AAPG-SEG-AMGP International Conference and Exhibition

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HOTBLACKSALSA:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PETROLEUM IN
CUBA
BY
JAMESPODRUSKI,ALTURASRESOURCES;
EVELIOLINARESCALA,SOCIEDADCUBANODEGEOLOGIA;
ANDSCOTT E.THORNTON*ECOPETROLAMERICA
*NOWTHEBURMAHOILCOMPANYLIMITED
AAPG-SEGICE2016
CANCUN
SEPT.7,2016

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WHYIS THEREA HISTORYOF PETROLEUMIN CUBA?

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WHERE IS THE PETROLEUMIN CUBA?
Active “leaky” petroleumsystem and present field locations

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WHATDOES THE “LEAKY” SYSTEMLOOKLIKE?
1. Active Seeps

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2. Oil Saturated Outcrops/ExhumedOilfields

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3. Asphalt Dykes

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I. Pre-commercial exploitation
- Indigenous Peoples, SpanishExplorers/Colonists
II. 1860 – 1960
- Spanish& Cuban phases, pre-WWII, 1950’s
III. 1960 – 1990
- CentrallyPlannedEconomy - Cupet
IV. 1990 – Present
- Onshore/ShallowWater, DeepWater
The Four Phases of Cuban Petroleum History

8. PHASE I. INDIGINEOUS PEOPLES OF CUBA CAULKING CANOES
/TOOTH PROTECTION

9. PHASE I. TRADE OF CUBAN BITUMIN FOR MAYAN CHICLE AND
SALT ??

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OCAMPOCIRCUMNAVIGATES CUBA, 1508
USES OIL IN HABANABAY TO CAREENSHIPS

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1. Late 1800’s – Asphalt mined: paved streets in NorthAmerica &
usedin industrial furnaces, >25 million tonnes
2. 1881 – naphtha & gas discovered at Motembo, commercial
exploitation for gas lighting and lubricants until the automobile
~ 1900
3. 1898, Cuban independence fromSpain
4. 1913, gas discovered in water well at Tropical Brewing Co., La
Habana
PHASE II

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5. Light oil discovered on northcoastin 1915, activity
increase 1910-WWII, production levels ~ 100’s BOPD
6. Oil discovered in Central Cuba, 1954, set off exploration
and exploitation boom
PHASE II

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EARLYPHASE II

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• Sparkedby discovery at Jatibonico in 1954
• Over 20 companies active withmost of country leased
• CP to 1959 ~ 5 MM BO
• ~ 400,000 BPA
• ~ 100 E & D wells per year
The 1950’s Oil Boom

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The 1950’s Oil Boom
APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF
PRINCIPAL CONCESSION HOLDERS
Cuban Gulf Oil
Atlantic Refining
Standard Oil of California
Shell
Shell, Atlantic, Jersey (Standard)
Jersey E&P
Perla
Union Oil of California
Union Oil of California
CUPET
Cuban
Americas Petroleum
Bentham & Trebes/Russell Cobb,
Jr.
Ted Jones Oil Exploration
Canadian
Lee Oil
Cuban American Drilling & Expl.
Atlantic Shell
Atlantic
Shell/Atlantic/Jersey
Jersey
HAVANA
Union
Gulf
CARIBEAN SEA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Cuban
American
Jersey

20. A WELL DRILLED IN LA HABANA IN THE LATE 1950’S

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PRE-REVOLUTIONCUBA

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GEOLOGISTS ANDTHE CUBANREVOLUTION

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1. Cuban Revolution 1959, eventually evolves into CPE
2. Cupet, Cuban National Oil Company established
3. Varadero discovered1971, initial northcoast heavy oil E & D in
several fields
4. Leadeventually to discovery of 27 fields with550 MM Bbls Rec.,
CP ~350MMBbls, usedinternally for power generation
PHASE III

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OIL ACTIVITY DURING THE CUPET ERA, 1962-1990

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1. Cuba opens for oil exploration/exploitation under
PSA’s
2. 1990’s land boom& drilling activity increase
3. Only success on northcoast heavy oil trend, field
extensions/discoveries
4. 2000’s deep water blocks & drilling of 4 wells
PHASE IV

26. EXPLORATION BLOCKS 1998

27. EXPLORATION BLOCKS, 2010

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Cuban Oil Production in Modern Era
(courtesy of GordonHurlburt, Sherritt International)

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YUMURI 201

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SHERRITT RIG #2, YUMURI 228

31. THEFUTUREOFENERGYINCUBA
ACUBANLOGGINGTRUCK“SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT”

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THE FUTURE OF ENERGY IN CUBA
Chasing Windmills????

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Or – Findmore hydrocarbons through exploration and
development
jimpodruski@gmail.com

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
GordonHurlburt andSherritt International
ThomasAmbrose,Retired,ex-Kewanee
AlanFraser,Retired,ex-AtlanticRefining
SusanneGendron,Editor
jimpodruski@gmail.com