Evolving Risk Management in Mexico's O&G: OCA Global

Q: OCA Global offers a broad range of services. Which specific service lines within inspection, certification, and testing have seen the most significant growth or shifts in demand within Mexico's oil and gas sector over the past year?

A: Mexico represents a highly strategic market for OCA Global. Opening our Mexican subsidiary approximately 10 years ago was a crucial step in consolidating our presence in the Latin American region. We can broadly categorize our services into two main blocks: those oriented towards capital expenditure (CAPEX) and those towards operational expenditure (OPEX).

Services oriented towards CAPEX primarily include project pre-feasibility studies, engineering reviews, supervision during construction or project development, and factory inspections anywhere in the world. We have offices in 19 countries, but the capacity to operate in nearly 90, allowing us to act as our clients' "eyes" during the acquisition of assets for projects to be executed in Mexico.

In the OPEX block, once assets, plants, or projects are operational, we provide support in asset integrity management. This involves ensuring quality, minimizing risks during operations, and accompanying clients throughout the entire lifecycle of their projects and operations, guaranteeing their quality and minimizing operational risks.

Q: How has activity within the sector evolved, and how have you adapted your strategy regarding the decrease in activities?

A: We have primarily focused on providing services in mature fields, which demand more specialized strategies. Understanding the highly dynamic and changing regulatory framework, we have adapted our operations to assist clients in complying with these regulations, meeting quality requirements not only from the government and local standards but also international ones. We have placed a strong emphasis on environmental compliance and supporting our clients in ensuring the safety of their employees and operations.

Q: Given the global emphasis on digital transformation, how is OCA Global integrating advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and remote inspections into its services for the Mexican oil and gas market? 

A: These technologies are already available and they undoubtedly add significant value to our services for clients. We are actively conducting digital inspections using drones or laser scanning for infrastructure. We have also developed our own platform named Odis Live, where all information can be uploaded, giving clients real-time access. This means that if we are conducting inspections in the field, quality data is uploaded in real time, allowing the client to monitor their assets from anywhere.

However, the purpose of remote inspections is not solely to gather quality data, as manual data collection can, of course, lead to errors. Our primary goal is to reduce personnel exposure in the field. While a drone pilot will always be necessary, this approach allows for fewer specialists to be exposed to risks in the field, reduces execution time, and enables these specialists to process information in the office, reviewing the quality of data collected by drones. This also facilitates the creation of digital models that empower our clients to better manage their plants and equipment, load all necessary information into these digital models for precise maintenance planning, and ultimately mitigate risks during operations. In summary, we are focused on using technology to reduce risks, minimize field exposure, and provide our clients with rapid, precise, and high-quality information.

Q: How have you primarily adapted to regulatory changes, for example, with the dissolution of the CNH and the upcoming mixed projects?

A: Our company is accustomed to navigating complex and dynamic regulatory landscapes. We operate not only in Mexico but across many countries on all continents, so facing regulatory changes and dynamism in the energy sector is standard for us. We are highly resilient in this regard. Our approach is to quickly understand new regulations, adapt to them, and view them as opportunities to assist our clients in complying.

Q: The government's focus on fuel self-sufficiency involves significant investments in refining capacity, including the Olmeca refinery. How does this trend specifically translate into demand for OCA Global's inspection, certification, and maintenance supervision services in the downstream sector?

A: Downstream is not a completely distant sector, but it has not been as central as upstream or midstream. However, we aim to strengthen our presence there precisely because of the significant changes and investment coming into that sector. Our efforts and services in downstream have primarily focused on environmental compliance and verification services for service stations. However, where we truly want to add more value is in environmental compliance, environmental management, carbon footprint measurement, and services more oriented towars atmospheric emissions. Our focus is predominantly on environmental and personnel safety issues.

Q: In an industry with inherent risks, how does OCA Global ensure its Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) services remain at the forefront of best practices, especially given the evolving regulatory expectations in Mexico?

A: I believe companies are very aware that safety and risk reduction are no longer just added values or differentiators; they must be embedded in the DNA of all Mexican companies, and the industry is understanding this very well. I think the oil industry, more than others, truly introspects and integrates safety into its core. We observe that clients are becoming increasingly conscious of this, as are workers and individuals.

We have focused heavily on training, not only for our own employees but also by offering these training programs to clients to close technical gaps or understanding gaps in safety. Our aim is to make safety a fundamental part of daily work life, like a morning routine. There are still many opportunities in this area, but we are seeing clients increasingly issue contracts for assistance with industrial safety management in their fields and operations. There is a strong awareness and commitment to training employees, and it has become something that is built into companies’ annual budgets. This means that investing in industrial safety is no longer perceived as an "effort" or an "extra cost." We see that both private and state-owned operators are deeply committed to safety. 

Q: How does OCA Global adapt its training programs to address the evolving skill sets required for compliance and operational excellence in Mexico's oil and gas workforce, especially considering new technologies and regulations?

A: OCA Global's primary objective is to leverage the talent available within the communities or areas where we operate. Therefore, we strive to ensure that the professionals working in our operations are local.

Of course, sometimes we may not find the full technical capacity within a specific region. In such cases, we have developed comprehensive training plans to close these technical gaps. We aim to identify professionals who can adapt to our requirements or those of our clients and establish a clear career path for them. This allows us to hire an engineer or technician from, for example, Campeche, and then train them to meet our specific technical demands or those of our clients for service delivery. Our goal is always to utilize and develop local talent.

There is immense potential, and naturally, many needs. Our objective is to train personnel, to encourage people to stay with us long-term, to grow, to build their careers, and to develop specific technical knowledge they might currently lack but have the potential for. This way, we can create a pool of highly qualified and valuable specialists for the services we provide to our clients.

Q: How can you assist your clients in implementing solutions that address environmental concerns, especially since this was not a primary focus for the oil industry even a few years ago? 

A: We are offering our clients services rooted in sustainability that effectively help them continue their operations with minimized environmental impact. For instance, we provide comprehensive services related to methane emission measurement and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere. This includes detection, quantification, and the development of mitigation plans. We also offer carbon footprint measurement services. Companies globally aim for carbon neutrality, which requires management, measurement, analysis, and implementation of plans, along with establishing a baseline and projecting future reductions in their carbon footprint over specific timelines. OCA Global acts as a strategic partner throughout this analysis, guiding clients on their journey toward carbon neutrality.

Additionally, we continue to provide conventional environmental management services, such as environmental measurements and the development of environmental impact mitigation plans, even before the current energy transition agenda. We possess a complete portfolio oriented toward sustainability and the energy transition, including feasibility studies for clean energy solutions and comprehensive project lifecycle support, from initial feasibility and securing financing to operational delivery of these alternatives.

Regarding convincing clients of the importance of investing in these areas, it requires a robust business case, which must clearly outline the investment, the anticipated benefits, and the timeframe for realization. Benefits are not solely financial; they also include reducing your carbon footprint and potentially gaining economic incentives from the government in the future for companies working to reduce emissions and harmful atmospheric gases. 

Q: What are your main objectives in the Mexican market for 2025?

A: Our strategy is supported by three key pillars, applicable to all industrial sectors, not just oil and gas. First, we aim to be a technical benchmark in the industry and for our clients. When there is a doubt, a question, or a problem to solve, we want OCA Global to be the name that comes up in conversation and meetings, as the go-to partner for technical solutions and support. Second, a significant objective is sectoral expansion. We want to be present in all private sectors and increase our presence in the public sector. We also aim to penetrate industries where we currently do not have a strong foothold, such as biofuels and the chemical sector. Third, we focus on operational consolidation, which means covering all regions of the country. We are currently present in some regions, but we aim to expand our presence into other areas where we are not yet operating. This will solidify our reputation as a strategic partner, a technical leader, and a trusted companion whom clients can call with any need, whether in Baja California or Yucatan.

The core of our business is to ensure quality, assist in reducing risks, and serve as our clients' "eyes" anywhere in the world. We act as their trusted consultants; if they have a question, need to validate a project, or require assistance with an operation, OCA Global is the company they can call for a reliable solution.

OCA Global is an international group that provides a wide range of comprehensive services focused on inspection, certification, testing, consulting, prevention, and training activities.