Mexico awarded just under half of the 35 shallow-water blocks it tendered on Tuesday, in an auction muddied by the promises of the presidential frontrunner to review contracts awarded under a historic energy opening if he wins the July 1 election.The countryâs oil regulator awarded 16 blocks in the Gulf of Mexico to firms including Spainâs Repsol, Franceâs Total, Italyâs Eni, Britainâs Premier Oil and Mexicoâs state-run Pemex, which was the biggest winner overall.A final, competitive round of bidding in the Southeast Basins improved what started as a patchy showing, with little interest in fields believed to contain high amounts of natural gas.About $8.6 billion in investment is expected from the projects to be developed in the awarded blocks, Mexicoâs Energy Minister Pedro Joaquin Coldwell said, with early production starting in 2022 and a production potential of 280,000 barrels per day (bpd).Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has a comfortable lead in most polls, said that if he wins the July vote, he would review more than 90 contracts signed since Mexico passed legislation in 2013 ending Pemexâs 75-year monopoly, looking for signs of corruption.Click here for full Reuters articleSource: Reuters
CNH-RO3-LO1/2017 Bid Round or Ronda 3.1 - 35 shelf blocks granting preliminary awards for 16 blocks out of 35 on offer.