This presentation reviews the major elements of the Brazilian pre-salt play in the Campos and Santos Basin: source, reservoir, trap and seal and how the evolution of these elements through the different depositional and structural domains can be seen on well and seismic (2D and 3D) data. We will then look at well and seismic data onshore and offshore Mexico to see if these same successful play elements can be seen in the Mexican Gulf of Mexico and answer the question: is there a pre-salt play in Mexico?

A major problem with considering the existence and viability of pre-salt play(s) in Mexico was the lack of a proven pre-salt source rock. Stabler and Gonzalez (2020) have demonstrated the existence of such a Middle Jurassic lacustrine source rock in the Huehuetepec-3 well onshore Tampico-Misantla province. The other major elements (reservoir, trap, seal) for a pre-salt play can be shown to exist at a variety of depths throughout the Mexican Gulf of Mexico. We show seismic examples of possible such plays and conclude that the best location for testing such a play is in the shallow water Campeche Salt Basin.