The Pacific Coastal basin of Colombia is an area of approximately 56,000 sq km between the Pacific Ocean and the Western Cordillera. However, it is one of the least explored potentially petroliferous areas in Colombia. Four wells (2 offshore, 2 inland) have been drilled and one (inland) is being drilled. Reasons for this low exploration effort may be found in the relative inaccessibility and inhospitable climate of the area. Unsuccessful results also may be traced to the lack of a concentrated effort at deciphering the regional geology and geologic history. Surface geology does not always reflect accurately the subsurface picture and in many cases it has masked the true underground structure.

Only after oil was found in the Putumayo (east of the Andes) during the earlier 1960s was interest renewed on the part of several of the major oil companies. This interest is revealed in the large acreage (3,660,000 ha.) and the increase in geologic and geophysical work (4,600 km of profile) recently performed both inland and offshore.

As a result of revised opinions and ideas, the area currently is regarded as one of promising potential for a country that badly needs to find new oil if it is to meet ever rising demands. Such potential appears clear, considering that sedimentary rocks in excess of 20,000 ft thick have accumulated in the basin, and that possible source rocks of both early Tertiary and Late Cretaceous age are present. Furthermore, many oil and gas seeps have been reported and noncommercial wells previously drilled had encouraging oil and gas shows.

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