Gravimetria aplicada à Bacia Barinas-Apure

Abstract

Geophysics is the area of knowledge that applies physics concepts to study the material composition, structural features and dynamic interaction of the Earth, below its solid surface. Such composition is the result of the balance among the thermodynamic forces, gravity, chemical and nuclear activities inside the geoid since its formation. Aiming to describe the structures and processes of the terrestrial subsurface, geophysics uses research methods based in the physical interactions of those internai structures with measurable events in surface, among other methods such as the wireline logging of wells, the analyses of geological samples or field data retrieving. ln order to show a method of geophysical applied to the search of hydrocarbons, this work is divide in three main stages: 1) A geological approach of an interest area in the Venezuelan sedimentary basin of it Barinas-Apure, where is known the oil existence, and there is already an amount of geological data in need to be detailed by geophysical research, for the finding of new economical structures to the exploration. 2) Theoretical explanation of a geophysical searching method named gravimetry, defined as the measurement of the gravitational field produced by the geological material of an area of interest. As that field is affected by properties of the surrounding rocks as density, position and shape, it is possible to estimate those properties through the adequate treatment of gravity field measurement in combination with other methods and well-known geological models. 3) Gravimetry application to an area, whereto data collecting, processing, inversion and interpretation have produced a practical vision of the proposed method, and an in-depth knowledge of the basin, its formation as well as the exploratory potential.