Abstract: Located in west-central Argentina, the Cuyo and Neuquen basin are typical Sub-Andean back-arc foreland basins. The differing deformation styles of the lithosphere and fold and thrust belt may be a response to the angle of plate subduction. There are 4 similar basin evolution stages: Basement, Syn-rift, Post-rift and Foreland. A single petroleum system is recognized in Cuyo basin, comprising Triassic organic-rich lacustrine mudstones, Triassic-Jurassic reservoirs and Triassic intraformational as well as Cretaceous regional seals; Traps formed during the Neogene at a similar time to peak oil generation. Three hypothetical and one known petroleum systems occur in Neuquen basin, related to the Upper Triassic, Lower-Middle Jurassic, Valanginian- Barremian and Tithonian-Valanginian source rocks, respectively. Oil and gas has accumulated in reservoir rocks that range in age from Permian to Tertiary, most commercial hydrocarbons are produced from Jurassic and Cretaceous reservoirs. All systems reached the critical moment during the Late Cretaceous-Late Tertiary. The different depositional setting caused different source rock quality. The diversity of their petroleum geological characteristics and the exploration potential are controlled by respective tectonic sedimentary process.

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