Characterization of lower Vaca Muerta at Fortín de Piedra in Neuquén Basin, Argentina

Abstract

The Vaca Muerta Formation in the Fortín de Piedra Block is a current focus of exploration for hydrocarbons. Here, we investigate its deepest levels, La Cocina and El Orgánico. These levels have high average total organic content (TOC) of 4.5 and 3 wt%, respectively, making them the main exploration targets. Seismic stratigraphic interpretation indicates that La Cocina was deposited over a paleo-dune surface, initially covering it as a sheet but later forming discontinuous lenses as the interdune areas filled in. El Orgánico is an aggradational-progradational section, represented mainly by bottomset facies and subordinated foreset facies. The brittleness and TOC distribution, as correlated with well log and laboratory measurement data, suggest that the entire block is prospective for both levels.