Mexico floating LNG project gets new boost

Mexican energy regulator CRE authorized a New Fortress Energy subsidiary to transport natural gas via pipelines for a floating LNG project off the coast of Veracruz state.

In its latest session, the commission granted the permit to Mexico FLNG, which last month received authorization to conduct natural gas liquefaction activities in the same area.

The project has advanced its permitting this year, starting with the green light from the US Energy Department to export gas to Mexico, a CRE approval to generate electric power to feed the plant in February, and an LNG export permit from Mexico’s energy ministry last month. 

The first stage of the project, which will produce 1.4Mt/y of LNG, is expected to start testing this month and make its initial delivery in August.

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Hydrocarbons regulator CNH authorized state-owned oil and gas giant Pemex to spud two wells.

The first is the Bamoa well off the coast of Tabasco, which the company plans to spud starting in August. The second is the Yawa well in Puebla, which Pemex said it started spudding on June 6.

The agency also approved an exploratory investment of up to US$78.6mn for 2023 and 2024 filed by Pemex for its Llave 6 field in Oaxaca state. The new plan involves spudding four exploration wells and conducting production tests to appraise the area's potential.

For the Yawa field, Pemex presented an updated exploration plan involving up to three new wells for a total investment of up to US$61mn.

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Pemex also greenlit the commissioning of several relocatable offshore platforms to carry out activities at an unspecified field.

According to local outlet Oil and Gas Magazine, Pemex's board approved construction of six such structures.

The plan would involve four temporary platforms and two definitive ones, as well as the necessary pipelines and connections.