THE ROLE OF TECTONISM IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRATIGRAPHIC SURFACES IN THE COLOMBIAN LLANOS FORELAND BASIN

Foreland basins have been the target of many studies due to the importance of understanding their development and evolution. New insights constantly increase the effectiveness in the exploration of different resources such as hydrocarbons. This is the case with the Colombian Llanos Foreland Basin, which has been studied widely due to its prolific hydrocarbon potential in Paleogene rocks mostly. Nevertheless, its evolution is complex as observed by different authors. Uplift of the Eastern Cordillera since the latest Cretaceous controlled the development of the Llanos Basin ever since. Some unconformities, as well as stages of sediment deposition, have been reported in the basin as a response to tectonic activity. Several peaks of tectonic activity are well established for the Eastern Cordillera. However, apart from unconformities, no other types of stratigraphic surfaces have been associated with the tectonism of the Eastern Cordillera. In fact, the role played by tectonism on the development of the stratigraphic framework is not fully understood yet. This study presents key stratigraphic surfaces that document this relationship for the Paleogene and provides a new sequence stratigraphic framework that enhances the efficiency of petroleum exploration within the basin.