Spotlight: Mexico’s fastest growing oil fields

2022 has been a breakthrough year for Mexican oil and gas production, with several key projects delivering on their potential.

Output has increased, although oil production was also influenced by very light crude that is often classified as condensate. Disagreement on classification is related to federal oil company Pemex’s more recent batch of shallow water and onshore projects.

In January-November, regulator CNH reported production of 1.62Mb/d (million barrels per day) of crude and 217,000b/d of condensate. 

But Pemex said it produced 1.92Mb/d, including gas-derived liquids and condensate. Condensate output is reported as only 70,000b/d. The company put its crude output for the year at 1.68Mb/d, still higher than CNH’s figure.

CNH also reported natural gas output for the year of 4.07Bf3/d (billion cubic feet per day), while Pemex reported 4.68Bf3/d.

While Pemex’s biggest producing areas still include some if its star legacy fields, including Maloob, Zaap and Balam, newer fields like Ayatsil and Xanab also feature prominently.

Among the fields with rising output are Tupilco Profundo, which as of November was producing 48,000b/d, and Pokche, which over the last two years went from 3,900b/d to November output of 32,000b/d. Pemex’s Ek legacy field also saw a significant rise, more than doubling in the same period to 37,000b/d.

The Racemosa field reached 4,000b/d compared to zero two years ago, while Teekit Profundo produced 6,800b/d, also up from zero. Racemosa in particular has been touted by Pemex as a major discovery and started the appraisal stage in March.

Among privately operated fields, Hokchi Energy’s Hokchi has seen strong production growth from 1,800b/d in early 2021 to an expected 26,000b/d by end-December, making it a top 20 field.

Fieldwood Energy’s Ichalkil and Pokoch shallow water fields, meanwhile, did not register output in October 2021 but are now at almost 15,000b/d combined, making them the second fastest growing privately operated assets. Eni’s Amoca reached almost 10,000b/d from zero in February 2022.

Other fields that have seen less output growth are Samaria, Teotleco, Madrefil, Cheek, Sihil, Tlacame, Teca, Takin, Bedel, Cibix, Nohoch and Tlamatini.