This book provides an overview of the major changes induced by hydrocarbons (HCs) affecting rocks and surface sediments and their implications for non-seismic exploration methods, particularly for marine territories near Cuba. It examines the use of a digital elevation model (DEM) at 90x90m resolution for the detection of subtle, positive geomorphic anomalies related to hydrocarbon microseepage (vertical migration) on possible oil and gas targets. The results support the conclusion that the DEM data provides a low cost and fast offshore oil and gas preliminary exploration strategy. This data is useful serving to focus prospective areas with supplementary unconventional methods such as magnetic-induced polarization (MIP), useful to propose more expensive volumes for detailed 2D-3D seismic surveys.

The evolution of geological cartography in Cuba in its more than 135 years of history has been possible through the consultation of numerous archival reports, publications, maps and personal interviews with different authors and geologists of vast experience. A brief critical analysis is made of the increase in the degree of geological knowledge of the country since the elaboration of the Geological Sketch of the Cuban Island at a scale of 1: 2 000 000 (Fernandez de Castro, 1883), first of Cuba and of Ibero-America, until the most recent Digital Geological Map of Cuba at scale 1: 100 000 (Perez Aragon, 2016). Cuba and its surroundings are a geological mosaic in the southeast corner of the North American plate with rocks from many different origins, from Proterozoic to Quaternary, extended along the southern border of the plate. From the Eocene, this belt has been dissected by several great faults, related to the development of some great oceanic depressions (Cayman trough and Yucatan basin). The fossil record of Cuba, which covers approximately the last 200 million years of life on Earth, is rich in very varied fossils, witnessing a wide diversity of organisms, both animals and plants, that inhabited the Antillean and Caribbean region; and that constitute the inheritance of the biological diversity that the current Cuban archipelago exhibits. As a result of the preparation of the Cuban Metallogenic Map at scale 1: 250 000, forty-one models and eight sub-models of metallic mineral deposits were identified. These models, of descriptive-genetic type, together with the analysis of their spatial distribution and their relationship with geology, allowed the identification and mapping of ten mineral systems, linked to the geodynamic environments present in the Cuban territory. Cuba has large deposits of limestone, loam, dolomite, kaolin, gypsum and anhydrite, rock salt, marbles, sands and clays of different types, zeolites, peat, therapeutic peloids and many more. There are manifestations of decorative and precious rocks such as jasper, jadeite, different varieties of quartz and even xylopals. A compilation of geochemical data of oceanic basalt samples from previous works, together with data of analyzed samples during this study in order to discuss geochemical criteria based on immobile element (proxies for fractionation indices, alkalinity, mantle flow and subduction addition), provide a comprehensive ophiolite classification according to their tectonic setting. This book addresses different facets of the geological knowledge of Cuba: history of its cartography, marine geology, fossil record, stratigraphy, tectonics, classification of its ophiolites, quaternary deposits, metallogeny and minerageny.

The so-called "Non-conventional geophysical-geochemical exploration methods" are used, in the particular case of oil and gas exploration, for the detection and mapping of active microseepage of light hydrocarbons with a vertical nature on the gas-oil accumulations. The non-seismic exploration methods used in Cuba are: Remote Sensing, Gravimetry, Aeromagnetometry, Airborne Gamma Spectrometry (AGS) and Morphometry (non-conventional, from the Digital Elevation Model 90x90m). The AGS also classifies, as a non-conventional geophysical-geochemical method, together with the Redox Complex. Besides, it is of interest to know the geological-structural framework where these microseepage occur. That is why the benefits of using these methods (excluding Redox Complex), prior to their integration with geological and seismic data, translate into a first approximation, valid for an initial understanding of geology and mapping of favourable areas of possible gas-oil interest. Finally, from the implementation of these methods (including Redox Complex), perspective sectors for oil and gas are obtained, once the integration with geology and seismic has been carried out. The book presents a brief theoretical account of the methods used and, as practical results, a set of perspective sectors of possible interest for exploration in Cuba. As a complementary result, the book also offer an evaluation of the areas that meet the petroleum-geologist premises for the presence of large accumulations of high quality oil in Cuba.

This book assesses the use of various non-seismic and non-conventional oil and gas exploration methods in Cuba. In addition to discussing the benefits of these methods, the book demonstrates how they can be combined with geological data and conventional methods, leading to a better evaluation of prospects and exploration risks. The authors describe how potential new gaso-petroleum sites in the Pina-Ceballos and Sancti Spiritus regions can be effectively mapped. The geophysical-geochemical exploration techniques combined in the Redox Complex method are used to identify and evaluate these sites. Areas of interest are mapped based on the presence of a combination of indicator anomalies, mainly derived using gravimetric, aeromagnetic and airborne gamma spectrometry. The geochemical study concentrates on two petroleum-rich regions, one in northern and one in southern Cuba. The scope also includes the seas to the south of Cuba, which are studied with non-seismic exploration tools such as the Digital Elevation Model, which employs morphotectonic regionalization.