Fracture analog of the sub-Andean Devonian of southern Bolivia: Lidar applied to Abra Del Condor, in G. Zamora, K. R. McClay, and V. A. Ramos, eds., Petroleum basins and hydrocarbon potential of the Andes of Peru and Bolivia

Abstract

Tight fractured sandstones of the Devonian Huamampampa Formation are associated with large gas discoveries in the sub-Andean fold-and-thrust belt of southern Bolivia. A LIDAR-based fracture characterization of the Abra del Condor backlimb anticline, a structuralstratigraphic analog, is used as the basis for a fracture stratigraphy determination. Fracture characterization using LIDAR is integrated with outcrop scanlines and is framed by stratigraphy and structural positions within this thrust-related anticline. SEFL software was used to process LIDAR data, dividing the outcrop by orientations. A workflow to extract modeled fracture planes and their associated orientations, lengths, and heights results in five fracture sets, partially validated by fracture outcrop scanlines. Multiple virtual scanlines are used to measure fracture intensity, identify fracture stratigraphic units, and define fracture-associated parameters of abundance and size distribution.