California

A continuous oil accumulation is one that is pervasive throughout a large area and is not affected by natural hydrodynamic influences. Three source rocks in the San Joaquin Valley of California are actively producing hydrocarbons and represent potential continuous oil accumulations: the Monterey, Kreyenhagen and Moreno Formations (Peters et al., 2007b).

The Lombardi reservoir at San Ardo oil field in California is extremely sand rich (>90%), and appears to be a relatively simple reservoir several hundred feet thick. The purpose of this study is to characterize stratigraphic complexities in the Lombardi reservoir that may impact later production, and interpret how changes in stratigraphic architecture are tied to local syn-depositional tectonism.

Water salinity in the San Joaquin Valley is a function of depth, location and stratigraphy.  This paper presents a reconnaissance study of water salinity within Kern County, California using chemical analyses from oilfield produced water and water wells as well as geophysical logs.

A comprehensive study of seep carbonates at the top of the organic- rich Maastrichtian to Danian Moreno Formation in the Panoche Hills (CA) reveals the mechanisms of generation, expulsion and migration of biogenic methane which fed the seeps. Two selected outcrops show seep carbonates developed at the tip of sand dykes intrude up into the Moreno Formation from deeper sandbodies.