Geology of Tepetate Oil Field, Acadia Parish, Louisiana

Abstract

The Tepetate field, located in the Gulf Coast area of Louisiana, was discovered by the Continental Oil Company in July, 1935. The presence of a structure was first indicated by a gravity minimum found by the Tepetate Oil Company. The producing sand, encountered at an average depth of 8,300 feet, occurs in the lower Marginulina zone. This zone has been assigned to the Middle Oligocene, but more recently considered to be of Lower Miocene age. The Tepetate field is a deep-seated salt-dome structure, with at least 250 feet of closure at the producing level. No faults have been found crossing the field proper; however, faults with considerable displacement were established north and east of the field, thus indicating that the present outline of the dome may be only a part of a much larger structure. The productive area embraces approximately 1,200 acres.