An important question in the exploration of salt basins is whether or not salt welds can seal hydrocarbons in subweld traps. Any answer must start with the observation that many supraweld traps throughout the world are charged with hydrocarbons from subweld source rocks, requiring migration through welds. However, not all welds are the same, and this conceptual paper examines various factors that may influence the sealing capacity of salt welds. The probability of weld seal is enhanced by: (1) the presence of remnant evaporite along the weld; (2) relatively impermeable lithologies across the weld; (3) subweld reservoirs that are...