Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) submitted the Zama Unit development plan (UDP) to Mexico’s National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH), together with Zama unit holders Wintershall Dea, Talos Energy Inc., and Harbour Energy plc.
The plan envisages two offshore fixed platforms, 46 dry-tree wells, and oil and gas transportation via two 68-km pipelines to new infrastructure fully dedicated to Zama production, in Terminal Maritima Dos Bocas, in Paraiso, Tabasco, partner Wintershall Dea said in a release Mar. 24. The unit holders have finalized agreements for oil and gas marketing and infrastructure use based on globally recognized market indices and terms consistent with international best practices, said partner Talos Energy in a release Mar. 23.
Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) work is expected to continue while awaiting UDP approval from CNH, expected within the next 6 months, allowing for a subsequent final investment decision (FID) to be made after all regulatory approvals are obtained, Talos continued. FID is targeted in the next year.
Zama field was discovered in 2017 and fully evaluated in 2019 by the Block 7 Consortium, made up of Wintershall Dea, Talos, and Harbour. Zama will be developed to reach a production of up to 180,000 b/d of API gravity oil between 24 º and 27º, which represents about 10% of Mexico’s current oil production, Pemex said in a separate release Mar. 23.
An Integrated Project Team (IPT) comprised of individuals from all four Zama unit holders has been established to manage the development and operation of Zama going forward. Talos, together with Pemex, Wintershall, and Harbour, will co-lead different work groups within the IPT. Talos and Pemex will co-lead the planning, drilling, construction, and completion of all Zama wells and co-lead the planning, execution, and delivery of Zama's offshore infrastructure, Talos said. Talos, Pemex, and Wintershall will co-lead the project management office.
Zama is considered a strategic project by Pemex and the Mexican government. As per the Unitisation Resolution from March 2022, initial participating interests are Pemex 50.4%, Wintershall 19.8%, Talos 17.4%, and Harbour 12.4% (OGJ Online, Mar. 28, 2022).
Unitization was required after determination that the field lies within both the Talos-operated Block 7 and the adjacent AE-0152-Uchukil Asignación in the Cuencas del Sureste, in the Bay of Campeche in Mexico, operated by Pemex, that provides for joint development of the entire reservoir instead of each party developing its own block.
