Abstract: Petroleum System and Hydrocarbon Potential of Cuba

J.G. Lopez-Rivera, M. Marrero-Faz, R. Tenreyro-Perez, J.O. Lopez-Quintero, O. Echevarria-Rodriguez, G. Hernandez-Perez

The Cuban Archipelago is all Early Tertiary thrust belt derived from the collision of the Cretaceous volcanic arc (Zaza) with the North-American continental margin (Jurassic-Cretaceous). The area presents two petroleum provinces: Northern and Southern.

The Northern Province contains the most important discoveries, for example, the Varadero oil field with 1200 MMBO of reserves in situ. This province has an alpine tectonic style involving mostly carbonate rocks of the continental margin and synorogenic sediments.

The Southern Province is less explored. The geological section not only includes ophiolities and the associated volcanic arc sediments covered by the Cretaceous-Quaternary sediments, but also part of the obducted continental margin.

The significant facts about the Cuban petroleum system are as follows.

There is:

1. Widespread existence of Jurassic-Cretaceous source rocks

2. Active process of generation form different types of oils, mainly from the Middle Eocene

3. Presence of fractured, porous-fractured, and cavernous-fractured reservoirs in the rocks of the continental margin and Zaza volcanic deposits are covered by Paleocene-Eocene and Oligocene seals

4. There are numerous different trap types, of which the most important are hinterland dipping ramp anticlines and reefs

5. Migration and trapping of hydrocarbons is basically from the lower Eocene.

The migration process is mostly lateral, within each tectonic sheet. Vertical migration is not excluded in the Southern province.

The factors listed above conclude that there is an excellent potential for the discovery of important oil fields in Cuba.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994