Section I-Paper 32

GEOLOGY OF THE MAQUIA OILFIELD I N EASTERN PERU

AND ITS REGIONAL SETTING
BY
EDWIN KOCH*
T. I n March 1957
in the Upper Creta
,g Cia. Peruana (
I -1 .. -.
kilometers. This major feature i
zone. Toward the west there is a
the cover of unfolded younger
The stratigraphie sequence
ranging from uppermost Creta
Oligoeene age ; 2) Cretaceoiis
the Ucayali basin, but containir
. -- _ ^_ . .
ABSTRAC , the wildcat well Maquia 1, located NE of Contamana, Eastern Peru,
struck oil ceous Sugar sandstone. It was drilled by a Peruvian-German syndicate
comprisin le Petrleo El Oriente, Deutsche Erdoel Aktiengesellschaft -
Gewerkschatt Eiweratn -wintershall Aktiengesellschaft. Up to April 1958, a total of seven producer
wells had been drilled. Production has not been started.
The discovery well was located by photogeologic and field surveys on an oval-shaped anticline 7
kilometers long, which is part of a long range of anticlines that can be followed for about 85
s separated from the Contamana structures on the east by a synclinal
broad monoclinal band of steeper dipping beds which disappear under
Sediments.
is composed of the following formations: 1) continental red beds,
ceous to Miocene with a brackish-marine intercalation of probable
formations in facies similar to the previously described sections of
ig two prominent sand layers within the Sugar saadstone: a sand in
the mar i no a.hnnt n 11nniarienl fnmnation and a sand to shaly sand unit which is equivalent to
Agua Caliente (Turonian-Neocomian) . The Cretaceous trans-
I in Maquia and over the Ordovician farther to the east.
_-_- -__- ~ ___- -__-___- , _---
the marine Esperanza shale of the
gresses over Permo-Carboniferous ( ?)
RESUME. En mars 1957, le puits Maquia no 1, une wildcat situ au N.E. de Contamana dans
le Prou Oriental, atteignit une couche de ptrole et dhuile dans le grs en sucre du Crtac
Suprieur. Les travaux de forage taient conduits par un syndicat germano-pruvien comprenant
iaft
irs.
un
ns
one
des
ges
ile
mi-
hes
me)
:tte
n).
Est.
592 FIFTH WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS
Introduction
During the last 30 years, the area of Contamana
(Fig. 1) has been studied by several oil companies be-
cause of the excellent outcrop conditions. The area is
folded and contains several horizons, especially the
Lower Cretaceous Agua Caliente sandstones (pro-
ductive in Ganso Azul, 170 kilometers SSW of Con-
tamana) and the Upper Cretaceous Arenisca de
AzUcar sandstones. Drilling started in 1945 with the
wildcat well Santa Clara No. 1 (of the Empresa Petro-
lera Fiscal) and was followed in 1947 by Rayo Well
No. 1 (of the Ca. EI Oriente). These wells were lo-
cated on anticlines which expose the Cretaceous and
they encountered good reservoir rocks in the Lower
Cretaceous but no oil indications.
Fig. 1-Index Map of the Contamana Area. i). Maquia
Oil Field. 2). Ganso Azul Oil Field. 3). N.W. Peruvian Oil
Province. Shaded Belt indicates Andean Front.
Gewerkschaft Elwerath started its activity in 1954
and, after carrying out photogeological and field sur-
veys, drilled the following wells: Cashiboya 1 and 1A
(T.D. at 1396 mts. in Ordovician), Inuya 1 (T.D. at
1836 mts. in Agua Caliente) and the discovery well
Maquia 1 (T.D. at 1623 mts. in (3) Permo-Carboni-
ferous) . Later, based on an additional seismic survey,
Pacaya 1 (T.D. at 1380 mts. in Agua Caliente) was
drilled. These wells are located on anticlinal structures,
where the prospective horizons are covered by differ-
ent thicknesses of Cretaceous and Tertiary red beds.
I n all of the wells oil impregnation was found in the
Arenisca de Azcar sandstones, but only in Maquia
was commercial production obtained. The older Cre-
taceous sequence appears to be barren of oil in this
area.
Stratigraphy
stratigraphie Sequence
I n Figs. 2 and 3 the general results of the surface
mapping are shown. I t can be noticed, that between a
zone of Cretaceous outcrops in the east and the Ucayali
plains to the west, there is exposed a strip of Tertiary
Sediments, 15 kilometers in width.
I n the central part of the Maquia anticline conti-
nental deposits of early Tertiary age-Paleocene and
Eocene-appear at the surface. The lowermost beds
are the so-called Capas Rojas (red beds)-1, which
are composed of fine-grained sandstone, siltstone and
mudstone of reddish and brownish colors; also some
coarser sandstone, green claystone and gypsum are
present. I n Maquia, the total thickness is 600 meters;
to the east, at the headwaters of the Cachiyacu creek,
800 meters are exposed. Upwards this unit changes
gradually into a 15 meter-thick tuffaceous and iron-
stained bed, the Capas Rojas-2. This bed is overlain
in tun with a sharp contact by a conglomeratic, im-
pure sandstone, the basal sand of Capas Rojas-3, hav-
ing a thickness of approximately 90 meters around
Maquia. The basal sand of Capas Rojas-3 grades into
a 200-meter-thick sequence of interfingering marls and
sandstones, the upper Capas Rojas-3. Within this mem-
ber, there are some horizons of better sorted sand-
stone, which form persistent beds, one of them having
been continuously followed between Maquia and In-
uya. As shown in Fig. 2, this persistent bed delineates
the structures of Pacaya and Inuya.
Above the Capas Rojas-3 we find a brackish marine
intercalation of around 50 meters of sandy limestone
with marine oysters and snails and sandstones with
foraminifera. It is considered, that this horizon is
equivalent to the Pozo formation in the northern part
of eastern Peru and therefore of probable Oligocene
age.
Overlying this marker the continental Sediments re-
appear again, represented by another sequence of mark
and sandstones, the Capas Rojas-4. The grain size,
however, is much coarser than in Capas Rojas-1 and -3,
the sands are arkosic and often strongly cemented
593 GEOLOGY OF THE MAQUIA OILFIELD I N EASTERN PERU AND ITS REGIONAL SETTING
by lime, and contain conglomeratic and brecciated
Iayers, whereas the mudstones contain abundant irreg-
ularly-shaped calcareous concretions and bands. For
these reasons, the Capas Rojas-4 sequence which has
a thickness of 400 meters, is easy to differentiate from
the Lower Tertiary. It is covered by an additional 1,000
meters of terrestrial Sediments, the Capas Rojas-5, com-
posed of clays, sands, silts and pebble layers, which can
be recognized by their light color, the near absence of
carbonates and their softness. Capas Rojas-4 and-5
belong to the ( ?) Oligocene and Miocene.
An angular unconformity indicates that the com-
plete section was folded at the end of the Miocene.
This was followed by peneplanation, deposition of
Pliocene and Recent fluvial Sediments and by a new
cycle of uplifting and erosion.
Fig. 2-Geological Map of the Contamana Area (modified after Kummel, 1948). 1). Ordovician. 2). Aqua Caliente.
3). Chonta. 4). Arenisca de Azcar. 5). Sol. 6). Capas Rojas. 7). Capas Rojas-2. ,8). A sand horizon in the Capas Rojas-3.
9). Capas Rojas-5.10). Unfolded Pliocene to Recent Sediments. 11). Oil Seepages.
594 FIFTH WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS
Fig. 3-Geological Map of Maquiri Oil Field. i). Formation Contacts. 2) . Faults. 3) . Structural contours below sea level
at the top of the Arenisca de Azcar. 4) . Well locations.
Underlying the Tertiary, formations of Cretaceous
and pre-Cretaceous age are encountered at the surface
in the Contaya and Contamana Mountains and also in
the wells. A description of these pre-Tertiary rocks is
based principally on the section found in wildcat well
Maquia 1 (see Fig. 6).
This well was drilled through 105 meters of upper-
most Cretaceous red beds, the Sol formation, which
GEOLOGY OF THE MAQUIA OILFIELD I N EASTERN PERU AND ITS REGIONAL SETTING 595
underlies practically conformably the Capas Rojas-1.
It consists of lacustrine limestones and mark in the
upper part, tuffaceous materials similar to the Capas
Rojas-2 in the middle part, and multicolored mud-
stone as well as largely fine-grained sandstone in the
lower part. The same sequence was found in Pacaya 1,
huya 1 and in the Cashiboya structure. But, whereas
the thickness of the Sol formation over these structures
is very consistent, it increases to approximately 200
meters towards synclinal areas, thus indicating in-
cipient anticlinal growth during sedimentation.
The contact with the underlying Arenisca de Azcar
again is conformable, showing in places, however, evi-
dence of ero his formation has a
very uniforu intamana area, i.e. :
190 meters in iviaquia i, 188 meters in Pacaya 1, 180
i Cashiboya 1 - 1A.
:rent components
nto the following
sion at the contact. T
i thickness over the Cc
* L r . . .,.,. .
meters in huya 1 and 184 meters ir
However, the thickness of its diffi
varies. The formation is divided i
..- :... .
UL11 LS
Upper mai n sand (littoral) . Whitish, medium-
to-coarse-grained, relatively pure, quartz sand-
stc with thin layers of
da id permeable; litho-
me; cross-bedded; pebbly;
Irk gray shale; very porous ai
-.:--i1 Y .... -: x r
ne-cemented sands
3 lower ones are shl
:..+-+L.a" ,
logi~aiiy v u y uriiiurrn; in iviaquia 1 it is 53 meters
thick.
Multicolored beds (continental) . Predomi-
nantly red, violet and green-gray marls; with 3 to
4 silty and lin tone interbeds (of
which the twc own in Figs. 6 and
7). The sanciJ LVllL I11LLluLu3 change rapidly in
thic )n and content of
shal a 1 i< 51 meters.
kness, degree of cementatic
e. Total thickness in Maqui;
I " , L -1, "I " I I . , " " 1-:..L Y --"--
BbUbh JI LuLc i J ( " r u ' n L J I ' - r r L u r r r r e ) . Dark gray i
black shales, containing laminated layers of
and fine-grained sandstone; lithologically pers
ent. I n Maquia 1 it is 16 meters thick.
ind
silt
;ist-
Lower mai n sand (littoral). Whitish, medit
to coarse-grained, pebbly, relatively pure qu;
sandstone; cross-bedded; with thin bands
nf Aqr G .h,,ln.. nn._n..C ,,,-,,i
im-
irtz
md
I\rllJLJ uLIII\ oIILIIL.i, v L L y yviuuJ yLiiiiL.ade;
lithologically very persistent. I n Maquia 1 it is
?n A ~ : - i -
the whole Contamana area, consists of marine shales,
which in the upper part are occasionally limey and
contain some sandy layers, whereas in the lower part
it includes some prominent sandstone intercalations.
Based on the evidence of ammonites the Chonta forma-
tion belongs mainly to the Coniacian.
Underlying the Chonta formation conformably is
the Agua Caliente formation. I t is composed of
medium-grained sandstones with some thin shale inter-
calations and the middle part of the section shows a
somewhat shaly development. The formation was
drilled completely in Maquia 1 and Cashiboya 1-1A
with a thickness of 563 meters for the first well and 505
meters for the second. The section of both wells showed
an almost identical facies development. Fossils are very
scarce. They indicate a marine environment, and a
preliminary Turonian - Neocomian age has been
assigned.
The Agua Caliente transgresses in Maquia 1 over a
section of sandstone, limestone and dolomite compar-
able with that of Permo-Carboniferous of the Ganso
Azul oil field. Drilling was suspended 54 meters within
this formation. I n Cashiboya I-1A and in the out-
crops of the Contaya Mountains the Agua Caliente lies
directly over Ordovician shales with included grapto-
lites (Newell and Tafur [ 11 in Contaya encountered
the middle Ordovician zone of Didymograptus murch-
i soni ) . As shown in Fig. 4, it is assumed that the
Permo-Carboniferous pinches out between Maquia 1
and Cashiboya 1-1A and that the Permo-Carboniferous
transgresses over Middle Ordovician.
hemain develo
ind Andean fro
nember of 150
n. . - 1. .l. .I.-- T< 1
Comparison of Sections
The intention here is to mention only the principal
features by which the Cretaceous in this area differs
from tl pment towards the west (Ucayali
basin a nt) . Kummel [ 21 found a marine
shale I: meters and 85 meters respectively
in the busnaaaray dountains (100 kilometers WNW
of Maquia) and in Ganso Azul. Rosenzweig [ 3] in
1950 mentions some 80-300 meters of marine and shaly
Agua Caliente in the middle Huallaga River area. I n
the Contamana area this member has turned predomi-
nantlv into sandstone. as described before bv Kummel.
I u IIICLCI LiiiLn.
Similarly, the Chonta formation changes from a M
ern facies of highly fossilferous marls and limestc
into the eastern marginal facies described above.
The Arenisca de Azcar overlies with a sharp con-
tact the Chonta formation, which in Maquia has a
rest-
mes
On
596 FIFTH WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS
A
Ucqali M.q"l.
Rner Oi i l i ~i c
B
I I
Co"l.rnUli MI. Conlaya MIL
I J
Fig. &Cross-Section Through the Contamana Area (See Figure 2, Line of Section A-B). i). Unfolded Pliocene
to Recent. 2). Capas Rojas and Sol. 3). Arenisca de Azcar. 4) . Chonta. 5). Aqua Caliente.
6). Perno-Carboniferous. 7) . Ordovician.
also the multicolored beds of the Arenisca de Azcar
are found all over the Ucayali area and the Andean
front. The upper main sand, however, is a deposite
restricted to the eastern part of the basin; it pinches
out towards the west, where it is replaced by multi-
colored beds.
Tectonics
Structures in the Contamana Area
Fig. 4 shows a section cutting the main structures
between the Contaya and the Contamana Mountains.
From east to west, it shows first the Contaya uplift,
where Ordovician and Lower Cretaceous are broadly
exposed. The steep western flank of this uplift gives
way to a broad SJ Mer Tertiary sedi-
ments and to the orium, which has
rncline filled with loi
Contamana anticlin
s at the surface in its
.I- Ll --l - -5 4.L- n-..
Lower Cretaceou more deeply anti-
clines. The westtril MIM UI LUC uulitamana anticlin-
orium is also the steeper one and in some places it is
overturned and thrusted. Rayo 1 is located at its north-
ern extremity and Cashiboya 1-1A at the southern ex-
tension, where the Sol formation has been preserved
from erosion.
Towards the Ucayali there follows a second syn-
clinal element filled by Tertiary Sediments. I t is gently
undulated and the beds then rise on a third range of
anticlines, which we might call the "western trend."
On this trend, the wells Maquia, huya 1 and Pacaya 1
are located on different culminations. Furthermore, it
is quite probable that the Santa Clara dome, approx-
imately 45 kilometers NNW of Maquia, where Cre-
taceous rocks are again exposed, belongs to this same
western trend. I n the better known area between the
village of Contamana and the Ahuaya creek (see Fig.
2) , it is seen that the western and southern flanks of
the separate structures of the western trend combine
to form a continous and broad flexure, in which the
formations are steeply dipping into a still deeper and
so far unexplored level.
I n 1957 and 1958, a seismograph survey was made
of the western trend, the syncline and, with one seismic
line, the Contamana anticlinorium (at Cashiboya
1-IA). Fig. 5 shows the contour map on the top of
the Arenisca de Azcar. I t is controlled by the wells
and by velocity surveys in Cashiboya 1A and Inuya 1.
The map is extended towards the north according to
surface geologic data. Beginning at the Cashiboya
structure, where the Arenisca de Azcar has its apex
at i- 200 meters (datum plane referred to is sea level),
the horizon dips towards the west into the steep flank
of the structure and is cut there by the thrust, which
separates the Cashiboya structure from the syncline.
West of the fault, the horizon remains between - 700
and -800 meters and then climbs with very gentle
dips towards the structure of Pacaya.
At the well Inuya 1, there is only a minor undulation
recognizable at the top of the Arenisca de Azcar. This
undulation develops upwards according to surface
mapping into an anticline with 50 meters closure, as
indicated in Fig. 2. The decrease of structural relief is
caused by thickening of various Tertiary horizons in
the direction of the well, i.e.: between Pacaya 1 and
Inuya 1 the Capas Rojas 1 thickens from 578 to 592
meters, the Capas Rojas 2 has 35 meters in both wells,
the basal sand of Capas Rojas 3 thickens from 62 to
78 meters. Variation of thickness in continental sedi-
ments is very common and also occurs very frequently
in eastern Peru. But, as has already been mentioned
in the case of the Sol formation, there is thinning
GEOLOGY OF THE MAQUIA OILFIELD I N EASTERN PERU AND ITS REGIONAL SETTING 597
towards structural crests and in consequence there is
more structural relief with depth.
In the Pacaya structure the de Azcar top
rises to a level slightly above - 650 meters. The closure
amounts to approximately 50 meters. I n the Maquia
field the formation is found at -315 to - 320 meters.
100 meters decreasing towards the surface, where the
diminishing displacement is compensated by steeper
dips in combination with minor faults (see also Fig. 3) .
Therefort : Arenisca de Azicar, the
i (higher) and an eastern structure
e, at the depth of thc
is split into a westerr
dipping thrust fault. The fault h .as a displacement of block.
Fig. 5-Structural Map at the Top of the Arenisca Azcar, Based on Seismic Survey. 1). Cretaceous outcrops.
2). Structural contours below sea level at the top of the Arenisca de Azcar, according to the seismic survey. 3 ) . Structural
contours according to field geologic data. 4) . Thrust faults. 5) . Normal fault.
598 FIFTH WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS
Maquia Structure
The axis of the anticline is found on i
rl __. . L 1.1--1 A 1 m. 0 . I .
the higher up-
LIIIUSK DIOCK. AS mown in rig. 3, tne structure is oval-
shaped and encloses an area of some 7 x 3 square kilo-
meters within the outcropping Capas Rojas 2. The
northern flank is gently dipping. The western flank
dips gradually and later steeply towards the flexure.
The southern flank is relatively flat close to the crest,
dipping more steeply outside of the Capas Rojas 2 ring
and finally e
main flexure
immediately
the attitude is iiaLLci. IL IS IICIC, WIICIC tut: rIiiusr rauir:
cuts the structure.
tttains dips of 30" as it merges into the
. The eastern flank has dips of up to 30"
adjacent to the axis, but in the subsurface,
'^LI-&*-- T I :- LA-- -..La-- *L- A1 -..... I l - - - l L
The oil field itself is situated in the very central part
of the structure, where dips are almost flat, as the con-
tour map on the top of Arenisca de Azcar shows (Fig.
3). No fault has been revealed by drilling.
Oil Accumulation
n:i ...Pa-nnel ---
8
e Arenisca de A
.e prospective res
:rite, Chonta and
.ll _ _ AL- - - - - - 11 1
wIl a c i y a g u ai r; known in the south flank of the
Cashiboya anticline, where they appear in the Sol
formation (the oil being derived from the Arenisca de
Azcar), and also in the "Sol 7" anticline at the top
of th .zcar. Of course, drilling tested
all th ervoirs, i.e., the Cretaceous Agua
Calie i Arenisca de Azcar sandstones,
as wtii as u t : unaeriying pre-Cretaceous.
The oil impregnation was found to be limited to the
Arenisca de Azcar. Cashiboya 1-1A had minor oil
c
U
O
K
U
.-
a
o
-
.o
Lo
N W SE
U 6 M 1 u 2
. . . .
. . . .
. . . . .
. . .
. . . . .
. .
. . . . .
. . . .
. . . . .
Om-ZQOm
bpi ri w I Y. l . i O
100
zoo
300
LOO
5W
600
700
800
900
1030 m
L EGEND
@ }producl ove hor i zons
ag
Fig. &North-South Section Through the Maquia Oil Field. (For line of section, see well locations on Figure 3.)
GEOLOGY OF THE MAQUIA OILFIELD I N EASTERN PERU AND ITS REGIONAL SETTING 599
- - - --
. . . . . . . .
S
c
U
o
O

.-
t U
O rn-200 m
below surface
-100
-200
-300
-400
-500
I
Fig. 7-East-West Section Througl
snows in the upper main sand at appro
mn+nn .-.*A :" +Ln :" cp..mpA:ntp ,,"A
intermediate sands showed ir
- 705 meters resulting in non-c
A thin oil cap was discovered i
at - 705 meters. I n Maquia thi
noted at the top of both main
stones, which are intercalated
LSOO rn
bel ow sea l evel
LEGEND
o}producti ve hori zons
I .
I the Maquia Oil Field.
(For line of section, see well locations on Figure 3.)
ximately + 190
IIILLLIJ IIILLIIIILUIaLLi Jai i u~ of the multi-
colored beds at + 125 meters. I n Inuya 1 oil shows
were observed at the top of the upper main sand and
considerable oil impregnations were noted within the
intermediate sands at - 900 meters. I n the structur-
ally higher Pacaya anticline oil impregnations were
found down to a depth of -650 meters, whereas the
npregnations down to
ommercial production.
n the lower main sand
e oil accumulations are
sands and in the sand-
with the multicolored
beds. Therefore, three separate reservoirs can be dif-
ferentiated (see Figs. 6 and 7).
Reservoir in the Lower Main Sand
I n the structurally higher wells the oil impregnation
has a thickness of 20 meters and ends at - 455 meters.
Maquia 3, 5 and 7, located at the western, northern
and eastern flanks, are water-bearing or are in the con-
tact zone. The grain size of the productive sands aver-
ages 0.25 mm., porosity is around 20-25%, permeabil-
ity exceeds 1,000 md. Some fine-grained and imperme-
able layers are also present.
The bottom water is fresh and has a salt content of
0.050/, only, whereas the formation water of the oil
saturated parts has 2% salt approximately.
I n production tests the wells yielded 40-50 m3/d
through a 4 mm. choke and with a differential pressure
of 1-2 atm. The oil has a specific gravity of 0.83 (39"
API ). Gas-oil ratio is very low.
Reservoir in the Sand Intercalations of the Multicolored
Beds
The different sands change rapidly in their grain
size and cementation as well as in thickness and there-
fore average figures hardly can be given. Consequently,
the production varies considerably; for example, 7 m3
were produced in Maquia through open tubing and
Maquia 3 gave 33 m3/d through a 4 mm. choke and
with a pressure differential of 5 atm.
600 FIFTH WORLD PETROLEUM CONGRESS
The water contact was not reached in any of the
wells.
Reservoir in the Upper Main Sand
I n the center of the structure, in wells Maquia 1 and
6, a maximum thickness of 12 meters of oil sand was
encountered down to -- 330 meters. The impregna-
tion is restricted to the innermost part of the structure,
as all other wells are fully or partially water-bearing.
Reservoir rock characteristics are similar to those given
in the lower main sand. The section has not been
thoroughly tested so far.
Acknowledgments
The writer is indebted to the group of companies
which generously permitted the publication of this re-
port. Special thanks are extended to Dr. A. Roll and
Mr. D. A. Fyfe, Chief Geologists of Gewerkschaft El-
werath and EI Oriente, respectively. The work was
carried out by Dr. E. Blissenbach who did the well
geology, by Dr. J. Stiefel and by the author who did
the surface geology. Dr. H. Fuechtbauer and Dr. W.
Tunn made the reservoir-rock studies. All are with
Gewerkschaft Elwerath. The seismograph survey was
contracted to Geophysical Service Incorporated, Dal-
las, Texas, under the management of Mr. D. W.
Rockwell.
References
1. Newell, N. D. and Tafur, I., Ordovcico fosilifero
en la Selva Oriental del Per.-Bol. Soc. Geol. del
Per, Tomo XI V- XV, 1943.
2. Kummel, B., Geological Reconnaissance of the
Contamana Region Per.-Bull. Geol. Soc. of
America, Vol. 59, 1948.
This paper was presented on J une 5, 1959, by
C. H. GREEN (Geophysical Service Inc., Dallas,
Texas, U. S. A. ) .
Discussion
B. KUMMEL* (Harvard University, Cambridge,
Mass., U. S. A. ) . I t is now approximately 40 years
since the first geologists tramped the jungles of
eastern Peru as agents of an organized exploration
program. I n the intervening years few streams, hills,
or outcrops in this region have escaped the attention
of at least one geologist. The fruits of these four
decades of labor in terms of locating new oil fields
have been small indeed. The first concrete result
was the discovery of the Ganzo Azul oil field in
1937 by Robert Moran and Douglas Fyfe. Twenty
odd years later the same Douglas Fyfe was instru-
mental in bringing in the second discovery for eastern
Peru, the Maquia field.
For those of us who are interested in or concerned
with the geology and petroleum Potentials of eastern
Peru the paper by Mr. Koch was most welcome and
instructive. For me the significant features of this
paper are the additional data on the stratigraphy
and structural history of the region. The Contamana
region is jungle rain forest, a most difficult region for
surface geological studies. The author and his col-
leagues are to be congratulated on the job they have
done. I t is a combination of patient field work with
photogeology that enabled the degree of success they
attained.
The pertinent new stratigraphic data are briefly as
follows: The total thickness of the Tertiary red
bed formation (Capas Rojas) was given as roughly
2300 m., a figure considerably less than previous mea-
surements. This is a trend that has been reflected
in several other regions of eastern Peru, in that more
#
detailed studies tend to reduce the thickness of these
red beds in terms of measurements made previously
in reconnaissance surveys. The recognition of a
marine tongue in the Tertiary red bed sequence, pre-
3. Rosenzweig, A., Reconocimiento geolgico en el
curso medio del ro Hua1laga.-Bol. Geol. Soc. del
Per, Tomo XXV, 1953.
sumably of Oligocene age and equivalent to the Pozo
formation, this far south is of great interest. The
base of the red bed sequence is the Sol formation of
Upper Cretaceous age. The establishment of thin-
*Read by C. H. GREEN.
Bibliography
Bellido, E. and Simmons, F. S., Memoria Explicativa
del Mapa Geolgico del Per. Bol. Soc. Geol. del
Per, Tomo XXXI , 1957.
(1EOLOGY OF THE MAQUIA OILFIELD IN EASTERN PERU AND ITS REGIONAL SETTINO
60 1
ning of the Sol formation on the top of the Maquia
structure is of considerable interest.
The differentiation of various facies units within
the Arenisca de Azcar has been recognized on the
outcrop at various places in eastern Peru. Outcrop
conditions being what they are in rain-forest regions
always left the picture incomplete; the new wells at
Maquia, Pacaya, Inuya, and Cashiboya have given
much better perspective of the facies character of
the formation. I t appears that the Arenisca de
Azcar reflects oscillation of the depositional environ-
ment on a reduced scale compared to what is seen
on a large scale in the Aqua Caliente sandstone. I t
remains to be seen just how far these particular facies
characters and sequence of the Arenisca de Azca
extend.
Finally, a short comment on stratigraphic nomen-
clature. Geologists are people; you cannot have
the accumulated results of four decades of labor in
a region as difficult as eastern Peru without ending
up with a complex of stratigraphic names which
have meaning only to the specialist. Today we are
faced with an incredible array of homonyms and
synonyms. I plead with the author, his colleagues,
and to all the geologists actively working in this
region to get together, establish a code of nomen-
clature, and publish a recommended list of accept-
able names in accordance with their code.