VIEW FROM THE TOP
MISLABELED FIELDS OFFER OPPORTUNITY ADĂ N OVIEDO Director General of COMESA
Q: How did the downturn in oil activities in the last few
by investing in hardware, software and human talent.
years change COMESA and does this benefit its clients?
COMESA has also worked with these operators because
A: In the past, COMESA had a really strong relationship
even though they have strong financials, they still need
with PEMEX while also supporting its onshore seismic
people with deep knowledge and experience working in
activities. Five years ago, we launched a very aggressive
the local geology.
program to diversify our business and our client base. We started working with CFE and with private companies to
In summary, COMESA offers to its clients state-of-the-art
provide geoscience studies for the geothermal, mining
equipment related to seismic, deep knowledge of Mexican
and water-prospecting segments, and also have taken
basins and highly-experienced staff to support new
part in seismic processing and interpretation activities
operations in Mexico and help them achieve their goals.
in countries such as Brazil and Bolivia. Q: How is COMESA working to help PEMEX recover its We are completely transforming ourselves, changing
previous production levels?
our state of mind, because the market has completely
A: We are very interested in working with PEMEX,
transformed as well. It is not only the rules of the game
particularly in the fields it was assigned during Round
that have changed, but the entire game, and it will never
Zero. We know that most of these fields only have been
go back to how it was when PEMEX was the only relevant
developed with primary production techniques, and there
operator in Mexico. Now that the oil and gas industry is
are many other EOR techniques that can be implemented,
rebounding, we are deeply involved in providing services
such as using tertiary recovery technologies. In Mexico,
to new companies that won blocks in Rounds 1.3, 2.2 and
many fields have been mislabeled as mature. The real fact
2.3. To further expand our market opportunities, we have
is that many of these fields do not require cutting-edge
also started to complement our capabilities by providing
technologies to raise their production but simple standard
integrated solutions, from the beginning to the end of
EOR procedures, such as water injection. Mexico has
the exploration-production value chain, including seismic
around 600 fields, both onshore and offshore, and while
data acquisition, processing, interpretation, reservoir
only 50 fields provide around 70 percent of the 2 million
characterization and project evaluation. To be able to
b/d that PEMEX produces, approximately 80 percent of
provide all these services, we are looking to create strategic
these 600 fields have been marginalized for investment
alliances with companies that complement our capabilities.
because they were improperly declared mature fields. Some of these fields remained PEMEX assets after Round
Q: What added value does COMESA provide the Mexican
Zero and COMESA is eager to participate with PEMEX to
oil and gas industry?
revitalize and increase its production. PEMEX is focusing
A: COMESA has a deep knowledge of the Mexican market
on its best opportunities to be efficient. We want to
and industry. We know almost every oil basin in Mexico
collaborate with PEMEX and help it do just that. One
because of both seismic acquisition programs executed
of our goals is to take part in the farm-in activities that
for PEMEX and the many former PEMEX employees who
PEMEX will launch in November 2017.
are now working with us. Combining this experienced talent with state-of-the-art technologies and our very own processing center, makes us today the only service company in the country able to provide design,
COMESA is an oil services company, owned 60 percent
acquisition, processing and interpretation of seismic
by PEMEX and 40 percent by Schlumberger, with over 49
data at Mexican locations. Some operators entering
years of experience in Mexico and a broad knowledge of the
Mexico have created their own geoscience department
Mexican basins
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