Lusitanian

Commentary

The Lusitanian remains a frontier basin overlooked in favour of easier opportunities, and exploration licensing is effectively closed as the government focuses on renewables and grid stability. Outlook: Negative.

Updated

October 12, 2026

Location

Description

The Lusitanian Basin results from the opening of the North Atlantic Ocean due to Mesozoic extension. Rifting was initiated between Newfoundland and Iberia and occurred primarily in four phases: (i) Late Triassic to the Early Jurassic rifting and faulting, characterised by symmetrical grabens and half-grabens in the central areas of the basin; (ii) Early Jurassic salt movements, characterised by minor salt movements along the major regional faults, south of the Nazare fault; (iii) Late Jurassic onlapping of the Oxfordian succession on salt pillows that formed in association with fault activity; and (iv) Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, salt movement and the development of salt structures.

Summary

The Lusitanian Basin is located on both the mainland and continental shelf of the west-central Iberian coast. It covers 20,000sq km and extends from south of Lisbon to Porto.