Tectonic Events and Structural Configuration of the Barinas to Apure Basin

Among the Sub-Andean basins of northern South America is located the Barinas-Apure basin, in southwestern Venezuela. Through the analysis of high-resolution seismic-profiles and surface geology, three different tectonic events have affected the sediments of this basin: (a) a late Cretaceous-Paleocene event, related with the Larmidian orogenesis, (b) a late Middle Eocene event, related to north-Venezuelan flexure, and (c) a Miocene to Pleistocene event, under the influence of the Andean (Merida) orogenesis. Is the last one, the responsible of the present-day structural configuration on the basin, i.e., an assymetric syncline. Several complex structures and fault-systems are recognized in this basin, they are grouped in pre-Oligocene and Miocene-Pleistocene in origin. Among these, only the pre-Oligocene structures have accumulated important oil reservoirs.