THE OFFSHORE GUAJIRA, COLOMBIA- LESSONS FOR THE SCOTIAN MARGIN?

The offshore Guajira, Colombia is a prolific gas province (over 7 tcf identified) with the Ballena and Chuchupa fields in production for over 25 years. The petroleum system and structural history are complex. Recent exploration activity has moved from the developed carbonate platforms on the shelf to look at plays on the deepwater slope and basin floor. These plays comprise complex structural and stratigraphic traps associated with slope fan and basin floor fan deposition. The key in determining the reservoir potential associated with these plays is the identification of the sediment conduits that can supply reservoir quality sediments to these fans. Additional play concepts take the form of carbonate reef and platform build-ups.

What lessons can we apply from the offshore Guajira to current exploration activity along the Scotian margin?