Abstract: Gabon Basin is a typical Atlantic passive margin salt basin, which is subdivided into pre-salt sequence and post-salt sequence by Aptian salt. Inspired by several giant pre-salt discoveries, such as Tupi, Franco, Libra in Brazil deep water, West Africa salt basins such as Gabon, Kwanza have attracted eyes from world major players in recent years. In order to solve pre-salt trap identification difficulties, we analyzed the lithological and petrophysical characters of Gabon salt and its influences on pre-salt imaging and seismic interpretation. Meanwhile, pre-salt in deep water Gabon is less-explored and thus pre-salt source and reservoirs characteristics are not clear. Considering heat conductivity, density and ductility character of salt, we analyzed pre-salt source rock maturity in Gabon deep water and salt influences on pre-salt source rock maturity based on basin modeling; we analyzed salt influences on pre-salt reservoir quality and pointed out deep water Gabon developed high quality pre-salt reservoirs by using new well data; we analyzed salt distribution, deformation and its influences on hydrocarbon charge and preservation, and pointed out that favorable pre-salt exploration areas and favorable areas for post-salt accumulations from pre-salt source. This paper may have some inspiration for other salt basin exploration.