Mexico Oil & Gas “Apertura" - Round 1 Update: Deep Water Exploration

Mexico's deep water round contractual and regulatory requirements are complex and untested. It is important to clearly understand these requirements, the interrelations, and develop a detailed regulatory road map to ensure a smooth and timely execution synchronized with the technical exploration requirements and milestones.

Thus far, 26 Oil & Gas Companies have initiated the prequalification process for Mexico's deep water exploration round according to official information. This bidding round follows the three conducted so far under the Mexican Oil & Gas E&P Round 1 "Apertura", including rounds for shallow water exploration and extraction, and onshore mature blocks. The process has been accessible to all interested stakeholders, with typical (standard) contract models, the names of bidders and successful awards publicized through social media and dedicated internet web pages. 

The deep water bid round will feature 11 largely unexplored blocks in the Perdido and Cuenca Salina areas located in the Mexican side of deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  Oil companies have paid Mexico's oil regulator, the National Hydrocarbon Commission (Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos – CNH), nearly $80 million for seismic data ahead of the auction for deep-water fields. This sum reflects a fraction of companies’ spending in the past year to acquire geological data ahead of the Dec. 2016 auction.

Contractual and regulatory requirements include an HSE Management Program to manage risks (Programa de Administración de Riesgos: Conformación e Implementación del Sistema de Administración); conducting environmental and social impact assessments; determining environmental and social existing ("as is") conditions by executing baselines, and monitoring and reporting on industrial and operational safety, environmental protection, occupational health, and socio-economic conditions.

The regulatory approval process is complex and untested, and given the lead time required for offshore deep drilling equipment and associated logistics and facilities, it is important to clearly understand these requirements, the interrelations, and develop a detailed regulatory road map to ensure a smooth and timely execution synchronized with the technical exploration requirements and milestones. 

HSE International, LLC participated at the SPE E&P symposium on Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability, March 30 - 31 in Mexico City.  Presentations and panel discussions during the event, included key HSES regulators, notably the Industrial Safety and Environmental Protection Regulatory Agency for the Hydrocarbon Sector (Agencia de Seguridad, Energía y Ambiente – ASEA) and Mexico’s Energy Ministry (Secretaria de Energía – SENER) charged with social impact assessment and prior consultation. 

Regulations are in the process of being developed, with some to be released shortly and others to follow over the next months. Close coordination with ASEA, SENER and CNH is necessary to ensure adequate - timely approvals, while also seeking potential beneficial synergies. 

How HSE International, LLC can help

HSE International uses its sector-focused approach, deep knowledge and experience in the oil and gas industry, and international delivery capabilities to help our clients. HSE International has worked in the Mexican oil and gas sector since 2008, including supporting IOCs, NOCs and Regulators, along the oil and gas value chain. We have developed a process to address environmental, social and safety risks each step of the way and are eager to contribute to a more sustainable development of the oil and gas sector in Mexico. 

For more information email us at: solutions@hseinternational.com

Fernando Rodriguez, Founder and Managing Director of HSE International

HSE International LLC provides environmental, social, health & safety risk management consulting and sustainability services to industries, investors and institutions worldwide. We partner with local experts to promote local content, and our fusion integrates local knowledge with international expertise and assurance. http://www.hseinternational.com

HSE International LLC at SPE Symposium on Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability, 30 – 31 March, Mexico City, Mexico.

HSE International LLC’s Managing Director Fernando Rodriguez, a member of the Conference Committee, will moderate along with Mary Beth Snodgrass (Local Contenect LLC), the following Panel: Operationalizing Sustainable Development.

Speakers at this panel will include: Juan Carlos Belausteguigoitia with the Mexico Institute of Technology, Nayelli Garcia with Schlumberger, Mark Thorpe with Torex Gold, and Karla Torrez with Shell.

Often times O&G industry discussions on sustainable development topics are focused on strategy, policy, guidelines and other key high-level statements, while often the biggest challenge for operators and service companies is implementing good international industry practices (GIIP) to achieve sustainable development. This panel will focus on operationalizing solutions to social, economic, environmental and security risks and impacts.

Panelists will share stories of their successes as well as on-going challenges and how they are being addressed. With local and international experience structuring and implementing sustainable development practices, the panelists will discuss operationalizing sustainable development in Mexico at a pivotal time: at the beginning of the country's “Apertura” and during a low oil price environment. 

The SPE Mexico Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability Symposium: Collaboration for Future Growth, will get together operators, regulators, and new entrants to Mexico as they collaborate on how to identify and establish the best practices and protocols each has to offer to achieve sustainable, secure, and safe operations in an expanding market.

Interested in meeting with Fernando to discuss a particular topic during the symposium? Please send him a note ahead of the event to: fernando.rodriguez@hseinternational.com

For more information visit http://www.spe.org/events/lahs/2016/pages/schedule/tech_program/thursday_techprogram.php

New Oil & Gas discovery in Mexico's shallow waters increases stakeholder expectations

The Mexican national oil company Pemex (NOC), has recently announced one of its biggest discoveries in years, unveiling new shallow-water oil fields in the southern Gulf of Mexico. The timing of the discoveries, only a month away from the opening of bids, increases the interest and attractiveness of the shallow-water tenders, while at the same time raises sustainability questions and expectations.

There are four new fields with important hydrocarbon potential in shallow-waters of the area known as Litoral of Tabasco and to a structure near the Cantarell complex, and located close to the shallow water areas out for tender. The NOC estimates the fields could be developed for production in approximately 16 – 20 months and achieve 200 thousand barrels of crude oil and 170 million cubic feet of gas per day. Taking into account the short period for its development and the size of the deposits found, these discoveries may represent the greatest exploratory success of Pemex in the last 5 years according to the NOC.

Mexico’s Oil and Gas industry has been and continues to be a pillar of the country’s economy, politics and society, with the NOC dominating the space now and at least in the near term.  It is therefore not surprising that these recent discoveries may further heighten stakeholder expectations of the Ronda 1 shallow-water results, including those of local communities and institutions in the region, and other national and international stakeholders.

Successful international oil and gas companies (IOC) on July 15th, the new investors and operators in the Mexican oil and gas sector, will face greater risks and challenges than the NOC. Experience indicates that stakeholder challenges and social risks will be far more complex for the IOCs (and their local supply chain), requiring a real understanding of the issues, innovative strategies to manage non-technical risks, and engagement from the onset.

Click the link that follows for additional insights into managing non-technical risks to ensure the success of new oil and gas business ventures in Mexico. http://www.hseinternational.com/news-insights/2015/5/mexicos-oil-gas-apertura-shallow-waters-and-above-ground-risks