Recognized as being one of the richest sedimentary basins in petroleum and gas for its comparatively small size, the Los Angeles Basin is a Neogene age sedimentary basin whose complex formation history makes it a unique marvel of the western continental margin (Ward, 1994). In order to understand the importance that the discovery of oil has had in the Los Angeles Basin, we look to the events that have taken place in the basin itself that created the conditions necessary for the formation of oil. The intent of this paper will delve into the source rock, reservoir rocks, cap rocks, and traps that led to the formation of oil in the basin.
The basin itself is constituted, as described by Biddle et al ( 1991), has a cumulative thickness greater than 9 km and consists primarily of of middle Miocene to Holocene age sediments ( Hayba, 1995). Mainly consisting of sand, silts, and clays, the source rock of hydrocarbons found …show more content…
The first stage consisting of middle Miocene deformation that would consist with the formation of basins alternating pattern of basins and ranges. Followed by the crustal deformation that took place after the middle Miocene alteration resulting in folding and faulting of the area, outlining major faulting zones and major synclinal and anticlinal areas in the basin (Biddle, 1991, Hayba, 1955). The formation of the traps in the Los Angeles Basin are attributed to the complex tectonic history that has affected the area. Looking to Hayba et al. (1995), we note that the majority of the oil fields in the basin are found on or along one of four major structural trends in the region, two fault zones and two major anticlinal horsts (Hayba, 1995). The two main faulting zones in the area attributed with acting as traps are faults associated with the northwest to southeast trending Whittier and Newport-Inglewood faults, acting as conduits for oil
The basin itself is constituted, as described by Biddle et al ( 1991), has a cumulative thickness greater than 9 km and consists primarily of of middle Miocene to Holocene age sediments ( Hayba, 1995). Mainly consisting of sand, silts, and clays, the source rock of hydrocarbons found …show more content…
The first stage consisting of middle Miocene deformation that would consist with the formation of basins alternating pattern of basins and ranges. Followed by the crustal deformation that took place after the middle Miocene alteration resulting in folding and faulting of the area, outlining major faulting zones and major synclinal and anticlinal areas in the basin (Biddle, 1991, Hayba, 1955). The formation of the traps in the Los Angeles Basin are attributed to the complex tectonic history that has affected the area. Looking to Hayba et al. (1995), we note that the majority of the oil fields in the basin are found on or along one of four major structural trends in the region, two fault zones and two major anticlinal horsts (Hayba, 1995). The two main faulting zones in the area attributed with acting as traps are faults associated with the northwest to southeast trending Whittier and Newport-Inglewood faults, acting as conduits for oil