CNH Approves Exploratory Drilling for PEMEX, Newpek

The National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH) authorized PEMEX to begin drilling at the onshore exploratory well Chucox-101EXP in Tabasco. The onshore well falls under the exploration plan already approved by the CNH through resolution CNH.E.06.005/2020 of Jan. 30, 2020, corresponding to assignment AE-0138-2M-Cuichapa. Meanwhile, Texas-based service provider Newpek has also been granted authorization from CNH this week to commence drilling at the Treviño-1EVA field in Tamaulipas, where the IOC expects to discover as much as 5.9MMb of crude oil.

PEMEX’s objective for Chucox is to find oil accumulations in the Lower Pliocene. The NOC plans to drill through a J-shape trajectory up to 2,565 vertical m, to explore a geological column in the Lower Pliocene. The hydrocarbon they hope to obtain is 33° API, a light crude. With the probability of geological success put at 27 percent, the total obtainable resources are estimated to sit at 5.67MMb of crude oil equivalent. Drilling and completion plans for the exploratory well are due to take a total of 64 days throughout 2022: 39 days for drilling from May 19 to June 27, as well as 17 days for completion between June 27 and July 14 and 8 days for decommissioning, from July 14 to July 22.

For Newpek, exploration of the onshore well, Treviño-1EVA, was approved by the regulator through resolution CNH.E.23.007/2022 taken on March 25, 2021. Appraisal of the current site stems from previous discoveries made at the Treviño-1001EXP and Treviño-2001EXP wells. The objective of Treviño’s exploration is to find condensate and gas accumulations in the Frio Marino formation, in the perforation interval from 2,286 to 2,162 vertical m. Newpek plans to drill through a vertical trajectory to 3,160 vertical m to explore a geological column in the Oligocene. The hydrocarbons they expect to obtain are both gas and condensate. The prospective resources are estimated at 5.9MMBOE, with a 42 percent probability of geological success. The timetable for drilling and completion in 2022 is estimated to take 33 days, including 23 days for drilling  form June 1 to June 24 and 10 days for well completion from June 24 to July 4.