DORIS to Lead Zama FEED Development

Zama Unit partners, Wintershall Dea, PEMEX, Talos Energy, and Harbour Energy, awarded the contract for the initial Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies to the French engineering firm DORIS. The company has secured an engineering contract that involves designing two offshore platforms, 68km of pipelines and cables, and a new onshore facility. 

The FEED work will be based on the scope of the Unit Development Plan approved by CNH last year. The Zama Unit partnership also aims to minimize greenhouse gas emissions by using the best available technology, utilizing the produced gas for onshore power generation, and making more efficient use of existing storage and transportation infrastructure.

DORIS will collaborate with two Mexican engineering firms, NOMARNA and SUMMUM, to carry out the FEED work. “The FEED contract is a significant achievement, possible thanks to the excellent cooperation within our Integrated Project Team (IPT), where colleagues from all four Zama partner companies work together daily on this extensive and important project. I am pleased that we are making great strides together as a single team,” emphasized Sylvain Petiteau, Vice President of the Zama Project.

Zama is one of the largest shallow water discoveries worldwide in the past 20 years and was the first discovery made by an international consortium in Mexico in 2017. With estimated gross resources of 600MMb to 800MMb of oil, Zama is expected to significantly contribute to Mexico’s energy supply over the next 25 years, fostering growth in the country's energy sector and creating numerous jobs in the coming years. The field is expected to produce up to 180Mb/d by 2029, which corresponds to about 10% of Mexico’s current total oil production.

Once FEED studies are completed, the Zama unit partnership will proceed with the bidding process for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts, followed by the Final Investment Decision. Wintershall Dea is the second largest stakeholder in the Zama field after PEMEX, holding an initial participation of 19.83% according to the Unitization Resolution of March 2022. PEMEX holds 50.43%, Talos Energy 17.35%, and Harbour Energy 12.39%.

The Zama venture marks a pivotal milestone in Mexico's energy landscape, integrating public and private sector expertise to tap into substantial reserves. The approved development plan, requiring a total investment of US$9.08 billion, outlines a comprehensive strategy spanning 22 years. The project envisages drilling 46 wells, constructing infrastructure, and implementing production processes to maximize hydrocarbon recovery.