Analysis on petroleum geology and exploration potential in Block 16 of Oriente Basin, Ecuador

Oriente Basin, located in front of the Andes, is a foreland basin in Ecuador, and it is the main oil-output region of Ecuador. By comprehensive analysis on the petroleum geological conditions, this paper considers that Block 16 in Oriente Basin is of great petroleum exploration potential with fair hydrocarbon source, good-quality reservoirs and advantageous source-reservoir-cap rocks combination condition. The low-amplitude (fault) anticlines and lithologic-anticline composite traps are favorable targets in Block 16, and the M₁, U sandstones of Napo Formation should be paid more attention in east of Block 16, and so does M₁, T sandstones in west of Block 16.