Mexicos's Deepwater Knowledge not so Shallow Anymore

Q: IMP was awarded several trademarks and patents in 2016. What were the results in this regard for 2017-18?

A: During 1H18, IMP received 25 international and two national patents, 75 copyright registrations and 10 trademarks. In 2017, we received 45 international and 11 national patents, 275 copyright registrations and 27 trademarks. Of the country’s public research centers, we had the largest number of granted patents at a national level, which helps us maximize value generation in research and technological development in the energy industry. IMP’s product and service portfolio was restructured to align with the strategy for our new 2017-20 business model. The goal was to boost new growth drivers for the energy business, and to account for certification and development of standards based on the existing competition. In 2017, our portfolio included 94 products and services. Of these, 45 focused on exploration and production, 44 on engineering and five on talent development. The restructuring resulted in 87 solutions, including 45 oriented to E&P, 32 to engineering and 10 to talent development.

Q: What product or service development during 2018 do you consider to be the most representative of the efforts IMP is making in the Mexican oil and gas industry?

A: One of IMP’s main achievements in 2018 has been the start of operations at our Deepwater Technology Center (CTAP). This project reflects the efforts of many specialists who wanted to offer public and private institutions at a national and international level the experience of several laboratories specialized in strategic areas such as welldrilling, natural and operational risk characterization, tooling design and qualification, equipment and production systems.

The center has state-of-the-art technology to support clients in research and technology development processes, as well as talent development focused on oil and gas production in deepwater and ultra-deepwater fields in the Gulf of Mexico. The blowing agent IMP-WET-FOAM is an example of the type of technology developed at IMP’s center, and is part of the first chemical recovery process in Mexico. This project alone has led to an increase in oil production of 49 percent. 

We also developed the Venturi Flow-Pattern Enhancer System (MPFV) used for production control and well optimization, which has been installed in 579 Mexican wells. This technology allows for an average production increase of 20 percent in each oil well and, after five applications, prevents the need to drill a new well. Meanwhile, our Electromagnetic Surface Inspection Technology (TIEMS) for pipelines allows the quantitative evaluation of the physical state of pipeline coatings, thus identifying and classifying areas according to wear. We also offer IMP-ALICIM chemical inhibitors for corrosion protection that mitigate corrosion speeds in operational pipelines within spec.

IMP also focused on technological development oriented toward cleaning and sustainable technologies. We support R&D efforts in biofuels and their valorization, physical-chemical characterization, life-cycle analysis and combination with other fuels such as gasoline and diesel.

Q: How exactly is the creation of CTAP going to impact the Mexican oil and gas industry in the coming years?

A: Deepwater oil field identification, as well as well drilling and exploitation are among the main challenges that oildriven nations face. CTAP will put Mexico at the center of all developments related to these activities and will boost the national industry in field-planning processes, well drilling and design of equipment and systems. This will help companies select the best infrastructure to maximize results after their investments. CTAP has an excellent opportunity to provide technologies and integral solutions that reduce time frames between exploration and production.