Neuquén Basin ( es, Cuenca Neuquina) is a

sedimentary basin Sedimentary basins are region-scale depressions of the Earth's crust where subsidence has occurred and a thick sequence of sediments have accumulated to form a large three-dimensional body of sedimentary rock. They form when long-term subsiden ...

covering most of

Neuquén Province Neuquén () is a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country, at the northern end of Patagonia. It borders Mendoza Province to the north, Rio Negro Province to the southeast, and Chile to the west. It also meets La Pampa Provinc ...

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...

. The basin originated in the

Jurassic The Jurassic ( ) is a geologic period and stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately Mya. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of ...

and developed through alternating continental and marine conditions well into the

Tertiary Tertiary ( ) is a widely used but obsolete term for the geologic period from 66 million to 2.6 million years ago. The period began with the demise of the non-avian dinosaurs in the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, at the start ...

. The basin bounds to the west with the Andean Volcanic Belt, to the southeast with the

North Patagonian Massif The North Patagonian Massif or Somún Cura Massif (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Macizo Norpatagónico'', ''Macizo Nordpatagónico'' or ''Macizo de Somún Cura'') is a massif in northern Patagonia located in the Argentine provinces of Río Negro Pro ...

and to the northeast with the

San Rafael Block The San Rafael Block or San Rafael Massif (Spanish: ''Bloque de San Rafael'' or ''Macizo de San Rafael'') is an uplifted area in central Mendoza Province, Argentina. The San Rafael Block is both a geographic and a tectonic unit. From a tectonostr ...

and to the east with the Sierra Pintada System. The basin covers an area of approximately .Howell et al., 2005 One age of the SALMA classification, the

Colloncuran The Colloncuran ( es, Colloncurense) age is a period of geologic time (15.5–13.8 Ma) within the Middle Miocene epoch of the Neogene, used more specifically within the SALMA classification in South America. It follows the Friasian and precedes ...

, is defined in the basin, based on the

Collón Curá Formation The Collón Curá Formation ( es, Formación Collón Curá) is a Middle Miocene fossiliferous geological formation of the southern Neuquén Basin in northwestern Patagonia and the western Cañadón Asfalto Basin of central Patagonia, Argentin ...

, named after the Collón Curá River, a tributary of the Limay River.

Description

Jurassic and

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of ...

marine transgression A marine transgression is a geologic event during which sea level rises relative to the land and the shoreline moves toward higher ground, which results in flooding. Transgressions can be caused by the land sinking or by the ocean basins filling ...

s from the Pacific are recorded in the sediments of Neuquén Basin. These marine sediments belong to Cuyo Group, Tordillo Formation, Auquilco Formation and Vaca Muerta. In the Late Cretaceous, conditions in the neighboring

Andean orogeny The Andean orogeny ( es, Orogenia andina) is an ongoing process of orogeny that began in the Early Jurassic and is responsible for the rise of the Andes mountains. The orogeny is driven by a reactivation of a long-lived subduction system along ...

changed. A

marine regression A marine regression is a geological process occurring when areas of submerged seafloor are exposed above the sea level. The opposite event, marine transgression, occurs when flooding from the sea covers previously-exposed land. Evidence of marin ...

occurred and the fold and thrust belts of Malargüe (36°00 S), Chos Malal (37° S) and Agrio (38° S) started to develop in the Andes and did so until

Eocene The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes from the Ancient Greek (''ēṓs'', ...

times. This meant an advance of the Andean orogenic deformation since the Late Cretaceous that made the western part of Neuquén Basin to stack in the Malargüe and Agrio fold and thrust belts.Rojas et al., 2016 This caused a shift in deposition from Pacific to Early Atlantic.Ponce et al., 2015, p.10 In the south of Mendoza Province, the Guañacos fold and thrust belt (36.5° S) appeared and grew in the

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58Pleistocene The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the ''Ice age'') is the geological Epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was fina ...

consuming the western fringes of the Neuquén Basin.Ramos & Mahlburg Kay, 2006

Tectonics

The Huincul basement high or Huincul ridge ( es, dorsal de Huincul) is a

geological structure Structural geology is the study of the three-dimensional distribution of rock units with respect to their deformational histories. The primary goal of structural geology is to use measurements of present-day rock geometries to uncover informatio ...

that divides Neuquén Basin in two parts.Mosquera & Ramos, 2006Pángaro et al., 2009 The basement high is one of the most studied features of Neuquén Basin given its importance for

hydrocarbon exploration Hydrocarbon exploration (or oil and gas exploration) is the search by petroleum geologists and geophysicists for deposits of hydrocarbons, particularly petroleum and natural gas, in the Earth using petroleum geology. Exploration methods Visi ...

and exploitation. All over the basement high runs an approximate length of . There have been proposals on the nature of this structure. In the 1970s and 1980s it was proposed by that it was a transpressive fault zone. In 2009, Pángaro described it as being made up of inverted

half-graben A half-graben is a geological structure bounded by a fault along one side of its boundaries, unlike a full graben where a depressed block of land is bordered by parallel faults. Rift and fault structure A rift is a region where the lithosphere ...

s. Unconformities have been registered in the basin and were dated at 98, 117, 123, 129, 134 and 154 Ma.Leanza, 2017, p.150

Stratigraphy

The basin contains many stratigraphic units from the Triassic onwards, with large regional variations from east to west and north to south, often described as different formations that are laterally equivalent, this list is a comprehensive overview of described formations: ;Cenozoic * Tromen Formation (

Holocene The Holocene ( ) is the current geological epoch. It began approximately 11,650 cal years Before Present (), after the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene togeth ...

)Onnis et al., 2018, p.38 * Cerro Campanario Formation (

Late Pleistocene The Late Pleistocene is an unofficial age in the international geologic timescale in chronostratigraphy, also known as Upper Pleistocene from a stratigraphic perspective. It is intended to be the fourth division of the Pleistocene Epoch withi ...

-Holocene) * El Puente Formation (

Middle Pleistocene The Chibanian, widely known by its previous designation of Middle Pleistocene, is an age in the international geologic timescale or a stage in chronostratigraphy, being a division of the Pleistocene Epoch within the ongoing Quaternary Period. Th ...

) * Chapúa Formation (

Early Pleistocene The Early Pleistocene is an unofficial sub-epoch in the international geologic timescale in chronostratigraphy, being the earliest division of the Pleistocene Epoch within the ongoing Quaternary Period. It is currently estimated to span the time ...

) * Agua de la Caldera Formation (Pleistocene)Hoja Geológica 3969-II, 2007, p.6 * El Sauzal Formation (Pleistocene) * Coyocho Formation (

Middle Miocene The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene. The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma to 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma (million ...

-Early Pleistocene) * Bayo Mesa Formation (Late Pliocene to Pleistocene)Kramarz et al., 2005, p.276 * Los Pinos Formation (Late Pliocene)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.425 * Pampa Encima Formation (

Late Pliocene Late may refer to: * LATE, an acronym which could stand for: ** Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, a proposed form of dementia ** Local-authority trading enterprise, a New Zealand business law ** Local average treatment effe ...

)Lebinson et al., 2018, p.252 * Chenqueniyeu Formation (Pliocene)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.426 * Chapelcó Formation (Pliocene) * Rincón Bayo Formation ( Middle Pliocene) * Chos Malal-Trahalhué Formation (

Late Miocene The Late Miocene (also known as Upper Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch, which lasted from 11.63 Ma (million years ago) to 5.333 Ma. The ...

Early Pliocene Early may refer to: History * The beginning or oldest part of a defined historical period, as opposed to middle or late periods, e.g.: ** Early Christianity ** Early modern Europe Places in the United States * Early, Iowa * Early, Texas * ...

) * El Palo Formation (Late Miocene to Early Pliocene) * Arroyo Palao Formation (Late Miocene)Balgord, 2017, p.455 * Tristeza Formation (Late Miocene) * Río Negro Formation or Caleufú Formation (Middle to Late Miocene)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.423 * Barranca de los Loros Formation (

) * Collón Cura Formation (

)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.422 *

Cerro Bandera Formation The Cerro Bandera Formation is a geological formation in Neuquén Province, Argentina, in northern Patagonia, which dates to the Early Miocene, around 21 to 17.5 million years ago. It predominantly consists of pyroclastic deposits, which were depo ...

(

Colhuehuapian The Colhuehuapian age is a period of geologic time (21.0–17.5 Ma) within the Early Miocene epoch of the Neogene, used more specifically within the SALMA classification in South America. It follows the Deseadan and precedes the Santacrucian age. ...

)Kramarz et al., 2015, p.586 *

Chichinales Formation The Chichinales Formation is a geological formation in Río Negro Province, Argentina which dates from the Late Oligocene to the Early Miocene, around 23 to 17.5 million years ago. It predominantly consists of pyroclastic deposits, which were depo ...

(

)Agnolin & Chafrat, 2015 * Vaca Mahuida Formation (Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene) * Sierra Negra Formation (

Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but t ...

Early Miocene The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages: the Aquitanian age, Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages. The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 annum, Ma to ...

) * Palauco Formation (Oligocene) * Lolog Formation (Late Eocene)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.421 * Colpilli Formation (

) * Cayanta Formation (

) * Ventana Formation (

Lutetian The Lutetian is, in the geologic timescale, a stage or age in the Eocene. It spans the time between . The Lutetian is preceded by the Ypresian and is followed by the Bartonian. Together with the Bartonian it is sometimes referred to as the ...

, early Mustersan)Wilf et al., 2005 * Huitrera Formation (

Paleocene The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name is a combination of the Ancient Greek ''pala ...

) ;Mesozoic * Malargüe GroupBalgord & Carapa, 2014, p.6 **

Agua de la Piedra Formation The Agua de la Piedra Formation (FAP, Spanish names include ''Estratos de Agua de la Piedra'' and ''Complejo Volcano-sedimentario del Terciario inferior'')Combina et al., 1994, p.418 is a Late Oligocene (Deseadan in the SALMA classification) geol ...

(

Deseadan The Deseadan ( es, Deseadense) age is a period of geologic time (29.0–21.0 Ma) within the Oligocene epoch of the Paleogene to the Early Miocene epoch of the Neogene, used more specifically within the SALMA classification of South America. It fol ...

) ** Pircala Formation (Paleocene) ** Coihueco Formation (Paleocene) ** El Carrizo Formation (

Danian The Danian is the oldest age or lowest stage of the Paleocene Epoch or Series, of the Paleogene Period or System, and of the Cenozoic Era or Erathem. The beginning of the Danian (and the end of the preceding Maastrichtian) is at the Cretac ...

)Náñez & Malumián, 2019, p.186 ** Roca Formation (

in the south, late Maastrichtian in the north) ** Loncoche Formation (Maastrichtian to Danian) **

Jagüel Formation The Jagüel Formation is a geological formation, located in Patagonia, Argentina. It underlies the Roca Formation and overlies the Allen Formation. All of these formations belong to the Malargüe Group. Its name was coined by Windhausen in 191 ...

(middle to late

Maastrichtian The Maastrichtian () is, in the ICS geologic timescale, the latest age (uppermost stage) of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or Upper Cretaceous Series, the Cretaceous Period or System, and of the Mesozoic Era or Erathem. It spanned the inte ...

) ** Allen Formation (middle

Campanian The Campanian is the fifth of six ages of the Late Cretaceous Epoch on the geologic timescale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). In chronostratigraphy, it is the fifth of six stages in the Upper Cretaceous Series. Campani ...

to early Maastrichtian) * Diamante Formation (

Cenomanian The Cenomanian is, in the ICS' geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or the lowest stage of the Upper Cretaceous Series. An age is a unit of geochronology; it is a unit of time; the stage is a unit in ...

) * Neuquén Group ** Río Colorado Subgroup (

Santonian The Santonian is an age in the geologic timescale or a chronostratigraphic stage. It is a subdivision of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or Upper Cretaceous Series. It spans the time between 86.3 ± 0.7 mya (million years ago) and 83.6 ± 0.7 mya. ...

to early Campanian) *** Anacleto Formation (early Campanian) *** Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Santonian) ** Río Neuquén Subgroup (late Turonian to

Coniacian The Coniacian is an age or stage in the geologic timescale. It is a subdivision of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or Upper Cretaceous Series and spans the time between 89.8 ± 1 Ma and 86.3 ± 0.7 Ma (million years ago). The Coniacian is preceded ...

) ***

Plottier Formation The Plottier Formation is a geologic formation that outcrops in the Argentine Patagonian provinces of Río Negro and Neuquén. It is the younger of two formations belonging to the Río Neuquén Subgroup within the Neuquén Group of the Neuquén ...

(late Coniacian ?to early Santonian) ***

Sierra Barrosa Formation The Sierra Barrosa Formation is a geologic formation of the Neuquén Basin in the northern Patagonian provinces of Mendoza and Neuquén. The formation dates to the Late Cretaceous, middle to late Coniacian, and belongs to the Río Neuquén S ...

(middle to late

)Garrido, 2011, p.237 *** Los Bastos Formation (early to middle

)Garrido, 2011, p.236 *** Portezuelo Formation (late Turonian to early Coniacian) ** Río Limay Subgroup (Cenomanian to early

Turonian The Turonian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the second age in the Late Cretaceous Epoch, or a stage in the Upper Cretaceous Series. It spans the time between 93.9 ± 0.8 Ma and 89.8 ± 1 Ma (million years ago). The Turonian is preceded b ...

) *** Lisandro Formation (late Cenomanian to early Turonian) *** Huincul Formation (late Cenomanian) ***

Candeleros Formation The Candeleros Formation (formerly known as the Candeleros Member of the "Río Limay Formation") is a geologic formation that crops out in the Río Negro, Neuquén, and Mendoza provinces of northern Patagonia, Argentina. It is the oldest formati ...

(early Cenomanian) * Los Machís Formation (

)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.420 * Late Mirano unconformity (98 Ma) * Lohan Cura Formation (Late Aptian to

Albian The Albian is both an age of the geologic timescale and a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is the youngest or uppermost subdivision of the Early/Lower Cretaceous Epoch/ Series. Its approximate time range is 113.0 ± 1.0 Ma to 100.5 ± 0 ...

) * Rayoso Group (

Aptian The Aptian is an age in the geologic timescale or a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early or Lower Cretaceous Epoch or Series and encompasses the time from 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma to 113.0 ± 1.0 Ma (million years ag ...

)Gómez Dacal et al., 2018, p.113 ** Rayoso Formation (

) ** Middle Mirano unconformity (117 Ma) ** Huitrín Formation (

) **

La Amarga Formation The La Amarga Formation is a geologic formation with outcrops in the Argentine provinces of Río Negro, Neuquén, and Mendoza. It is the oldest Cretaceous terrestrial formation in the Neuquén Basin. The type locality is La Amarga Arroyo and C ...

(

Barremian The Barremian is an age in the geologic timescale (or a chronostratigraphic stage) between 129.4 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago) and 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma). It is a subdivision of the Early Cretaceous Epoch (or Lower Cretaceous Series). It is preceded ...

to early Aptian) * Early Mirano unconformity (123 Ma) * Centenario Formation (Valanginian) to Barremian)Ponce et al., 2015, p.16 * Mendoza Group (early

Tithonian In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 152.1 ± 4 Ma and 145.0 ± 4 Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by ...

to earliest

Olivo et al., 2016, p.218 **

Agrio Formation The Agrio Formation is an Early Cretaceous geologic formation that is up to thick and is located in the southern Mendoza Province and northern-central Neuquén Province, in the Neuquén Basin of northwestern Patagonia, Argentina.Weaver, C. E. ( ...

(

Hauterivian The Hauterivian is, in the geologic timescale, an age in the Early Cretaceous Epoch or a stage in the Lower Cretaceous Series. It spans the time between 132.9 ± 2 Ma and 129.4 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago). The Hauterivian is preceded by th ...

to earliest Aptian) or late Valanginian to latest

Voglino, 2017 ** Unconformity (129 Ma) ** Chachao Formation (Valanginian to Hauterivian) ** Unconformity (134 Ma) **

Mulichinco Formation The Mulichinco Formation is a geological formation in Argentina. It is Valanginian in age and is predominantly terrestrial, being deposited at a time of marine regression in the Neuquén Basin, and predominantly consists of siliciclastic rocks. ...

(

Valanginian In the geologic timescale, the Valanginian is an age or stage of the Early or Lower Cretaceous. It spans between 139.8 ± 3.0 Ma and 132.9 ± 2.0 Ma (million years ago). The Valanginian Stage succeeds the Berriasian Stage of the Lower Cretace ...

) ** Bajada Colorada Formation ( Late Berriasian to Early Valanginian) ** Loma Montosa Formation (Berriasian to Valanginian)Ponce et al., 2015, p.18Iñigo et al., 2018 ** Quintuco Formation (Berriasian to Valanginian) ** Picún Leufú Formation (Tithonian to Berriasian) ** Lindero de Piedra FormationPonce et al., 2015, p.27 ** Vaca Muerta (

Berriasian In the geological timescale, the Berriasian is an age/stage of the Early/Lower Cretaceous. It is the oldest subdivision in the entire Cretaceous. It has been taken to span the time between 145.0 ± 4.0 Ma and 139.8 ± 3.0 Ma (million years ag ...

) ** Quebrada del Sapo Formation (Kimmeridgian) ** Catriel Formation (Kimmeridgian)Geologic Map, 2007, p.147 * Tordillo Formation ( Kimmeridgian) * Unconformity (154 Ma) * Río Damas Formation (

Late Jurassic The Late Jurassic is the third epoch of the Jurassic Period, and it spans the geologic time from 163.5 ± 1.0 to 145.0 ± 0.8 million years ago (Ma), which is preserved in Upper Jurassic strata.Owen 1987. In European lithostratigraphy, the name ...

)Mescua et al., 2013, p.105 * Lotena Group ( middle Callovian to late Oxfordian) ** Auquilco Formation ( late Oxfordian) ** La Manga Formation ( early Oxfordian) ** Lotena Formation ( Callovian to Oxfordian) * Cuyo Group ( Pliensbachian to middle Callovian) ** Challaco Formation (

Bathonian In the geologic timescale the Bathonian is an age and stage of the Middle Jurassic. It lasted from approximately 168.3 Ma to around 166.1 Ma (million years ago). The Bathonian Age succeeds the Bajocian Age and precedes the Callovian Age. ...

) ** Tábanos Formation ( Callovian) ** Calabozo Formation (Middle Jurassic) ** Punta Rosada FormationPonce et al., 2015, p.17 ** Lajas Formation (

Bajocian In the geologic timescale, the Bajocian is an age and stage in the Middle Jurassic. It lasted from approximately 170.3 Ma to around 168.3 Ma (million years ago). The Bajocian Age succeeds the Aalenian Age and precedes the Bathonian Age. Stra ...

to Bathonian) ** Tres Esquinas Formation (

Toarcian The Toarcian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, an age and stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic. It spans the time between 182.7 Ma (million years ago) and 174.1 Ma. It follows the Pliensbachian and is followed by the Aalenian. The Toar ...

to Callovian) **

Los Molles Formation The Los Molles Formation is a geologic formation of Early to Middle Jurassic age, located at northern and central part of Neuquén Basin at Mendoza Shelf in Argentina. It is overlain by the Niyeu–Lajas Formation.McIlroy et al., 2005 Descrip ...

( Pliensbachian to Callovian) ** Chuchil Formation ( Pliensbachian) * Piedra del Aguila Formation (Early to Middle Jurassic)Zavala, 1993, p.74 * Sañicó Formation (Early to Middle Jurassic) * Sierra Chacaico Formation (Early to Middle Jurassic) * Puesta Araya Formation (Hettangian to Bathonian) * El Freno Formation (Pliensbachian to Toarcian) * Primavera Formation (

Hettangian The Hettangian is the earliest age and lowest stage of the Jurassic Period of the geologic timescale. It spans the time between 201.3 ± 0.2 Ma and 199.3 ± 0.3 Ma (million years ago). The Hettangian follows the Rhaetian (part of the Triassi ...

to Sinemurian) * Lapa Formation (Hettangian to Sinemurian) * Nestares Formation (Early Jurassic)Zavattieri & Mego, 2008, p.484 * Planicie Morada Formation (Late Triassic to Sinemurian)Geologic Map, 2007, p.144 * Paso Flores Formation (Late Triassic) * Milla Michicó Formation (

Late Triassic The Late Triassic is the third and final epoch of the Triassic Period in the geologic time scale, spanning the time between Ma and Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the Middle Triassic Epoch and followed by the Early Jurassic Epoch ...

) * Remoredo Formation (

) * Chihuido Formation (

) * Tronqulmalal Formation ( Mid-

) * Cordillera del Viento Formation (

Early Early may refer to: History * The beginning or oldest part of a defined historical period, as opposed to middle or late periods, e.g.: ** Early Christianity ** Early modern Europe Places in the United States * Early, Iowa * Early, Texas * Early ...

Middle Triassic In the geologic timescale, the Middle Triassic is the second of three epochs of the Triassic period or the middle of three series in which the Triassic system is divided in chronostratigraphy. The Middle Triassic spans the time between Ma an ...

) ;Paleozoic *

Choiyoi Group Choiyoi Group ( es, Grupo Choiyoi) is a Permian and Triassic-aged group of volcano-sedimentary formations in Argentina and Chile. The group bears evidence of bimodal-style volcanism related to an ancient subduction zone that existed along the ...

(

Late Permian Late may refer to: * LATE, an acronym which could stand for: ** Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, a proposed form of dementia ** Local-authority trading enterprise, a New Zealand business law ** Local average treatment effect, ...

-Mid Triassic) ** El Palque Formation ** Horcajos Formation ** Portezuelo del Cenizo Formation ** Tambillos Formation ** Vega de Los Machos Formation

Petroleum geology

The Neuquén Basin is an important oil and gas producing basin in Argentina. Production started in 1918 and accumulated to of oil equivalent in 2004, representing 45% of the oil production in Argentina and 61% of its gas production.Mendiberri et al., 2004, p.1 The basin is also important for unconventionals, with the Vaca Muerta and Los Molles formations being major shale gas producers.

Source rock In petroleum geology, source rock is rock which has generated hydrocarbons or which could generate hydrocarbons. Source rocks are one of the necessary elements of a working petroleum system. They are organic-rich sediments that may have been depo ...

formations are predominantly the Vaca Muerta, and to a lesser extent the Agrio and

s. Reservoir rocks comprise the Mulichinco and Chachao Formations. Deeper reservoirs are the Lotena and Barda Negra Formations.Ponce et al., 2015, p.28 Regional

seal rock A petroleum reservoir or oil and gas reservoir is a subsurface accumulation of hydrocarbons contained in porous or fractured rock formations. Such reservoirs form when kerogen (ancient plant matter) is created in surrounding rock by the presence ...

s are the

evaporite An evaporite () is a water- soluble sedimentary mineral deposit that results from concentration and crystallization by evaporation from an aqueous solution. There are two types of evaporite deposits: marine, which can also be described as ocean ...

s of the Auquilco and Huitrín Formations, with local seals the Vaca Muerta, Agrio and Catriel Formations.Ponce et al., 2015, p.29

Notes and references

Notes

References

Bibliography

;Geologic map * ;General * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ;Mesozoic * * * * * * ;Vaca Mahuida Formation * ;Ventana Formation * * ;Chichinales Formation * * ;Cerro Bandera Formation * *