Abstract:

Maracaibo Basin has experienced four tectonic phases including rifting, passive continental margin, foreland basin and Maracaibo syncline since Mesozoic, which played a significant role in the controlling of oil generation, migration and accumulation. Based on the response of hydrocarbon geologic condition to tectonic events, the author discussed the controlling of tectonic evolution on the formation of source rock, reservoir, traps as well as oil migration and accumulation. Impacted by tectonic activities, the thickness of source rock interval varied, with thicker to the north and thinner to the south. Depocentre transferred as well, formed three clastic wedges thickening in different directions, which comprised the major reservoirs of Maracaibo Basin. Besides, the change of buried depth led to the multiphase oil generation of source rock. Also, tectonic activities controlled the trap types of different layers. The revival and reversal of faults related to early rifting during the later tectonic activities offered the main pathway for oil migration. In addition, regional tilt of the layers set up a basinal structural framework for the oil migration.

Key words: tectonic evolution, geologic response, controlling, Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela