Middle Magdalena Valley

Middle Magdalena Valley
Valle Medio del Magdalena (VMM)
Petroleum production in Barrancabermeja
Map showing the location of Middle Magdalena Valley
Map showing the location of Middle Magdalena Valley
Location of the basin in Colombia
Coordinates7°04′N 73°51′W / 7.067°N 73.850°W / 7.067; -73.850
EtymologyMagdalena River
RegionAndean natural region
CountryColombia
State(s)Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Santander, Tolima
CitiesBarrancabermeja
Characteristics
On/OffshoreOnshore
BoundariesLower Magdalena Valley, Eastern Ranges, Upper Magdalena Valley, Central Ranges
Part ofAndean foreland basins
Area34,000 km2 (13,000 sq mi)
Hydrology
River(s)Magdalena
Geology
Basin typeIntermontane foreland basin
OrogenyAndean
AgeJurassic-Holocene
StratigraphyStratigraphy
FaultsCantagallo, Infantas, La Salina
Field(s)La Cira-Infantas, Casabe, Yariguí-Cantagallo, Velásquez
[1]

The Middle Magdalena Valley, Middle Magdalena Basin or Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Spanish: Valle Medio del Magdalena, commonly abbreviated to VMM) is an intermontane basin, located in north-central Colombia between the Central and Eastern Ranges of the Andes.[2] The basin, covering an area of 34,000 square kilometres (13,000 sq mi), is situated in the departments of Santander, Boyacá, Cundinamarca and Tolima.

The basin is structurally bounded by the Palestina Fault to the west and the Bucaramanga Fault to the east.[2] The Middle Magdalena Valley hosts the middle course of the Magdalena River, the main river of Colombia, flowing from the Upper Magdalena Valley in the south to the Lower Magdalena Valley to the northwest.[3] The basin is elongated with an approximate width of 80 km (50 mi) and extends to the north for approximately 450 km (280 mi), where it terminates against the Santander Massif and Cesar Valley.[3] To the south, it terminates against the Upper Magdalena Valley, which consists of the Girardot and Neiva Sub-basins where the Central and Eastern Ranges converge.[4]

The basin is an important producer of oil in Colombia, with main fields Yariguí-Cantagallo, Moriche, Casabe, La Cira-Infantas, Velásquez, Santos, Palagua, Teca, Payoa and Lisama. The first three fields were among the twenty most producing fields of Colombia in 2016.[5] Until 2008, La Cira-Infantas and Casabe produced more than 730 million barrels (116×10^6 m3) and 289 million barrels (45.9×10^6 m3) respectively.[6] Main producing reservoirs are the Colorado, Mugrosa, Esmeraldas and La Paz Formations. Secondary reservoirs are Lisama and La Luna.[7]

  1. ^ Barrero et al., 2007, p.78
  2. ^ a b Cubillos, Flavio. "Structural Analysis of an Area in the Northern Central Part of the Middle Magdalena Basin, Colombia". Colorado School of Mines. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b Cooper, M.A.; Addison, F.T.; Alvarez, R.; Coral, M.; Graham, R.H.; Hayward, A.B.; Howe, S.; Martinez, J.; Naar, J.; Penas, R.; Pulham, A.J.; Taborda, A. (October 1995). "Basin Development and Tectonic History of the Llanos Basin, Eastern Cordillera, and Middle Magdalena Valley, Colombia". AAPG Bulletin. 79 (10): 1421–1443. doi:10.1306/7834d9f4-1721-11d7-8645000102c1865d.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Schamel1991 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ (in Spanish) En 20 campos se produce el 66 % del petróleo del país
  6. ^ Garcia González et al., 2009, p.185
  7. ^ Garcia González et al., 2009, p.80