Putumayo-Oriente-Maranon

Commentary

The POMB continues to yield discoveries as modern techniques are applied, but terrain and approvals are challenging. President Fujimori, inaugurated in July 2026, has pledged to expand hydrocarbon output and refocus Petroperú on refining, but her narrow mandate and chronic political instability leave delivery uncertain. Outlook: Uncertain.

Updated

October 12, 2026

Location

Description

The POMB's development is related to that of the tectonic history of the western margin of South America. The back-arc extension in the Permian and Early Triassic formed rift basins with synrift deposits that include organic-rich shales of the Permian Ene Formation. In the Triassic and Jurassic, back-arc marine conditions led to the deposition of organic-rich, carbonate-based marine shales of the Pucara Formation. In the Late Cretaceous, a passive margin existed along a large portion of the central and north-western margin of South America, where organic-rich shales of the La Luna Formation and equivalents such as the Villeta Shale and Napo Shale were deposited.

Summary

The POMB has been extensively explored, but not widely due to the terrain. New discoveries continue to be made as modern exploration techniques are applied to the basin.