VIEW FROM THE TOP
BRINGING THE CASPIAN MODEL TO THE GULF PAVEL SUPRUNOV Director General of Lukoil-Engineering
Q: How does Mexico fit into Lukoil’s global portfolio?
process of the contract. But now that the first contract
A: Lukoil started looking at Mexico six or seven years ago.
has been migrated, in December 2017, things are looking
Four years ago, after the Energy Reform was announced,
favorable. We have had good results in Chicontepec
we set up an office in Mexico City. We started looking very
and although the source rock is not very consistent, it
closely at the opportunities that presented themselves to
produces. We are hoping to test Pimienta soon.
participate in the licensing rounds. We finally succeeded last year after participating in different rounds alone and
Q: Which project that you have been involved in
in consortiums, and we plan to continue participating.
internationally could you replicate in Mexico?
Right now, Mexico is not very material in Lukoil’s global
A: We have had very good results with our development
portfolio but we look at this country as a region with
in the Caspian Sea, which is the experience we would
high exploration potential. Recent announcements and
like to transfer to Mexico. We know how to build the
discoveries give us hope that we are doing the right
infrastructure and how to develop fields in shallow water.
thing. So far, every well that has been drilled is a success.
Although we have had good experience with exploration
There have been two huge discoveries, which suggests
projects in deepwater, in Mexico we are concentrating
the region will be prolific. The Mexican side of the Gulf of
on shallow water. I think the Caspian Sea is a very good
Mexico has great exploration potential for oil.
example of how we hope to proceed in Mexico.
We will continue assessing all the upcoming rounds that
Q: Could you talk about the considerations behind the
will be announced. Definitely our main area of interest
bid for shallow-water Block 12?
will be the shallow waters of the southern part of the
A: We bid at 75 percent and one additional well. We have
Gulf of Mexico. The Perdido basin is deepwater, which
two structures and we will probably be presenting a
is riskier, and if we participate we will do so with an
staged exploration plan. Geological concept is proven by
operator. We are happy with our results so far and we
recent discoveries and we think about full development of
are very excited to start drilling next year, if only because
the field. It depends on the results of the whole area as well
we are 20km from the 1.5 billion-barrel Zama discovery.
since there is a lot of potential for cooperation between
We will continue to expand in Mexico and continue to
operators with regard to infrastructure in this area.
try to increase our access to acreage for more drilling opportunities.
Q: How can Lukoil improve the quality and quantity of its yields as it consolidates its operations in Mexico?
Q: What was your experience with the Amatitlan field?
A: In Mexico we are looking for more opportunities and we
A: With the Amatitlan field there has been a lot of
will be participating in Round 3.1. We think that after 2018
discussion about the migration process of the contract.
there will be a lot of activity in the aftermarket with farm-
We acquired the block hoping for a fast migration. Several
ins and farmouts so I think we will seek opportunities in
wells have been drilled and several wells are expecting
the area to diversify risk and access different exploration
completion as of May 2018. We have gotten an extension
projects. We will wait for the results of the drilling in the
of the initial period. PEMEX and CNH have agreed to
area but up to now the results have been amazing.
restart negotiations about the contract migration. We are working on provisional plans for the development phase and simultaneously working on getting the permits to drill
Lukoil International Upstream West provides operational
the Pimienta shale formation to test the unconventional
project portfolio management for oil and gas exploration and
potential of the block. We have had a slow start but that
development activities in West Africa, Western Europe and in
was related more to uncertainty about the migration
the Americas
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