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Structural style of the offshore Talara and Tumbes forearc basin

Conference Paper · January 2006

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XIII Congreso Peruano de Geología. Resúmenes Extendidos
Sociedad Geológica del Perú

STRUCTURAL STYLES OF THE OFFSHORE TALARA AND TUMBES

FOREARC BASINS

Wilber Hermoza, Elmer Martinez, Justo Fernandez, Ysabel Calderon, Carlos Galdos
& Rolando Bolaños

PERUPETRO S.A. Luis Aldana 320, San Borja, Lima; whermoza@perupetro.com.pe; emartinez@perupetro.com.pe;
jfernandez@perupetro.com.pe; ycalderon@perupetro.com.pe; cgaldos@perupetro.com.pe; rbolanos@perupetro.com.pe

INTRODUCTION

The offshore part of the Talara and Tumbes basins correspond to a forearc basin system developed
along the northern coastal Peruvian Andes (Fig.1). These basins have been the site of extensive
hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation since the XIX century. Eighteen wells have been drilled in
the offshore Tumbes basin and some 13,200 wells in the Talara Basin. Cumulative production is 1.4
BBO and 1.7 TCF from total Talara Basin fields, offshore in water depths of less than 120m with
potential of similar amounts as undiscovered reserves (Perupetro 2006).
The fill of the Talara and Tumbes basins is characterized by different stratigraphic sequences
associated with significant tectonic events, which generated erosional surfaces, changes in the
depositional environment, rate of sedimentation and depocenter migration. The stratigraphic
architecture reflects shifts in basin accommodation space, which derives from the interplay of
extensional tectonics, sediment supply and eustatic sea level changes. The internal sequence
architecture shows the retrogradational, progradational and agradational stacking pattern.
The modern structural configuration of Talara and Tumbes basins is related to a complex geodynamic
history associated to the interaction of tectonics, eustatic and sedimentary processes controlled by the
Andes Mountain building and subduction of the oceanic crust (Fig.1).
The aim of this paper is to establish the style and geometry of deformation of the Talara and Tumbes
basins characterizing their structural and stratigraphic components, essential for hydrocarbon
exploration. This study is supported by seismic interpretations (surveys AIP 92, PC 99, GMP 92, 94
and OXY 98), well correlations and regional tectonic setting (Oxy 2001, Perez Companc, 2000, Petro-
Tech 2001; et al.).

Fig. 1. Morphological and structural configuration of the Central Andes, showing de Talara and Tumbes forearc
basins.

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XIII Congreso Peruano de Geología. Resúmenes Extendidos
Sociedad Geológica del Perú

GEOMETRIC AND STRUCTURAL DEFORMATION OF THE OFFSHORE TALARA AND

TUMBES BASINS

The geometric and structural analysis of the offshore Talara and Tumbes forearc basins is supported
by seismic interpretations, well correlations and regional tectonic setting. The seismic lines (TWT)
have been calibrated by synthetic seismograms generated by Log Edit software ®.
The seismic interpretations, regional mapping, and well data have been integrated in twelve offshore
seismic sections and three offshore to onshore regional cross sections in the Talara and Tumbes basins
(Fig. 2). In this paper, we show only six interpreted seismic line (Fig. 2). A detailed analysis of the
seismic data allows the identification and characterization of the tectonic structures associated to fault
geometries, erosional surfaces, channel geometries, lateral changes in sedimentary facies and
geometry of the seismic sequences such as growth strata, onlaps, downlap, toplap and truncations. The
integration of this data can be used to predict the geometry and nature of the reservoirs, the
deformation style of the structurals traps and the potential to discover significant hydrocarbon
accumulations.

Fig. 2. Geological and structural map. Dashed lines indicated the interpreted seismic lines show in this paper.

OFFSHORE TUMBES BASIN

The structural style of the Neogene offshore Tumbes basin is largely the result of a W-NW down to
basin regional tilt associated with the NE trending Banco Peru Fault, which is the southern extension

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of the Dolores-Guayaquil megashear zone (Fig. 3; Deniaud, 1999). It has resulted in gravitational
tectonic structures and growth fault systems, which have generated curved rollover and planar rollover
anticline structures and some rotated fault blocks. These structures are associated to listric normal
faults dipping to the NW with detachment levels located in the base of the Heath Formation and the
Pre Mancora series (Figs 4 and 5). The major period of development for these gravitational structures
occurred during the deposition of the Mal Pelo and La Cruz formations (Pliocene Pleistocene times).
In the present time, the Tumbes basin s.s. corresponds to a major half graben controlled by the Banco
Peru Fault and Zorritos Piedra Redonda High. Many structures in the Tumbes basin are currently
active as indicated by the recent deformation of the younger sedimentary deposits (Figs 4 and 5).

Fig. 3. Seismic interpretation of the line RIB 93-01, showing the main tectonic features of the offshore Tumbes basin.

Fig. 4. Seismic interpretation of the line AIP 92-49, showing the Delfin structure and the Lenguado lead.

Fig. 5. Seismic interpretation of the line RIB 93-01, showing the shallow and deep platforms, where the Merluza and
Mero rollover structures developed.

OFFSHORE TALARA BASIN

The structural style of the Paleogene offshore Talara Basin is characterized by normal faulting, low-
angle gravitational faults and large vertical transcurrent faults, which occurred during Paleocene and
Eocene times, with reactivation in Neogene time. The deformation of the Talara Basin overlies a larger
morphological configuration of Cretaceous and Paleozoic tectonic events (Fig.6). This tectonic style
has resulted in a number of rotated fault blocks, rollover anticline structures and growth faulting (Fig.7
and 8).
The sedimentary fill of the Talara Basin is controlled by structural deformation that has produced a
complex clastic sedimentary sequence with a wide variation of formation thicknesses throughout the
basin. The synsedimentary extensional tectonics is represented by rollover anticline structures
associated with high and low-angle listric normal faults. The relative movement of the listric normal
faults is directly related to the configuration of Paleozoic and Basement rocks (Fig.7 and 8).
Structural, stratigraphic traps and combined traps with high potential for hydrocarbon exploration have
been identified in the Talara Basin. On the deep offshore platform, we have interpreted new leads
related to rollover anticline structures. On the shallow platform of the Talara Basin we find many
structural and stratigraphic features with high potential for hydrocarbon exploration.

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Fig. 6. Seismic interpretation of the regional line RIB 93-16, showing the tectonic elements of the offshore Talara
basin and a possible kitchen area.

Fig. 7. Seismic interpretation of the line RIB 93-21, showing the several structures associated to rollover anticline in
the Bayovar Bay bounded by the Illescas and Paita Highs.

Fig. 8. Seismic interpretation of the line PTP 99-24 located in an area where the south Talara Basin merges with the
Sechura Basin.

CONCLUSIONS

The structural style of the Neogene offshore Tumbes basin correspond to gravitational tectonic structures
associated to a NW regional tilt controlled by the Banco Peru Fault, a southern extension of the Dolores-
Guayaquil megashear. The major period of development for these gravitational structures occurred during of the
Pliocene time. At the present time, the Tumbes basin has the configuration of a major half graben with the deep
and thickest section controlled by the Banco Peru Fault.
The present-day structural configuration of the Talara Basin is the result of complex extensional and
gravitational tectonics that occurred since Paleocene and mainly during middle Eocene time, with reactivation in
Neogene time. Most of the offshore basin portion presents a shallow platform where all drilling activity has been
carried out and a deep platform, which has little seismic data and no drilling activity.
The Talara and Tumbes basins have numerous leads and tectonic structures that represent excellent opportunities
for hydrocarbon exploration.

REFERENCES

Deniaud Y., Baby P., Basile C., Ordoñez M., Montenegro G., Mascle G. (1999). Structure et évolution tectono-
sédimentaire du Golfe de Guayaquil: bassin d'avant-arc néogène et quaternaire, sur décrochement, au sud des
Andes équatoriennes. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Earth and Planetary Sciences, 328, 181-187.
OXY, Sucursal del Perú (2001). Reporte Final Block Z-3 Cuenca Progreso-Tumbes, Perú. Perupetro Technical
Archive ITP21932
Pérez Companc S.A. (2000). Informe Final del Primer Período Exploratorio (1998-2000) Lote Z1, Cuenca de Tumbes-
Progreso, Perú, Perupetro S.A. Technical Archive ITP 21693 to 21695. Segundo Período ITP 21771.
Perupetro S.A. (2006). Tumbes and Talara basins hydrocarbon evaluation. Internal report
Petro-Tech Peruana S.A. (2001). Evaluación Integral de la fase de Exploración del Lote Z-2B, 1994-2000. Perupetro
S.A. Technical Archive ITP 21794

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