological Society of America, The Geology of North America, H, 405-432.
Dewey & Pindell, 1985, Neogene block tectonics of eastern Turkey and northern South America: continental applications of the finite difference method.
Tectonics, 1985, v. 4, 71-83.

COST: Please contact us for more information.