Oil & Gas News

Statoil Awarded Licenses in Mexico’s Deepwater Round

Statoil has been awarded blocks 1 and 3 in the Saline Basin in the Deepwater exploration tender in the Mexican Round 1.

The blocks cover an area of about 5,650 km2 (approx. 2,200 square miles) in the largely unexplored deepwater areas of the Saline Basin. Statoil will be the operator of blocks 1 and 3, at 33.4% equity, with partners BP and Total participating equally with the remaining equity.

6Statoil mexicoMapMap image: Courtesy: Statoil

The licenses were awarded in a competitive bid round. A total of 10 deepwater blocks were on offer, with four in the Perdido Area and six in the Saline Basin.

The blocks awarded are in water depths ranging from about 900 – 3,200 meters. The bid round is Mexico’s first ever tender for deepwater exploration acreage.

“Mexico’s opening presents the industry with great opportunities, so we are pleased to secure an early position. The award grants Statoil access to significant frontier acreage in an underexplored part of offshore Mexico. The blocks are virtually untested, with considerable subsurface uncertainty, but with play-opening potential,” says Tore Løseth, Statoil’s vice president for exploration in the US and Mexico.

The winning bids for both blocks consisted of an additional royalty of 10% (on potential future revenues) and an additional work program equivalent to 1 biddable well per block. Each block also has a minimum work program as defined by the authorities, including a variety of geological activities but no required wells.

“The licenses awarded reinforces Statoil’s exploration strategy of early access at scale. This further strengthens and develops the optionality in Statoil’s long-term international portfolio,” says Løseth.

“With the Deepwater tender bringing Mexico’s historic Round 1 to a conclusion, we are starting to see the fruits of Mexico’s comprehensive energy reform. Statoil has a long-term perspective in Mexico, and we look forward to contributing to developing the energy sector by assessing the blocks awarded,” says Løseth.

Statoil has had a representative office in Mexico City since 2001.

Offshore Source Logo

Offshore Source keeps you updated with relevant information concerning the Offshore Energy Sector.

Any views or opinions represented on this website belong solely to the author and do not represent those of the people, institutions or organizations that Offshore Source or collaborators may or may not have been associated with in a professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated.

Corporate Offices

Technology Systems Corporation
8502 SW Kansas Ave
Stuart, FL 34997

info@tscpublishing.com