The Salina del Istmo Basin is a geographic region, which includes onshore and offshore prospects. The basin comprehends three main areas named: the Catemaco, Agua Dulce and Marbella folded belts; the Pescadores and omalcalco withdrawal salt basins; and the “Sal Somera” area. Three generic play types have been identified: Neogene's sandstones in structural and combined traps over salt bodies; Paleogene's sandstones in structural and combined traps under the salt; and Mesozoic structured carbonates in compressional traps under the salt. In the first play (onshore) 50 fields were discovered in the last 50 years and have a cumulative production with over than 2 billions bbl of equivalent oil. In the offshore portion 6 oil and gas fields were discovered, with 106 millions of barrels of original reserves. The second and third plays are in the early exploration stage, and are expected to provide better geological conditions. Higher volumes and better hydrocarbons quality characterize these plays, however with a higher exploration risk due to prospects depth.

More than 300 exploration opportunities are identify, in the Salina del Itsmo Basin, with a considerable volume of hydrocarbons and an average exploration risk of 1:5. Therefore, these traps offer an attractive perspective in the short and medium term. The best short term development possibilities are on the coast, near the giant land fields, where oil production facilities currently exist.