cvs, snguuaann “PREPARED BY AUGUST 1983 ROBERTSON RESEARCH (U.S.) INC. Vis Lassie R-83-187 AECOOL CLASS TT CONFIDENTIAL PORT VOLUME | THE GEOLOGY AND PETROLEUM POTENTIAL OF THE MIDDLE MAGDALENA BASIN COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICAThat of Morales et al (1958) has been adopted for this report (Figures 4,5). Stratigraphic units within the pre-Aptian section are diachronous, becoming younger from south to north (Tambor, Rosa Blanca and Paja formations). ‘The post-Aptian section generally lacks coarse clasties. Shale litholo- gies dominate and denote deeper marine environments of deposition but still within shelf depths, Thin beds of black limestone, chert and caleareous/pyritic concretions break up an otherwise monotonous shale Sequence through ‘furonian ~ Santonian time (La Luna formation). Soft gray shales, silting upward, indicate shallowing depositional environ- ments from Campanian time to the end of the Cretaceous period (Umir formation). Except for the latest Cretaceous, chronostratigraphy is based princi- pally on ammonite zonations. This method is difficult to apply to the drilled subsurface sections where combined foraminiferal - palynological techniques offer much greater potential. However, to date no zonation has been published. The succeeding Tertiary is largely continental, with intricate facies variations, which hamper the establishment of a stratigraphic nomencla- ture that can consistently be applied throughout the basin. Two-princiz pal.nomenclatures have..evolyed; one from ongoing geological studies in the .De..Mares..Concession. and surrounding areas and the other at the extreme, southern. end. of: the. basin. in_the Velasquez area That of the De Mares Concession developed principally through the pub- lished studies of Anderson (1926, 1927), Wheeler (1935), Pilsbry and Olsson (1935), Anderson (1945) and Morales et al (1958). Other nomen- clatures were also established by the operations of various oil -10-companies active in the region (Figure 4). These were reviewed by Morales et al (1958) whose standard classification has been generally adopted for this report. Age determination of the individual Tertiary stratigraphic units hes always been uncertain, Pilsbry and Olsson (1935) recognized 3 fossiliferous (molluscan) horizons in the largely barren continental sequence. These were termed, in ascending stratigraphic order, the Los Corros, Mugrosa and La Cira fossil horizons and are exposed mainly in the region between the Sogamoso and Carare Rivers on the east side of the Magdalena River. However, they are difficult to recognize and do not extend over any great distance in the subsurface. Red-bed lithologies dominate the Miocene and younger section which is mostly barren of fossil fauna or flora. The Paleogene also lacks marine faunas, but the less oxidized levels do yield palynomorph assemblages that permit a reasonable degree of chronostratigraphic control down through the/Mugrosa, Esmeralda, La Paz and Lisama formations (Figure 8. ale‘CENOZOIC TERTIARY “lt — nite] teen rate] a ta, | S| wm me tocene [TotP| Tet | Tom] Toc. [e ku | aL aaa ‘SRETACEOUS MESOZOIC : fi tmahroxenrie FIGURE 5. Standard Colombia (after L.G. Morales et al., 1958) a2- ratigraphy for the Middle Magdalena Basin,PALYNOLOGICAL ZONES ce G 1d, Hopping, and Muller 1968 :§q —————er MIDDLE MAGDALENA PANTROPICAL ATLANTIC CARIBBEAN VALLEY. ~Ainipotienites [PHO] Echiticolporites wecsa spinosus be eg REAL B= crassoretitrietes EB | vaneandshoovent row Pailagipories $5 Verruticotporites ims | oe 38 retundiporis Jandutoaria 23 | Magoastriatites nL seammogitonmis fem nm pie eal howard mugnosa gz Cleatricosieporites ae ae dorogensis Z| verwentspontes ESMERALOAS Ee vuamensie le Retiviceiparies 32 | onoperites 83 anoulatus j__ operculatus Paiaticotperites die crnasus ee 85 Retibreviticoipites 38 triangutatus fa ~~ Foveeiticipites ¥ perforas 8 Proxapertites Retidiporites 8 npercustws magdatenencis sana 5 Proteacidites = ‘denaani Cals 5 FIGURE 6. Maastrichtian to Pleistocene, tentative palynological zones, Middle Magdalena Basin, southern part (Adapted from R.R. (U.S.) analises). a3-TABLE 1 STRATIGRAPHIC SUMMARY ~ MIDDLE MAGDALENA BASIN QUATERNARY ALLUVIUM RECENT TERTIARY MESA GROUP PLIOCENE-PLEISTOCENE REAL GROUP MIOCENE CHUSPAS GROUP - COLORADO FORMATION LATE OLIGOCENE-EARLY MIOCENE ~ MUGROSA FORMATION EARLY-MIDDLE OLIGOCENE CHORRO GROUP ~ ESMERALDAS FORMATION LATE EOCENE - LA PAZ FORMATION LATE EOCENE LISAMA FORMATION PALEOCENE CRETACEOUS AND OLDER UMIR SHALE CAMPANIAN-MAASTRICHTIAN LA LUNA FORMATION TURONIAN-SANTONIAN EL SALTO LIMESTONE CENOMANIAN SIMITI FORMATION ALBIAN-CENOMANIAN TABLAZO FORMATION LATE APTIAN-ALBIAN PAJA FORMATION BARREMIAN-EARLY APTIAN ROSA BLANCA FORMATION HAUTERIVIAN TAMBOR FORMATION BERRIASIAN-HAUTERIVIAN GIRON FORMATION TRIASSIC-JURASSICBasal Gniry cortly farm slow core, formation is conformable and gradational (see Lisama formation). Age and correlation, Mainly on the basis of microfauna, the age of the unit has been established as ranging from Campanian to Maastrichtian. It represents a facies change of the Guadalupe sands present in the area of the Sabana de Bogota. TERTIARY STRATIGRAPHY Lisama Formation (Paleocene) Name and occurrence. This formation was initially described by T.A. Link (1925), the type section being located in the Quebrada Lisama, northeast of the Lisama field: Lithology, This unit represents a transition in the environment of deposition from the marine Cretaceous to the continental Tertiary. The stone which forms moderately” base of the formation is marked by a 84 strong in the Norte de Santander area of the Maracaibo basin. ‘The rest of the ‘and is time equivalent ‘to the Barco sands,’ oil producers unit is composed mainly of varigeted clays and siltstones with interbeds of medium- to fine-grained, cross-bedded sandstones. Some of the sandstones. show...thin__seams...of ..coal..and.-lignite -up-to.,20. inches_in__ thickness. Contacts. According to Morales et al (1958) and Taborda (1965), the contact between the Umir formation and the Lisama formation’ is conformable and gradational. This is evident along exposures in the synclinal areas as the Nuevo Mundo syncline, where not even a clear unconformity is found between the Lisama formation and the overlying La Paz formation. In these areas the sedimentation is continued and the Tertiary sequence is complete and conformable (Julivert 1961). It -29- the shdtes j font corp tateappears that the gentle deformation initiated during late Cretaceous Testricted the deposition of the Lisama sediments to the principal lows or synelinal areas and then initiated the pre-Eocene erosion along the crest of the highs or anticlinal areas. Thickness and regional distribution. The..present..distribution of the Lisama. formation..appears.closely.related to the. Nuevo Mundo Syncline in which a maximum thickness of more than 4,000 feet is recorded. (See Isopach Map of Enclosure 5). The principsl remnants of this formation are also found to the north in the Lebrija end Tisquirama areas, in the Cristalina area and south of the Las Garzas field. Lisama has also been reported by Ecopetrol from Colorado - 41 well, twenty kilometers south of La Cire - Infantas field. Age _and correlation. Palynological evidence dates the Lisama as Paleocene. Taborda (1965) suggests “w lacustrine to" aaltaic’ environment of deposition, based on lithologic characteristics. | The basal ‘Sanilstoné “moniter “18” correlative “withthe “Bares” fordation of tne Norte de Santander and Llanos areas and the upper portion correlates with the Los Cuervos formation of the same areas. ‘The Lisama also correlates with the Guaduas formation of the Bogota~Sabana area. Oil potential, Lisama sands have been reported to produce in the Leb- rija and Tisquirama fields. Santos - 24 from Intercol's Provincia field has been one of the most productive wells drilled in Colombia Gnitial production more than 3,000 barrels of oil per day from Lisama sands). Other fields reported to produce from the Lisama are Corazon and Cristalina (See Enclosure 13). ~30-“eross-bedded, light gray, Chorro Group (La Paz and Esmeraldas formations) La Paz Formation (late Eocene) Name and occurrence. Wheeler, in 1935 (In Morales et al, 1958), first named this formation, derived from its type section at the La Paz ridge along the east flank of the Nuevo Mundo syneline between the Sogamoso and Lebrija Rivers. Lithology. Bueno (1971) describes three distinct members from exposures, along the Nuevo Mundo syncline. The lower member consists of massive, coarse grained to conglomeratic sandstones.’ The middle member of the formation ‘is, composed. of gray shale and siltstones and the upper member is a light gray to buff, fine- to coarse-grained and conglomeratic sandstone with. a few-shale-interbeds. A hard altered shale (Toro member) is locally present at the contact with the Lisama formation, This member is also included in the standard nomenclature as part of the La Paz formation. Contacts. The relationship between La Paz and the Lisama formation is fot Clear when the ‘Toro shale is present, bute wégional angular unconformity is reported elsewhere. The upper contact with the Esmeraldas formation is conformable and gradational. Thickness and regional distribution, The regional distribution of the La Paz formation in the Middle Magdalena Valley is also somewhat restricted but to a lesser degree than that of the Lisama formation (See La Paz Isopach Map of Enclosure 6). ‘The principal sedimentary axis.is along the eastern margin. of the basin and coincides with the axis of the Nuevo Mundo and Rio Minero syn- clines. The maximum thickness is about 3,000 feet. La Paz sediments are present in other areas to the north, in the Totumal and Tisquirema -31-field areas and in the Cantagalio field area on the western margin of the basin. The sand distribution map (Enclosure 8) displays SW-NE alignments, generally paralleling the eastern margin of the basin. Age regional relationships and some _palynological information, the formation has been determined as of late Eocene age (Morales et al, 1958; Taborda, 1965; Bueno, 1971). environment _& correlation. Based on its stratigraphic position, 1K appears that this formation was deposited in a basin with “Gontiiious Subsidence to the east, which explains its local distribution and sandy character. Other characteristics, such as vertical and lateral Granulometric variation and the lenticular geometry of the beds, allow recognition of a fluvial brsided channel regime.| The characteristic sand trends should be considered in future exploratory programs because the principal patterns of porosity and permeability follow the major depocitional axis. Esmeraldas Formation (late Eocene) Name and occurrence. The first published reference to the Esmeraldas formation is by Wheeler (1935) but the name had been used for quite a number of years by geologists of Gulf Ol Company. Good exposures of the unit are present at the Rio Sogamoso, where the type section has been designated. ‘The formation is present along the west flank of the Nuevo Mundo syncline and also extends continuously along the east flank of the structure until it is truncated by the Lebrija fault, north of the river of that name. Lithology. The unit is mainly composed of Variegated, interbedded with fine-grained sandstones and siltstones. Coal’ seams -32-£ Gignitic) are sometimes found. A fossil horizon (Los Corros) is locally found and marks the contact with the overlying Chuspas group. Contacts. The lower contact with the La Paz formation is transitional.’ ‘The upper contact with the Mugrosa formation of the Chuspas group is unéonformable, according to Morales et al (1958) and Bueno (1971). However, this undonforinity is not recognized by others (Taborda, 1965),/ although some local erosional contacts may be present toward the borders of the basin. ‘Thickness and regional distribution. No isopach map has been prepared for the present report, but the distribution of the unit is generally established to be more extensive than that of the La Paz formation, which it overlaps. At the type locality, thought to represent the major development of the unit, it is about 4,500 feet thick. Age and correlation. A late Eocene age has been established for the formation by paleontological and palynological evidence. The formation is believed to have been deposited in a ‘déltdiic” to’ lacustrine environment and is corrélative with the Carbonera formation of the Maracaibo basin and’ the upper part of the Mirador in the Llanos area. Oil_potential. Lenticular sandstones of the Esmeraldas formation are oil or gas producers in the Lianito and Lisama fields, At Payoa, Provincia and Bonanza, lenticular sands, designated 'M’ and 'N' and developed throughout the formation, are significant ofl producers. Chuspas Group (Mugrosa and Colorado Formations) ‘The term Chuspas Group was established by geologists of the Atlantic Refining Company to designate those sediments lying above the Los Cor- ros fossil horizon and below the coarse clastics of the Real. Wheeler -33-Saher (1935) divided the unit into two formations, the Mugrosa and Colorado separated by the Mugrosa fossil horizon present in the De Mares area. Mugrosa Formation (early to middle Oligocene) Name and occurrence. The name is derived from exposures along Quebrada Mugrosa where the type section is located (Morales et al, 1958). The formation is well exposed along both flanks of the Nuevo Mundo syncline and in the eastern part of the De Mares area. Lithology. At the La Cira - Infantas fields, the ‘iower half’ éf the formation is composed predominantly of shéles with a very of fine-grained Sandstones and siltstones. The upper half of the for- mation consists of fine- to coars ined locally pebbly. sandstones interbedded’ with minor amounts of mottled shales. “Eastward from the La Cira - Infantas fields there is an increase in the proportion of sand to shale in the lower. part of, the. unit; a reverse. relationship, exists tn the upper. part. few interbeds Contacts. The Mugrosa rési uniconformably on the underlying Esmeraldas FoFmation}and is overlain conformably by the Colorado formation: Thickness and regional distribution. The Mugrosa is one of the.most extensive formations within the Middle Magdalena Basin. and overlaps olde®” formations along the margins of the basin where it becomes thin. In the central part of the Middle Magdalena Basin the thickness varies between 1,600 feet and 2,800 feet apart from an anomalous zone in the Cantagallo area where a thickness of more than 3,200 feet has been recorded (See Enclosure 7). Age, environment and correlation, The formation is normally considered of early to middle Oligocene age. The lithology and general character -34-indicate it to have been deposited in a fluviatile environment marked by a kind of meandriform pattern (Enclosure 9). ft correlates’ with the Léon’ shales of Catatumbo, the Usme of the Bogots area and thé'La Paloiia forliation’ of the Lianos. i Oil Potential. The Mugrosa formation is one of the most prolific oil producers in almost all the fields of the De Mares area, especially the Infantas and La Cira fields. Colorado Formation (late Oligocene - early Miocene) Name and occurrence. This formation was first named by MeGill and Waring (Taborda, 1965). ‘The type locality is along the Colorado River. Excellent exposures are also present along the Oponcito River and on the road from El Centro to the San Luis structure. Lithology. The Colorado forms the upper part of the Chuspas group and includes the section lying between the upper boundary of the Mugrosa fossil zone and the upper boundary of the La Cira fossil zone. The formation consists of véricolored shales with interbeds. of: fine. to coarse-grained light colored crossbedded sandstones. Contact: formation and is overlain with angular unconformity by the sediments of The Colorado rests conformably on the underlying Mugrosa the Miocene Real group. Thickness and regional distribution. No isopach map has been compiled for the Colorado formation because of its limited reservoir potential compared with underlying formations. However, the formation is reported to overlap the Mugrosa formation and to have considerable variations in thickness within the basin. 35+At the type section the formation is 4,100 feet thick and thins easterly to about 3,300 feet at the La Cira - Infantas field, then increases again to approximately 8,200 feet along the foothills of the Fastern Cordillera (Morales et al, 1958), Age and correlation. The Colorado formation can be dated only by the fossil content of its uppermost member, the La Cira shale horizon, and by reference to the underlying Mugrosa fossil horizon. From this evidence the formation is assigned a late Oligocene to early Miocene age (Taborda, 1965). Environmentally it is considered of. fluvial | origin: The Colorado is an oil producer in La Cira-Infantas and other fields of the Middle Magdalena Basin (Enclosure 21). Potential Real Group (Miocene) Name and occurrence. The sume Real was derived trom the "Bandera Real,", a Tropical Oil Company triangulation station located near Que- brada Real and the Opon River, in the southern part of their old con- cession. It was O, C. Wheeler who in 1935 published the first descrip- tion of the Group under the name "Real Series,” applied to strata crop~ Ping out at the type section and also along the San Fernando Anticline. exposures of the formation occur west of the La Salina Fault, in the northern part of De Mares, and can easily be observed along the Bucaramanga-Barrancabermeja road. Lithology, At the type locality near the Opon River, the unit consists of inassive, ‘choss-beddea, friable to partially indurated ‘sandstones with interbeds of bluish clays and streaks of small coal pébbles. Above the massive sandstones are 4,200 feet of gray and red” mott shalés with thin beds of gray, cross-bedded sandstones.’ Overlying the -36- ————————same section are approximately 330 feet of massive conglomerates interbedded with massive beds of coarse-grained sandstone. On top of the coarse clastic unit there is another shaly member, about 450. feet thick, The upper part of the group consists of about 2,640 feet of medium- grained, light gray sandstones interbedded with thin, dark gray, laminated shales. Carbonized. leaves, silicified .wood:-and. layers of gypsum are distributed throughout the unit. The interbedding of contrasting ~~ lithologies~“forms- a typical ~ low-ridge-and-valley, topography, an. outstanding feature quite helpful in air “photography mapping. . Thickness. Fore-setting and cross-bedding make it difficult to measure accurately the thickness of these sediments. A thickness of up to about 12,000 feet has been determined (in the Nuevo Mundo syncline area) but it is very variable and thins to a minimum of 1617 feet on the La Cira crest. Contact. The lower. contact with the Coloredo. formation is a very sharp, regional unconformity. The upper contact. with the overlying Mesa Group is also unconformable. Age and correlation. The general consensus of opinion regards the Real Group as Miocene in age, and of definite continental origin. The unit is correlative with the Guayabo of the Catatumbo Basin and the lower Honda of the Upper Magdalena Basin. potential. The coarse sands of the Real are, for the most part, fresh water flushed. Minor production was obtained from Real sands in the Lisama wells, and, under favorable conditions, these massive sands could contain undiscovered oil in other areas. -37-Mesa Group (Pliocene - Pleistocene) Name and occurrence. The term "Mesa" is used here in the same sense as. by Morales et al, (1958), and it groups together all sediments deposited above the Real. The name Mesa formation was first used by Weiske (1926, 1938) to refer to beds in the Honda area where they form mesas and terraces. Sediments of this group include the Bucaramanga terrace, and the alluvial deposits of present-day streams. Lithology. By far, the most important topographic and geologic feature formed by Mesa deposits is the Bucaramanga terrace, and we will limit our comments to that. This terrace occupies a graben limited by the Bucaramanga and Suarez faults and lies between the Santander Massif and the Lebrija Platform. De Porta (1959) and Julivert (1963), among others, carefully described the stratigraphy and tectonic relationships of the terrace and recognized three lithologie levels; a lower detrital member, formed chiefly by pebbles, a middle member of lacustrine character, formed by silt, clay and very fine sand, and an upper member formed by pebbles and cobbles. The terrace is subjeut to deep erosion, a condition which seriously endangers some parts of the town of Bucaramanga and limits its development. Thickness, The thickness of Mesa sediments is quite variable. The Bucaramanga terrace is between 450 and 1,885 feet thick (Julivert, 1963). Contacts. The sediments of the group rest unconformably on the Real Group, Local unconformities within the Mesa have been recognized in the Bucaramanga terrace (De Porta, 1959). Age and correlation, The lowermost part of the unit may possibly be Pliocene with the remainder being Pleistocene to Recent. On this basis it is correlative with at least parts of the Tilata and the Sabana 38formation of the Bogota area; partially with the Necesidad of Catatumbo Basin; and, in general, with the Quaternary terraces of many places in Colombia (Fusagasuga, Ibague, etc.), It may possibly correlate with the upper Honda and the Mesa of the Upper Magdalena. -39-