Pursuant to the Mexican Hydrocarbons Law, its Regulations, and
its fifth transitory article, the Mexican Ministry of Energy
("SENER"), following a technical proposal prepared by the
National Hydrocarbons Commission ("CNH"), announced a
Five-Year Public Tenders Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan
establishes four rounds of tenders for exploration and extraction
fields to take place between 2015 and 2019.
The Plan contemplates the auction of (i) 244 oilfields for
extraction, with a remaining volume of 68,205 million barrels of
oil equivalents ("MMBOE") and a total area of 7,966 km2;
(ii) 379 areas of conventional hydrocarbon exploration with a
prospective resource of 14,643 MMBOE and an area of approximately
136,630 km2; and (iii) 291 areas for the exploration of
unconventional hydrocarbon resources with a prospective resource of
24,612 MMBOE and a total area of 33,959 km2.
According to Article 27, Section One of the Rules of the
Hydrocarbons Law, SENER will evaluate the Plan for possible
amendments during the third quarter of each year, taking into
consideration feedback received from the industry and from the
Mexican states through surveys. An amendment would likely result
from information updates, the relinquishment of entitlement areas,
and/or updates and amendments to project scopes and key
policies.
The Plan classifies the areas to be auctioned according to type of
industry activity: exploration or extraction. Both categories are
further divided into various subcategories.
Extraction of Hydrocarbons
The Plan contemplates the auction of 244 areas for extraction,
of which 95 are preventive entitlements (asignaciones de
resguardo) that currently produce hydrocarbons and with a
volume of 28,961 MMBOE. It is estimated that the remaining areas
contain resources of 39,243 MMBOE.
Onshore Areas. Onshore areas are located in the
states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla,
Tabasco, and Chiapas. They have a remaining volume of 4,143 MMBOE
and an area of approximately 4,343 km2. These onshore areas will be
tendered through all four rounds, but most will be awarded in the
first two rounds.
Chicontepec. The Chicontepec Basin is primarily
located in the states of San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Veracruz, and
Puebla. It has a remaining volume of 42,151 MMOE and an area of
2,045 km2. It is expected to be included in the Round 1
auction.
Extra-Heavy Crude. The areas to be auctioned are
located off the coasts of Tabasco and Campeche and have a remaining
volume of 16,6798 MMBOE and an area of approximately 261 km2. The
crude oil in these deposits is highly viscous and includes
associated sour gas such as sulfuric acid (H2S). The water depths
range from approximately 20 to 400 meters. These areas will be
tendered almost entirely in Round 1 and the remainder in Round
2.
Shallow Waters. These fields are located in state
waters off the coasts of Campeche, Tabasco, and Veracruz. It is
estimated that the volume remaining onsite is 4,742 MMBOE, in an
area of approximately 1,024 km2. They correspond to fields beneath
a water depth of just under 500 meters. They will be tendered in
Rounds 1, 2, and 3.
Deepwater. These areas are at a distance of
between 30 and 60 km off the coast of Veracruz in the Gulf of
Mexico and produce nonassociated natural gas. They have a volume of
489 MMBOE and an approximate area of 102 km2.
Exploration for Conventional Resources
The auction will include 379 areas for exploration of
conventional hydrocarbons, of which 74 are located in the Burgos
oil region, 67 in Tampico-Misantla, 43 in Veracruz, 54 in the
Southeastern Basins, and 141 in the oil region of the Deep Gulf of
Mexico.
Onshore Areas. 130 onshore areas are estimated to
be auctioned in the states of Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla,
San Luis Potosi, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz, with a total
prospective volume of 1,363 MMBOE and an area equivalent to 24,574
km2.
Deepwater. One hundred forty one deepwater areas
are being considered for tender. They are located off the coast of
Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, and Campeche, in the Perdido Area,
Mexican Cordilleras, and Salina del Istmo Basin regions. The
resources are estimated to include approximately 9.738 MMBOE and an
area of 83,945 km2. The areas to be tendered were determined based
on their location close to areas with commercial discoveries. They
will be tendered during the four rounds.
Shallow Water. One hundred eight shallow water
areas for exploration, located off the coast of Tamaulipas,
Veracruz, Tabasco, and Campeche, are being considered. The
resources are estimated to include approximately 3,542 MMBOE in an
area of 28,110 km2. The areas to be tendered were determined based
on their location close to areas with commercial discoveries. They
will be tendered during the four rounds.
Unconventional Resource Exploration
The tender of 291 areas covering approximately 33,959 km2, with
estimated prospective resources of 24,612 MMBOE, is being
considered.
Burro Picachos Platform. There are nine areas in
Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas that may be tendered for exploration.
These areas are estimated to have a prospective resource volume of
approximately 500 MMBOE in an area of 1,024 km2. The hydrocarbons
expected in these areas are dry gas, wet gas, and light oil. Most
of the areas will be tendered in Round 2 and the remainder in Round
4.
Burgos Region. These areas are located in Nuevo
Leon and Tamaulipas. There are 124 areas to be tendered, estimated
to have a prospective volume of 6,486 MMBOE in an area of 14,406
km2. The expected hydrocarbons are dry gas and wet gas, and the
areas will be tendered mostly in Rounds 2 and 3, leaving the
remainder for Round 4.
Tampico-Misantla Region. These areas are located
in Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, Puebla, and Veracruz. The
158 areas to be tendered have an estimated prospective resource of
17,625 MMBOE in an area of 18,529 km2. The resources are thought to
be mainly crude oil and associated natural gas and will be tendered
during the four rounds.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.