Abstract
THE Maracaibo Basin, situated in western Venezuela, is an area of some 25,000 square miles, embracing the State of Zulia and parts of the States of Mérida, Táchira, and Trujillo; within this region occur the principal oilfields of Venezuela, while those of the State of Falcon, lying to the east, are geologically connected therewith. Though the presence of oil in this country was known in the early days of the Spanish occupation, commercial exploration did not commence until 1878, when the Government granted a small lease in the State of Táchira; progress was slow, however, and it was not until 1912 that important developments were undertaken, resulting in the discovery of the now famous Mene Grande oilfield. To-day practically the whole of the basin area is held under exploration or prospecting licences, and besides Mene Grande, the oilfields of La Rosa, Ambrosio, El Mene, La Concepcion, La Paz, Rio Palmar, Rio de Oro, and some potential petroliferous territoryjn the south, have been discovered.
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Petroleum in the Maracaibo Region, Venezuela. Nature 117, 807 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1038/117807a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/117807a0