The offshore Golden Lane: New outline of opportunities from the integration of geologic and geophysical data

Abstract

The world famous Golden Lane in the eastern part of Mexico (Figure 1) is framed by the Tuxpan Cretaceous platform which is genetically related with the Tampico-Misantla Basin which, in turn, is the westward part of the ancestral Gulf of Mexico Basin. Figure 1. The famed Golden Lane in the eastern part of Mexico. When the first onshore discoveries were made in 1910, the Golden Lane was called “the ridge” by the technicians and engineers. Later it began to be known more rhapsodically as “La Faja de Oro” (The Golden Lane). Geographically, the Golden Lane is divided almost symmetrically by the current shoreline. Therefore, for exploration and production purposes, it is conveniently defined as onshore and offshore. The present work, based on a long process of geologic and geophysical data integration, proposes a strategy for exploration and production in the offshore part. The strategy includes three main objectives: (1) find new fields in the reef trend, (2) explore on the continental shelf for a field in the Tamabra play with the characteristics of Poza Rica Field, and (3) reservoir characterization to increase reserves and production. The marine extension of the Golden Lane was delineated with analog seismic surveys in 1957. Six years later, in 1963, the first field in the offshore structure, Isla de Lobos, was discovered. Well Isla de Lobos-1B found oil in the El Abra Formation 2096 m below sea level. Initial flow was 792 b/d on a choke of 8 mm and with bottom pressures of about …