Geological and geomorphological methods for petroleum prospection in the center and west of Cuba

The provinces of Holguin and Las Tunas have potential gas and oil resources which have not yet been fully discovered. Therefore, an assessment is completed to identify potential areas for hydrocarbon prospection based on the geological and geomorphological methods and supported by geophysical methods. Numerous proofs of the existence of oils in the surface and gas being reported in the petroleum wells are sufficient elements to think that there is an active petroleum system in the area. The analysis is supported by information given on the geological surface maps on scale of 1:100 000, satellite and radar images, information of surface occurrence of hydrocarbons, drilled wells and recent field work and geophysical interpretation results. The main results include the identification of two areas for petroleum exploration: the Maniabón-La Farola is identified as the most potential area and the second one is to the north of the Picanes well 1x. Neotectonic processes are identified to have a strong influence on the first area, which allowed delimitating petroleum system elements through geological and geomorphological methods