Exploration in Cuban Ophiolitic Rocks Applying Mathematical Modeling

J. E. Gomez-Herrera, O. Rodriguez-Moran, S. Valladares-Amaro, G. Echevarria-Rodriguez, R. Tenreyro-Perez, R. Otero-Marrero, R. Cruz-Toledo, G. Barcelo-Carol, J. Alvarez-Castro, M. Varea-Centeno, R. Garcia-Sanchez, J. Ruiz-Shulcloper, R. Pico-Pena

Cuba is one of the few places in the world where oil production is obtained from ophiolitic rocks, basically serpentines. The oldest discovery was in 1881 (Motembo oil field), and the most recent in 1978 (Cantel oil field).

The ophiolitic belt (Zaza Terrain) extends from the western Pinar del Rio province in western Cuba to Guantanamo province 1000 kilometers to the east. The outcrops are from a few meters to several kilometers wide.

The ophiolites and underlying rocks are overthrust from south to north.

Oil fields are small but shallow and prolific at the beginning of their production. All were found by drilling near oil seeps or searching for deeper carbonate targets. (Placetas and Camajuani TSU's).

There used to be no scientific methods of exploration. Recently a new genetic-dynamic hypothesis was created concerning the overthrust belt, and a new geologic model suggested how to search for these traps, applying mathematical simulation of pattern recognition.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995