Pemex goes for a new field with a Kante 1 well, in shallow waters with a high probability of success

Mexican oil (Pemex) will drill a new exploratory well: Kante 1EXP, looking for a new oil field in shallow waters, off the coast of Tabasco, in the assignment AE 0154 2M Chalabil, where according to the authorization of the National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH) has a probability of more than 50% of success with the approximate investments of 60 million dollars that the state company has reported in this type of geology and which are the lowest in the global market.

The well is of an exploratory type in a new field with a water depth of 23 meters, in shallow water, to reach a geological objective in the middle Pliocene geological depth of between 947 and 2,000 meters, with the objective of locating heavy oil of 23 degrees according to American Petroleum Institute (API).

Thus, with a vertical trajectory to reach those two kilometers deep with the PAE Gulf Driller VIII platform that has 3,000 horsepower and can drill up to 10 kilometers under water depth, Pemex will seek prospective resources at an average of 24 million barrels of crude oil equivalent with a very high probability of geological success of 51%, as explained by Juan Carlos Sabido Alcantara of the CNH Exploration Supervision Unit

“The probability of 51% seemed very good, very high, sometimes we see these numbers in the most advanced evaluation programs, but in an exploratory well it is very rare to see such a high number, despite the fact that the The correlation to decide on this well are not that close, they are at least three and even 96 kilometers away. Are they not being too optimistic with that number?” questioned the commissioner. Hector Moreiramember of the governing body of the CNH, to which the technical unit responded that the Pemex methodology evaluates the parameters of the oil system in its entirety and through a very clear seismic anomaly supports its level of certainty.

The drilling, requested only last September, will begin immediately, that is, on November 19, so that until December 25, for 38 days, the drilling of the well will be properly executed. Subsequently, until January 6, 2023, the completion activities of the well will be carried out for 12 days, which will be plugged for abandonment for 6 days, from January 7 to 12 of next year, they explained.

Until the last report at the end of the first half of the year, Pemex has requested authorization from the regulator for the drilling of 35 wells, of which 13 have been for exploration, three fluid injectors for existing wells, one of a well delimiting nature exploratory, and the rest have been field development notices, according to the CNH Well History.

Despite the recovery in the activities and mobility of the industry, and the high income that Pemex has had thanks to the fact that the price of oil has averaged almost double its price per barrel compared to 2021, these notices and Well drilling authorizations only increased 6% from one year to the next, that is, Pemex has only requested two more wells in 2022 than in 2021, according to the CNH.

It should be remembered that the Guidelines that regulate the drilling of Wells are mandatory for Oil Operators who need to drill a Well associated with oil activities in Mexico since the 2014 reform. Therefore, they must request Authorization from the Commission to drill: Wells exploratory; Wells in Deep and Ultra Deep Water, and

Type Wells that will be used as a Design Model for the massive development of Unconventional Reservoirs.

In addition, in the cases that it is required to drill Development Wells on land and in Shallow Waters, Latrine or for Hydrocarbon storage, Injectors drilled specifically to assist in the production of Hydrocarbons, the drilling activities may be carried out through a Notice ( Article 15 Bis of the Well Drilling Guidelines).

karol.garcia@eleconomista.mx