Puerto Rico's Crude Oil Potential: Minimal, Not Zero

Puerto Rico has very limited proven crude oil potential. The statement "potential for crude oil in the Caribbean" is misleading.

Exploration History

• 1950s–1980s: Multiple majors (Exxon, Shell, Texaco, Phillips) drilled ~15 exploratory wells onshore (North Coast, South Coast, Interior) and offshore.
• Results: No commercial discoveries. Minor oil/gas shows in Oligocene/Miocene carbonates (San Sebastián, Lares, Juana Díaz formations), but no viable reservoirs/seals.
• Offshore: Wells in Puerto Rico Trench / Vieques Basin – dry or sub-commercial.

Geological Reality

• Island is volcanic arc / accreted terrane (Cretaceous–Eocene), not a sedimentary basin like Gulf of Mexico or Maracaibo.
• Limited sedimentary cover (Oligocene–Recent) – thin, fragmented, tectonically disrupted.
• No major source rock maturity / migration pathways identified.

The "Zukunft Basin" Mention

Likely confusion with Zaza Basin (Cuba) or Southeast Bahamas / Hispaniola basins. No named "Zukunft Basin" between DR and PR in petroleum literature. The Mona Passage separates PR & DR; deep, tectonically complex, unexplored for oil.

Energy Reality

• PR imports ~98% energy (petroleum, gas, coal).
• Focus: Solar, wind, battery storage, grid hardening (LUMA, PREPA restructuring).
• Natural gas (imported LNG) = transition fuel.

Puerto Rico's energy future is renewables + storage, not oil drilling.