Petroleum geology and exploration prospect in Salina Sub-basin of Sureste Basin in Mexico

Sureste basin in Mexico is a world-class rich oil and gas basin, and the deep-water area of Salina Sub-basin is in low- degree exploration with less research. Based on the latest seismic geological comprehensive interpretation achievements and combining with regional tectonic evolution and sedimentary filling characteristics, the authors in this paper have discussed the petroleum geology and exploration direction in this area. The results show that the structure evolution of Salina Sub-basin is complicated, and the activities in halite is intense, which controls the hydrocarbon accumulation elements of source, sedimentary, structure, migration and preservation. The source rock is Tithonian marine shale, which is widely developed in the basin and has characteristic of micro-basin controlled hydrocarbon in the salt development zones. The main exploration target is Tertiary clastics, and the relationship between deposition and salt structure is complex. The Miocene sandstone is developed with good porosity and permeability properties. And the sub-basin can be divided into five tectonic units, and the main types of trap are salt-related anticline and semi-anticline. The salt-thrust-belt and the salt-canopy-belt are favorable exploration area with good hydrocarbon accumulation conditions.