The National Center for Hydrocarbon Information

Following the Energy Reform, one of the new responsibilities of CNH will be assembling all geological information and related data that is available on Mexico’s hydrocarbon reserves and potential resources. “CNH will play an important role in many senses,” explains Alma América Porres Luna, Commissioner of CNH. “For example, we will play a dominant role in awarding exploration permits to companies that are interested in coming to Mexico and conducting various types of surveys.” Until now, this role was assigned to SENER, with CNH only providing technical assistance. After the approval of the secondary laws, multiclient surveys, especially seismic surveys, will be opened up to the private participation. “These companies will ask for permits to conduct such studies independently and will be able to sell this information to companies that are looking to participate in licensing rounds,” says Porres Luna. She adds that she has already received plenty of inquiries from private companies keen to get their hands on some of the Gulf of Mexico’s most promising areas. “Every day, we receive new prospective contracts from companies that are looking to carry out data acquisition surveys all over the Gulf of Mexico.

We are talking about contracts involving investments worth millions of dollars on which the government is not spending a penny.” In order to manage all the information that will be generated under this new arrangement, the Energy Reform Decree stipulates the creation of a new institution, the National Center for Hydrocarbon Information (CNIH), under the authority and management of CNH. “Until now, all the information related to wells, seismic surveys, and explorationrelated studies was held by PEMEX. With the creation of the CNIH and its approval in the secondary laws, CNH will come into possession of all this geological information, as well as any new information generated by private companies.”

“We need to create a web portal where international companies interested in operating in Mexico can access this information,” says Porres Luna. This resembles the models used in Norway and the US. Companies will be charged a certain fee to access part of the information, but preliminary data will be accessed without cost. “Companies can buy information packages that will provide them with more detailed information of specific areas.”