f Tear faults in the Llanos Foothills of the Eastern Cordillera

Tear faults are a common structural feature along the central part of the Llanos Foothills of the Eastern Cordillera. They are local “strike-slip” faults that are associated with folds and east verging thrust faults. These faults may result from drastic lateral changes when the thrust front advances created by differential shortening of the thrust sheet. Here, the tear faults trend perpendicular and semi perpendicular to the thrust front. These faults may segment the thrust sheets compartmentalizing the hydrocarbon fields.