Changes

Sedimentary basin infill overlying a Devonian to Lower Triassic Gondwanan basement is summarized in five main stages: (1) Late Triassic to Early Jurassic synrift, (2) Early and Middle Jurassic subsidence, (3) Late Jurassic inversion, (4) Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous subsidence, and (5) Late Cretaceous foreland ([[:file:GiacomoneEtAlFigure3.jpg|Figure 3]]).<ref name=Veigaetal_2020 /><ref name=Llambiasetal_2018>Llambías, E. J., M. Schiuma, D. Velo, M. Barrionuevo, D. Lenge, F. Pángaro, R. Corbera, O. Carbone, and G. Hinterwimmer, 2018, Reservorios del Grupo Choiyoi y Precuyano, in M. Schiuma, G. Hinterwimmer, and G. D. Vergani, eds., Rocas reservorio de las cuencas productivas de Argentina, 2nd ed. [in Spanish]: X Congreso de Exploración y Desarrollo de Hidrocarburos, Mendoza, Argentina, November 5–9, 2018, p. 325–371.</ref><ref name=Ramosetal_2020>Ramos, V. A., M. Naipauer, H. A. Leanza, and M. E. Sigismondi, 2020, An exceptional tectonic setting along the Andean continental margin, in D. Minisini, M. Fantín, I. Lanusse Noguera, and H. A. Leanza, eds., Integrated geology of unconventionals: The case of the Vaca Muerta play, Argentina: AAPG Memoir 121, p. 25–38, doi:10.1306/13682222M1202855.</ref>

Sedimentary basin infill overlying a Devonian to Lower Triassic Gondwanan basement is summarized in five main stages: (1) Late Triassic to Early Jurassic synrift, (2) Early and Middle Jurassic subsidence, (3) Late Jurassic inversion, (4) Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous subsidence, and (5) Late Cretaceous foreland ([[:file:GiacomoneEtAlFigure3.jpg|Figure 3]]).<ref name=Veigaetal_2020 /><ref name=Llambiasetal_2018>Llambías, E. J., M. Schiuma, D. Velo, M. Barrionuevo, D. Lenge, F. Pángaro, R. Corbera, O. Carbone, and G. Hinterwimmer, 2018, Reservorios del Grupo Choiyoi y Precuyano, in M. Schiuma, G. Hinterwimmer, and G. D. Vergani, eds., Rocas reservorio de las cuencas productivas de Argentina, 2nd ed. [in Spanish]: X Congreso de Exploración y Desarrollo de Hidrocarburos, Mendoza, Argentina, November 5–9, 2018, p. 325–371.</ref><ref name=Ramosetal_2020>Ramos, V. A., M. Naipauer, H. A. Leanza, and M. E. Sigismondi, 2020, An exceptional tectonic setting along the Andean continental margin, in D. Minisini, M. Fantín, I. Lanusse Noguera, and H. A. Leanza, eds., Integrated geology of unconventionals: The case of the Vaca Muerta play, Argentina: AAPG Memoir 121, p. 25–38, doi:10.1306/13682222M1202855.</ref>

[[file:GiacomoneEtAlFigure3.jpg|thumb|300px|{{figure number|2}}Chronostratigraphic chart of the Neuquén Basin with main reservoirs and source rocks. Tectonic history: cycle climax (solid arrow) versus cycle waning (dotted arrows).<ref name=Veigaetal_2020 />]]

[[file:GiacomoneEtAlFigure3.jpg|center|framed|{{figure number|3}}Chronostratigraphic chart of the Neuquén Basin with main reservoirs and source rocks. Tectonic history: cycle climax (solid arrow) versus cycle waning (dotted arrows).<ref name=Veigaetal_2020 />]]

Successive Mesozoic transgressions entering the basin from the west deposited several source rocks, including the Early Jurassic Los Molles Formation (TOC 1%–7%), the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous world-class source rock Vaca Muerta Formation (2-9% TOC, hi-quality oil-prone marine kerogen) and the Early Cretaceous Agrio Formation (TOC 2%–5%). Superimposed petroleum systems, combined with different structural settings, gave rise to numerous conventional plays.<ref name=Veigaetal_2020 /> Conventional plays can be grouped by regions: Hincul High (Jurassic reservoirs in pre-tertiary structures sourced by the Los Molles Fm), Fold Belt (Cretaceous reservoirs on structural traps sourced by Vaca Muerta and Agrio Fms), Basin Center (Cretaceous reservoirs on stratigraphic traps sourced by Vaca Muerta Fm), and the Platform play  (Cretaceous reservoirs on stratigraphic traps sourced by Vaca Muerta Fm).<ref name=Verganietal_2011>Vergani, G., C. Arregui, and O. Carbone, 2011, Sistemas petroleros y tipos de entrampamientos en la Cuenca Neuquina, in H. A. Leanza, C. Arregui, O. Carbone, J. C. Danieli, and J. M. Valiés, eds., Geología y recursos naturales de la provincia del Neuquén [in Spanish]: Relatorio del XVIII Congreso Geológico Argentino, 2 al 6 de Mayo de 1011, Neuquén: Buenos Aires, Asociación Geológica Argentina, p. 645 656.</ref>

Successive Mesozoic transgressions entering the basin from the west deposited several source rocks, including the Early Jurassic Los Molles Formation (TOC 1%–7%), the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous world-class source rock Vaca Muerta Formation (2-9% TOC, hi-quality oil-prone marine kerogen) and the Early Cretaceous Agrio Formation (TOC 2%–5%). Superimposed petroleum systems, combined with different structural settings, gave rise to numerous conventional plays.<ref name=Veigaetal_2020 /> Conventional plays can be grouped by regions: Hincul High (Jurassic reservoirs in pre-tertiary structures sourced by the Los Molles Fm), Fold Belt (Cretaceous reservoirs on structural traps sourced by Vaca Muerta and Agrio Fms), Basin Center (Cretaceous reservoirs on stratigraphic traps sourced by Vaca Muerta Fm), and the Platform play  (Cretaceous reservoirs on stratigraphic traps sourced by Vaca Muerta Fm).<ref name=Verganietal_2011>Vergani, G., C. Arregui, and O. Carbone, 2011, Sistemas petroleros y tipos de entrampamientos en la Cuenca Neuquina, in H. A. Leanza, C. Arregui, O. Carbone, J. C. Danieli, and J. M. Valiés, eds., Geología y recursos naturales de la provincia del Neuquén [in Spanish]: Relatorio del XVIII Congreso Geológico Argentino, 2 al 6 de Mayo de 1011, Neuquén: Buenos Aires, Asociación Geológica Argentina, p. 645 656.</ref>