CNH Issues Round 3 Bidding Guidelines for Exploration and Production in Shallow Waters

By Rodrigo Vazquez del Mercado-Rivera, Pedro Javier Reséndez Bocanegra, Juan Manuel González Bernal, Jorge Aleman Juarez & Pablo Ortiz Mena Montes de Oca on October 10, 2017

On Sept. 29, 2017, Mexico´s National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH) published the guidelines and model contracts for the first bidding process of “Ronda 3” (Round 3.1). Round 3.1 includes 35 exploration and production (E&P) contractual areas in shallow waters in the Gulf of Mexico, with a total surface of 26,265 km² (10,140 mi²), approximately 1,988 million barrels of crude oil equivalent (MMBOE), and a remaining volume of 290 MMBOE. The contractual areas included in the bid are as follows:

14 contractual areas located in the Burgos area, with a surface of 8,424 km² (3,252 mi²), and 579 MMBOE of estimated prospective resources.
13 contractual areas located in the Tampico-Misantla-Vercacruz area, with a surface of 12,493 km² (4,823 mi²), 1,217 MMBOE of estimated prospective resources, and a remaining volume of 193 MMBOE.
8 contractual areas located in the Southeast Basin area (Cuenca del Sureste), with a surface of 5,348 km² (2,065 mi²), 192 MMBOE of estimated prospective resources, and a remaining volume of 96 MMBOE.