Offshore staff
HOUSTON – Since 2004, the loss of 1.5 MMb/d from its super-giant Cantarell field has prompted PEMEX E&P to look again at its portfolio of undrilled prospects in the shallow waters of Campeche. At a PEMEX procurement panel at OTC, New Ventures Manager Sergio Guaso outlined PEMEX's plans for public tenders of offshore blocks, including by year-end, ones in deepwater areas.
He explained that an intense campaign to increase production is taking place, and operators will be paid by their incremental production. Terms in the new contract model provide for 100% cost recovery for exploration expense, 75% recovery for operations and a fee/barrel that will be the sole biddable element in the public tenders.
This offshore development will require the contracting of dozens of jackups and associated support vessels and services. A fundamental requirement for the success of PEMEX’s campaign is the timely availability of hotel vessels for the crews.
PEMEX E&P has renewed its contract with a consortium of three Mexican companies, TRESE, ARDICA, and JB del Golfo, for a hotel vessel, theArmada Firman 3, and associated services, for the period 2012-13. The vessel has capacity for 200 beds, and is equipped with DP-2, and a helicopter pad.
The vessel is leased by the consortium from Malaysia-based Bumi Armada Navigation. The members of this Mexican consortium have worked together on previous PEMEX contracts, and the consortium was recently awarded a "zero accident" certification by PEMEX E&P.
TRESE Director Ricardo Silva sees the successful bid in a PEMEX public tender by a consortium of Mexican and international players "as a positive sign that international collaboration of this type has a resonance in PEMEX’s development plans." Taking note of PEMEX's plans for public tenders for offshore blocks, Silva foresees a need for such consortiums by the new-to-country operators. "This will be a new experience for us to do business with operators other than PEMEX," he said.
5/9/2012
