Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139

www.elsevier.com/locate/marpetgeo

Alternative interpretations as to the origin of the hydrocarbons

of the Guajira Basin, Colombia
A. Rangela,*, B. Katzb, V. Ramireza, E. Vaz dos Santos Netoc
a
Ecopetrol (ICP-AEX), P.B.X. 4185 Km 7 Autopista a Piedecuesta, Bucaramanga, Colombia
b
ChevronTexaco, Colombia
c
Petrobras, Colombia
Received 3 October 2002; received in revised form 24 April 2003; accepted 28 April 2003

Abstract
The origins of the hydrocarbon gases recovered from the Chuchupa, Ballena, and Riohacha fields, located in the Guajira basin, northeast
Colombia, are examined. These gases are composed of methane with trace amounts of wet gas components (C2þ , 0.5%). The methane is
isotopically light (d13C1 , 250‰), as are the other hydrocarbon components. The Ballena and Riohacha fields are considered to have a
biogenic origin and the Chuchupa gas is thought to have a mixed biogenic-thermogenic origin. The presence of a thermogenic contribution at
Chuchupa need not, however, indicate that the sedimentary sequence was exposed to elevated temperatures. The generative kitchen located
to the northwest of the three gas fields would preferentially feed into the Chuchupa Field.
The gases recovered at three onshore seep localities appear to include a thermogenic component. As a result of fractionation it is unclear
whether they represent ‘pure’ thermogenic gases or a mixed thermogenic-biogenic origin similar to Chuchupa.
An examination of oil microseepage observed in soil samples recovered from the onshore Guajira region point to another hydrocarbon
system apparently not related to the three gas fields. Some of these microseeps include ‘fresh’ (nonbiodegraded) oils. These microseeps did
not correlate with either of the Tertiary oil families from the Sinú Urabá basin located to the southwest of the study area or with Cretaceous
oils from that basin. A better correlation was observed with the La Luna Formation, but significant differences remain implying that the
source for the microseeps was less calcareous and deposited in a less restricted environment than associated with ‘classical’ La Luna facies.
This could indicate either a facies change or that a different source unit is present within the region.
q 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Guajira Basin; Hydrocarbon; Chuchupa Field

1. Introduction
Two giant gas fields are located in the Guajira basin,
Colombia (Fig. 1). They are the Ballena (1.2 TCF) and
Chuchupa (5.7 TCF) fields. These fields produce from
sandstones and limestones of the Uitpa and Jimol For-
mations of Early to Middle Miocene age (Rubio & Ramı́rez,
2000). Previous studies performed by the Texas Oil
Company interpreted a biogenic origin for these gases,
due to the relatively low geothermal gradients measured
onshore in the region as well as the molecular and isotopic
composition of the gases. Geothermal gradient maps for the
region (Rubio & Ramı́rez, 2000) indicate that current
temperatures of the sedimentary sequence in the vicinity of
* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ 57-674-01-49; fax: þ57-644-5444.
E-mail address: arangel@ecopetrol.com.co (A. Rangel).
0264-8172/03/$ - see front matter q 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/S0264-8172(03)00061-8
the field are low, less than 80 8C. Such temperatures are
below those commonly associated with thermogenic
hydrocarbon generation (Tissot & Espitalié, 1975). Piston
core surveys in the offshore Guajira region to the west and
south have revealed the presence of some geochemical
anomalies indicating the possible existence of mature
source rock in the area (Thrasher et al., 1996). The possible
presence of a mature source within the region has raised
some questions concerning the original interpretation for the
mode of formation of the gas.
Further evidence supporting the presence of thermogenic
hydrocarbons in the greater Guajira region comes from
recent onshore surface geochemical data acquired by
Ecopetrol along the Oca Fault and near the Los Mana-
ntiales-1, Tinka-1, Aruchara-1 and Ballena-1 wells. This
survey, discussed in part below, reveals the presence of
thermally mature hydrocarbons extending at least up to C30
130 A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139

Fig. 1. Index map for the Guajira study area.

and wet gas indicating both oil and thermogenic gas
seepage. However, the relationship between these hydro-
carbon occurrences and the produced gas is unclear.
In addition to these indicators of thermogenic hydro-
carbons, works by Prinzhofer and Huc (1995), Prinzhofer,
Mello, da Sila Freitas, and Takaki (2000), Prinzhofer and
Pernaton (1997), Rowe and Muehlenbachs (1999) could
allow for alternative interpretations of the Guajira gas
geochemistry. Prinzhofer and associates suggest that
isotopically light methane may result through diffusion
associated with hydrocarbon migration; rather than through
biogenic processes. This interpretation modifies the often-
used hypotheses of the 1980s, where methane d13C values of
less than 2 55‰ PDB are considered exclusively bacterial
in origin. Further complicating the interpretation was the
work of Rowe and Muehlenbachs (1999) who suggested that
C2þ hydrocarbons can be formed at low temperatures (less
than 65 8C) through abiological processes.
The objectives of this study are the characterization and
determination of origin of gases from the Chuchupa,
Ballena, and Riohacha fields, as well as some surface
microseeps from the onshore portion of the Guajira basin.
2. Geological framework
The Guajira basin covers an area of more than
50,000 km2 (including both the onshore and offshore
 A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139
portions of the basin) in northeast Colombia. It is located
north of the Oca Fault. It is limited by the Caribbean Sea to
the west and north and by the Venezuelan border to the east
(Fig. 1).
Current knowledge of the stratigraphy of the Tertiary
rocks in the basin (Fig. 2) is derived from sub-surface data
(Rubio & Ramirez, 2000). The older sedimentary section is
known from outcrops located mainly within the uplifted
portion of the Upper Guaijra peninsula (Rubio and Ramirez,
op. cit.).
The available data from Colombia and Venezuela
indicate that sediments within the Cretaceous section may
act as a petroleum source. Cretaceous sediments cover
about 10% of the onshore basin surface area. Burgl (1961)
dated the basal sediments of the Cretaceous sequence as
Valanginian. The most likely oil source unit is the La
Luna Formation, which is Cenomanian to Campanian in
age, and is composed of a series of limestones and
phosphatic limestones deposited on a large carbonate
ramp subjected to restricted water circulation and inter-
mittent periods of upwelling (Rangel et al., 2000a).
Regionally the hydrocarbon source potential of this unit
has been well documented in Venezuela and Colombia
(Rangel et al., 2000b; Talukdar et al., 1986). Organic
carbon content generally ranges from 1.5 to 9.6 wt%, with
an average of 3.8 wt% (Lévêque, 2001). Outcrops of La
Luna Formation are known in the northeastern part of the
Guajira basin, and could be considered as a source rock in
the area.
Fig. 2. Composite stratigraphic column for the Guajira study area.
131
In the southern part of the Guajira basin, the Tertiary
record includes the Uitpa and Jimol Formations of Lower to
Middle Miocene age. These units act as reservoirs in the
Chuchupa and Ballena gas Fields (Rubio & Ramı́rez, 2000).
The Castilletes Formation of Late Miocene age has been
traditionally considered the source rock for the biogenic gas
in the basin, as well as the seal for the accumulations.
3. Sampling and analytical method
Eleven gas samples from Chuchupa, Ballena, and
Riohacha fields were analyzed. Also, 22 soil samples were
collected onshore and examined for sorbed oil. When
present, the liquid hydrocarbons were extracted and
analyzed. This study also discusses data on three gas
samples collected from soil by Geo-microbial Technol-
ogies, Inc. (2000), as part of a larger surface geochemical
study (Fig. 1).
Gas composition was measured using a gas chromato-
graph equipped with a flame ionization detector for the
ethane to octane fraction and a thermal conductivity
detector for methane and nonhydrocarbons. Carbon isotope
analyses were performed at CENPES-Petrobras using IRMS
equipment (isotope ratio monitoring system). Methane,
ethane, propane, and butane were separated by GC,
combusted in a oven and the CO2 directed to a MS for
isotopic measurement. Carbon isotope compositions were
132 A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139

reported relative to the PDB standard with an estimated
precision of ^ 0.2‰.
The sorbed oil in soil samples was soxhlet extracted and
the soluble material was then separated by liquid chroma-
tography into saturate, aromatic and NSO fractions on an
alumina and silica column. The saturate hydrocarbon
fractions were subjected to gas chromatography (GC) and
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC – MS) to
characterize their biomarker compositions. Total saturate
fractions or branched/cyclic sub-fractions were analyzed in
the selected ion recording mode on an H.P. 5890 GC – MS
system. The GC column was a 30 m HP-5. The oven
temperature was programmed from 60 to 320 8C at
4 8C/min, with helium as the carrier gas flowing at a rate
of 1.5 ml/min.
4. Discussion
4.1. Molecular and stable carbon isotope compositions
of gases
The gases from Chuchupa and Riohacha fields (Table 1)
display similar hydrocarbon concentrations. In these two
fields methane accounts for greater than 98% of the gas. The
total C2þ fraction is less than 0.5%. The remainder of the
gas is carbon dioxide, typically accounting for less than
0.5%. Ballena gas displays smaller C1 and higher CO2
percentages. All of these gases may be classified as dry
using the scheme of Schoell (1983). Gas wetness alone is
insufficient to determine their origin because dry gas may
have either a biogenic or thermogenic origin. Although the
presence of trace quantities of C2þ components has often
been assumed to be an indicator of a thermogenic
contribution their presence is no longer considered con-
clusive. Recent work by Talukdar et al. (1986) has
Table 1
Molecular composition of produced and surface gases
Sample C1 C2 C3 nC4
(%) (%) (%) (%)
suggested that trace quantities (, 0.5%) of these compounds
could be formed through biogenic processes. It should also
be noted that Deuser (1975) had, in fact, suggested that
microbial processes may yield hydrocarbons as large as C4.
In contrast, the three sorbed surface gas samples A-26A,
A27A and M-5AB (Table 1) exhibit higher proportions of
wet gas components. These higher proportions are consist-
ent with a thermogenic origin. However, gas wetness may
have been affected (increased) by the preferential loss of
methane by cap rock leakage, or due to sampling
procedures.
A number of interpretative schemes have been suggested
in the literature using the relative abundance of the different
C2þ components to establish both the origin and alteration
history of a gas (cf. Lorant, Prinzohofer, Behar, & Huc,
1998; Schoell, 1983). Unfortunately, the reliability of these
tools decreases with decreasing abundance of the C2þ
fraction (i.e. they were largely developed for use on wet gas
samples). Therefore, much of the interpretation concerning
the gases’ origin and alteration histories must come from
their isotopic composition.
The d13C1 values range from 2 62.23 to 2 54.17‰
(Table 2). Methane from the Ballena and Riohacha fields is
isotopically lighter, with values of approximately 2 60‰.
The conventional interpretation of these data would be that
they have a biogenic origin (Schoell, 1983; Fig. 3). Methane
from Chuchupa is isotopically heavier (around 2 54‰) than
that observed at Ballena and Riohacha indicating according
to the scheme of Schoell (1983) a mixed biogenic-
thermogenic origin (Fig. 3). The soil gas samples are
around 10‰ heavier than the produced gases indicating a
thermogenic origin (Fig. 3). This enrichment may partially
be a result of the isotopic fractionation associated with the
loss of methane and the preferential loss of 12C (Clayton,
Hay, Baylis, & Dipper, 1997).
Prinzhofer and Huc (1995), Prinzhofer and Pernaton
(1997), Prinzhofer et al. (2000) proposed an alternative
interpretation for isotopically depleted methane.
iC4 CO2 Table 2
(%) (%) Stable carbon isotope compositions of produced and surface gases

Chuchupa-15 99.27 0.28 0.28 0.05 0.01 0.02 Sample C1 (‰) C2 (‰) C3 (‰) nC4 (‰)
Chuchupa-16 99.27 0.27 0.27 0.05 0.01 0.02
Chuchupa-14 99.23 0.28 0.28 0.05 0.01 0.02 Chuchupa-15 254.17 244.47 232.01 229.83
Chuchupa-14 99.28 0.28 0.28 0.05 0.01 0.02 Chuchupa-16 254.48 244.47 231.95 230.27
Chuchupa-13 99.14 0.32 0.32 0.06 0.01 0.02 Chuchupa-14 253.83 244.26 231.99 229.66
Chuchupa A-platform 99.11 0.30 0.30 0.06 0.01 0.02 Chuchupa-14 254.26 244.27 231.67 229.39
Chuchupa-8 99.23 0.28 0.28 0.05 0.01 0.02 Chuchupa-13 254.02 243.77 232.78 229.93
Chuchupa A-platform 99.16 0.29 0.29 0.06 0.01 0.02 Chuchupa A-platform 254.04 244.13 232.28 227.45
Chuchupa B-platform 99.26 0.28 0.28 0.05 0.01 0.02 Chuchupa-8 253.87 243.92 232.20 230.05
Ballena Field 98.59 0.22 0.22 0.07 0.01 0.04 Chuchupa A-platform 254.55 244.54 232.91 230.68
Riohacha-2 99.14 0.19 0.19 0.04 0.01 0.05 Chuchupa B-platform 254.45 244.10 232.39 228.29
A-26A (gas sorbed in soil) 71.14 18.65 18.65 6.46 – – Ballena Field 262.23 242.71 229.56 226.26
A-27A (gas sorbed in soil) 80.46 13.10 13.10 4.16 – – Riohacha-2 261.77 247.33 229.86 226.54
M-5AB (gas sorbed in soil) 89.44 7.73 7.73 1.77 – – A-26 (gas sorbed in soil) 250.90 231.10 – –
A-27A (gas sorbed in soil) 245.00 228.30 – –
Values presented represent normalized results based on the total amount M-5AB (gas sorbed in soil) 250.60 – – –
of gas reported. CO2 was not determined for the surface samples.
 A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139
Fig. 3. Genetic gas classification based on the relationship between methane
content and methane stable isotope composition (after Schoell, 1983).
They suggest that 13C depletion may occur as a result of
fractionation during migration (i.e. the isotopically light gas
is a daughter product). They developed a means to
differentiate between products resulting from fractionation
associated with diffusion and migration and those derived
from the mixing of thermogenic and biogenic gases based
on the relationship between the C2/C1 ratio and the d13C1
value. According to their model, gas modified by diffusion
results in a relationship between the C2/C1 ratio and d13C1
which when plotted displays a curved line with positive
Fig. 4. Relationship between the C2/C1 ratio and the methane stable carbon isotope composition (after Prinzhofer & Pernaton, 1997).
133
concavity, while a straight line relationship represents the
mixing of gases.
As a result of the limited range of molecular and isotopic
compositions, the observed relationships for the produced
Guajira gases (Fig. 4) do not allow for a definitive
conclusion to be drawn as to whether migration (diffusion)
or mixing plays the dominant role in the formation of the
region’s accumulations. The geographic relationship
between the fields and the location of the possible
thermogenic gas kitchen (Fig. 1) would be consistent with
migration (diffusion) causing the observed 13C depletion
although gas mixing cannot be ruled out. Additional data
closer to and from within the generative kitchen would be
required to test which mechanism is most likely to have
been active. In either case, diffusion or mixing, the
thermogenic component was derived from a generative
basin located NW of the gas fields. The sedimentary section
in this area exceeds four kilometers. The closer proximity to
the generative basin of the Chuchupa accumulation may
explain why it appears to have preferentially received
thermogenic hydrocarbons.
A nonbacterial or thermogenic origin for a portion of the
gas need not imply elevated generation temperatures. It has
been proposed that low temperature thermogenic C2þ
hydrocarbons may also form (Rowe & Muehlenbachs,
1999). Gases formed in this manner are dominated by
methane, with trace amounts of C2 – C4. The isotope
compositions of these hydrocarbons are relatively light
134 A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139
(Taylor et al., 2000), consistent with those reported here for
the Guajira region.
A further examination of these gases using the scheme of
Prinzhofer et al. (2000) suggests that these gases may also
have been subjected to mild biodegradation. This is
indicated by the slightly elevated C2/C3 ratios observed in
most samples (Fig. 5). Mild biodegradation is also
consistent with the stable carbon isotope composition of
propane and n-butane, which appears slightly enriched. This
enrichment is suggested by nonlinearity when the carbon
isotope composition is plotted against the reciprocal of the
carbon number (Fig. 6; Chung, Gormly, & Squires, 1988).
Isotopic enrichment occurs through the preferential removal
of 12C in the C3þ normal alkanes (James & Burns, 1984). Of
the wet gas components ethane is least susceptible to
biodegradation.
The interpretation of the origin of the three gas seep
samples is somewhat less definitive as a result of potential
alteration processes. For example, gas wetness values of the
surface seeps are elevated (. 10%). Such values would
normally be associated with a thermogenic origin (Fig. 3).
However, these elevated gas wetness values may also result
through molecular fractionation and the preferential loss of
methane. Similarly, isotopic fractionation may result in the
preferential loss of 12C resulting in isotope enrichment of
the residual gas. Therefore, it is unclear whether these
samples were of a ‘pure’ thermogenic origin or a mixed
biogenic –thermogenic origin similar to that observed at
Chuchupa.
Fig. 5. Relationship between the C2/iC4 and C2/C3 ratios displaying the effects of thermal maturity and biodegradation (after Prinzhofer et al., 2000).
5. Onshore microseep geochemistry
Surface seepage of heavy hydrocarbons was pre-
viously reported in the offshore Guajira region (Thrasher
et al., 1996). Heavy hydrocarbons were also found at
several microseep localities (i.e. Tinka, Almirante,
Aruchara, etc.) within the onshore portion of the Guajira
peninsula (Fig. 1). These microseeps appear as oil
impregnation in the soil. Support for their thermogenic
origin can be found in their C31 22S/(22S þ 22R)
homohopane ratios, which are at or near equilibrium
(Seifert & Moldowan, 1986). Volumetrically the amount
of oil within the soil is quite limited, with the
concentrations of oil reaching 700 ppm by weight. Most
of the microseeps exhibit high concentrations of
nonhydrocarbons (resins and asphaltenes . 80%) with
very low concentrations of saturated hydrocarbons
(, 10%). This is generally consistent with the seeped
hydrocarbons having been biodegraded. However, at
some localities such as Aruchara and Chivo Mono,
relatively high concentrations of saturated hydrocarbons
were observed. The samples displaying higher saturated
hydrocarbon content also displayed a full suite of n-
alkanes extending beyond nC25 (Fig. 7), pristane/nC17
and phytane/nC18 ratios significantly less than 1, and
only a minor naphthenic hump. The n-alkanes display a
harmonic decrease in abundance (peak height) with
increasing carbon number. These characteristics are
generally associated with largely nonbiodegraded,
 A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139
Fig. 6. A ‘Chung-type’ plot displaying nonlinearity and suggesting mild biodegradation (isotopic enrichment) of propane and butane.
thermally mature crude oils. The nature of these
chromatograms may be a reflection of the proximity of
the sample to the leak-point.
The gas chromatograms and GC –MS data indicate that
the microseeps are relatively similar (Fig. 7), suggesting
either a common oil family and source rock or a suite of
similar source rocks. In addition to establishing common-
ality among these seeps these data can provide information
on the nature of their effective source(s). Several ratios and
indices are key to this study. These include the pristane/
phytane, C35/C34 homohopane, norhopane/hopane, C24
tetracyclic/C23 tricyclic terpane, and oleanane/hopane
ratios, as well as the normal sterane distribution.
The pristane/phytane ratios range between 1.0 and 1.8.
Such values are consistent with an oxic to sub-oxic
environment (Didyk, Simoneit, Brassell, & Eglinton,
1978). This environmental interpretation is also consistent
with the C35/C34 homohopane ratios (Figs. 9 and 10), which
approach or exceed unity (Peters & Moldowan, 1983). The
norhopane/hopane ratios are less than 0.9 (Fig. 7). These
ratios are generally indicative of siliciclastic source rocks.
In calcareous source rock systems the norhopane/hopane
ratio is typically equal or greater than 1.0 (Zumberge, 1984).
The C24 tetracyclic/C23 tricyclic terpane ratios are low
(Fig. 8). Low ratios are also consistent with a siliciclastic
source (Palacas, Anders, & King, 1984). The oleanane/
135
hopane ratios are very low (, 0.1; Figs. 8 and 9). Such low
abundances are consistent with a pre-Tertiary age for the
source (Moldowan et al., 1994). The seep oils also tend to
display an abundance of C27 steranes, expressed as C27/C29
sterane ratios greater than 1.0 (Fig. 8). Such ratios suggest
that the source was dominated by algal material (Huang &
Meinschein, 1979). When merged, these data suggest a pre-
Tertiary marine clastic source deposited under sub-oxic
conditions dominated by algal material.
As a result of the absence of suitable rock samples from
the Guajira basin a direct oil-source rock correlation could
not be performed. An indirect attempt was made to correlate
the microseeps with a source using oils derived from
Tertiary and Cretaceous rocks within the Sinú Urabá basin,
located to the southwest of the Guajira basin proper. The
oils from this basin represent three families, two having
their origins in Tertiary age rocks and a third originating in
Cretaceous age rocks, the Cansona Formation (Rangel,
1999).
The correlation was performed through a combination of
statistical techniques (Fig. 10) and comparisons among the
indices discussed above (Figs. 8 and 9). The match with the
Tertiary oils from the Sinú Urabá basin is poor. For
example, the Tertiary oil families display significantly
higher average oleanane/hopane ratios and lower average
C35/C34 homohopane ratios than observed in the seeps.
 136
A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139
Fig. 7. Gas chromatograms and fragmentograms obtained on microseeps from the Guajira basin. Distribution of n-alkanes of microoilseep from Guajira Basin showing a closer similarity with the extract of the
Luna Formation.
 A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139 137

Fig. 8. Histograms of C35/C34 homohopane ratios, C24 tetracyclic/C23 tricyclic terpane ratios, oleanane/hopane ratios and C27/C29 sterane ratios for onshore
Guajira microseeps. The ‘average’ values for the two Tertiary and one Cretaceous oil families from the Sinú Urabá basin and that for the La Luna Formation
extract values are plotted for comparison.

Fig. 9. Relationships between the C35/C34 homohopane and the oleanane/hopane ratios and between the C35/C34 homohopane and the diasterane/sterane ratios.
The ‘average’ values for the two Tertiary and one Cretaceous oil families from the Sinú Urabá basin and that for the La Luna Formation extract values are
plotted for correlation.
138 A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139
Fig. 10. Dendogram displaying statistical grouping based on biomarker indicators of sedimentary environment for the source rocks of the microseeps.
‘Average’ values for the two Tertiary and one Cretaceous oil families from the Sinú Urabá basin and that of the La Luna Formation are included for
comparison.
A somehow better fit is observed when the comparison is
made with Cretaceous-derived oils from the Sinú Urabá
basin. But differences remain when many of these indices
are compared.
With the lack of what might be considered a reasonable
correlation between the seeps and any of the Sinú Urabá
basin oils the seeps were compared with data from extracts
obtained on samples from the La Luna Formation (Rangel
et al., 2000 a,b). The La Luna Formation is a marine
calcareous mudstone of Cenomanian to Campanian age. A
correlation with the La Luna in the Guajira region would be
significant because of the well known effectiveness of the
La Luna Formation petroleum system of Venezuela. In
excess of 50 billion barrels of oil have been attributed to this
source within the Maracaibo basin alone (Talukdar &
Marcano, 1994).
The correlation between the seeps and the La Luna
extracts appears better than with the previously discussed
oils but is still not perfect. Among the most significant
differences between the seeped oils and the La Luna
Formation extracts are the differences in the pristane/phy-
tane and norhopane/hopane ratios. The pristane/phytane
ratios of the seeps are significantly higher than that obtained
on the La Luna Formation extracts, which are less than 1.0
in the seeped oils (Fig. 7). This suggests that the source of
the microseeps was deposited within a less restricted
depositional setting than is commonly associated with La
Luna Formation deposition. The norhopane/hopane ratios of
the La Luna extracts are elevated compared with the seeped
hydrocarbons. These data suggest that the microseeps were
derived from a less calcareous source than the La Luna
Formation. These data could, therefore, indicate that
the microseeps were derived from either a different, less
calcareous, facies of the La Luna Formation or from some
other undefined Cretaceous source.
6. Conclusions
The most likely interpretation of the origin of the Ballena
and Riohacha fields is that they have a biogenic origin. The
Chuchupa field appears to have a mixed biogenic –
thermogenic origin. The available data from the sub-surface
accumulations does not provide support fractionation as the
cause for the isotopically depleted character of methane and
ethane, which are internally consistent. The isotope data
also indicates that the produced gases have undergone mild
biodegradation, altering (isotopically enriching) the C3 and
C4 isotope compositions. The available data are consistent
with the previous interpretation that these gases were
derived from largely Miocene sediments.
The sorbed gases recovered from the soil surveys near
the Oca Fault all appear to have a clear thermogenic
component. This is suggested by both their wetness and
stable carbon isotope compositions. However because of
potential alteration processes it is unclear whether these
gases have a ‘pure’ thermogenic origin or a mixed
biogenic – thermogenic origin similar to that of Chuchupa.
A number of microseeps were detected in the onshore
portion of the study area. There is no evidence to suggest
that the oil recovered from the region’s microseeps is
genetically related to the gases from the Chuchupa, Ballena,
or Riohacha Fields. These microseeps constitute a single
family of crude oils and hence share a common source.
 A. Rangel et al. / Marine and Petroleum Geology 20 (2003) 129–139
Some of these seeps appear largely nonbiodegraded. This
lack of biodegradation may be a function of proximity to a
leak point. The available gas chromatography and gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry data suggest a pre-
Tertiary marine clastic source deposited under sub-oxic
conditions dominated by algal material.
An indirect attempt at establishing the source rock for
these seeps was attempted using previously studied oils
from the Sinú Urabá basin and extracts from the La Luna
Formation. The data do not support a correlation with either
of the Tertiary oil families or with the Cretaceous oil family
from the Sinú Urabá basin. Although a better correlation
exists with the La Luna Formation significant differences
remain suggesting either a facies change within the La Luna
Formation or that yet another source remains present.
It is important to point out that despite the recent progress
in the evaluation of the hydrocarbon systems in the Guajira
basin, the data remain scarce and a more complete
assessment of the region’s hydrocarbon potential has yet
to be done.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the Geologist José Ignacio Moreno and
Carlos Coronado for the geological sampling. B. Katz and A
Rangel would like to thank ChevronTexaco and Ecopetrol
for permission to publish this work.
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