Mexico Approves First Pre-Salt Well Application

Mexico's upstream regulator, the national hydrocarbons commission (CNH), has approved modifications to Pemex' licence to drill the country's first pre-salt well, hoping to repeat the success seen in other such projects.

The exploration well, YAAXTAAB-1, is in 50 metres of water, in the AE0013-M-Pilar of Akal Kayab-04, 95 km northwest of Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, CNH said October 18.

The programmed depth is 7,800 metres below sea level and has to get through a thick layer of salt. That implies a great technological challenge, it said. Nevertheless the rewards could be considerable for the gas-importing nation: "These plays have been highly productive in other parts of the world, such as Brazil and Angola," it said.

William Powell