Mexico’s Billion Dollar Oil Industry Ripe for the Picking

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Baystreet Staff / May 22

 

It may have taken the better part of a century, but Mexico figured out that their state-owned energy monopoly, PEMEX, was a business model that just wasn’t working out. After hammering out legislation in 2013 to denationalize the nation’s oil and gas industry, the worst thing that could happen, did; oil prices collapsed, and companies globally hit the brakes on spending. What was expected to be the opening of floodgates to invest in arguably the biggest energy opportunity today didn’t happen quite as expected. With oil prices climbing to fresh three-and-a-half year highs, all that is changing and the Mexico’s oil space is starting to heat up with investment of $150 billion now secured.

As it happens, investors’ conservative approach worked perfectly in favor of Steve Hanson and his team at International Frontier Resources Corp. (TSX-V: IFR) . “We knew that we were heading to Mexico for the first onshore licensing round to build the cornerstones of our operations,” Hanson said in a phone call with Baystreet.ca. “We were in a strong financial position with a clear mission to become the next energy leader in Mexico. Others staying on the sidelines as oil bottomed in 2016 really worked to our benefit as a first-mover in Mexico’s energy reform.”

The savvy leadership at IFR, formed an equal partnership with a Mexican petrochemical giant, as a result, this Canadian company became the first foreign-owned joint venture (JV) and independent oil company to actively explore onshore opportunities in Mexico in over 80 years. Through its strategic JV, IFR is also the first foreign company to complete the regulatory review and drill onshore conventional oil in Mexico under license contract. You’d think it would have been a major like Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) or Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHGE) or Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB), companies that were already working in the area as service providers to PEMEX, but it wasn’t. It was a little $30 million market cap. company that was nimble enough to beat everyone to the punch.

“We weren’t afraid of the price of oil. Not even at the $40 per barrel that oil was fetching at the time; we knew we could still make money based on our expertise and interpretation of the geology,” said Hanson. “At $70 oil, we’re obviously excited with our position, ” he added.

Confident for Good Reason

Hanson’s confidence isn’t unfounded. He has over two decades of well-grounded experience in finance and corporate development, serving as chairman and managing director at the award-winning equity money management firm Van Arbor Asset Management before selling it with a sizable payout to the ZLC Private Investment Management in 2008. Next he was the CEO and president of PanAsian Petroleum that was sold profitably to Ivanhoe Energy, shortly after Hanson took charge. Likewise, that was followed by serving as a director at Lion Petroleum, a company focused on oil and gas in East Africa which was then acquired by Taipan Resources.

IFR’s management team is the embodiment of success and has experience across the finance and energy spectrum throughout the globe, including COO and director Andy Fisher, who has a history of taking companies with negligible assets to robust oil and gas production. For instance, he founded Arcan Resources and grew it from no production to 4,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), before the company was sold to Aspenleaf Energy Ltd., in June 2015 for CDN. $300 million. He was also VP, international contracts and negotiation, at Pacalta Resources Ltd. (“Pacalta”) in Ecuador, where he helped in growing the company from 100 boe/d in production to roughly 45,000 boe/d. In 1999, Alberta Energy Co., the predecessor to EnCana’s (TSX: ECA) (NYSE: ECA), bought Pacalta in a deal worth approximately CDN. $1.0 billion!

For the sake of brevity, the profiles of everyone contributing to IFR’s future can’t be covered; however, it certainly is worth mentioning that Colin Mills, an independent director at IFR, has more than three decades of diverse international experience in power generation, including building two power plants in Mexico, which adds to the local advantage of IFR in terms of navigating the regulatory environment in Mexico.

The commitment and confidence of these individuals to IFR is best recognized based on the fact that insiders hold more than one-third of the company’s outstanding shares.

It’s this experience and dedication at IFR that led to the formation of Tonalli Energia, a 50-50 JV between IFR’s Mexican subsidiary, Petro Frontera S.A.P.I de CV, and Mexican petrochemical giant Grupo IDESA. As a first mover, the partnership and its in-country experience gives Tonalli a serious competitive edge to catapult it forward into becoming the next energy leader in Mexico.

The Tecolutla Project – Now a Producer!

Imagine every bit of oil in Texas was controlled by one company for the last 80 years. That’s a rough analogy for what has been going on in Mexico. It’s explored enough (both on- and offshore) to know that there are tremendous reserves, possibly comparable to the all-resilient Permian Basin, but woefully little with respect to extracting oil and gas. Right now, Mexico ranks as the Western hemisphere’s third largest oil producer and host of the fourth largest known oil reserves.

Those could be conservative positions in the future considering Premier Oil last summer made a major offshore discovery in a block next to Talos Energy and Sierra Oil and Gas that is estimated to hold in excess of one billion barrels of oil that possibly extend into the adjacent block. This was discovered through the first shallow water offshore exploration well drilled since denationalization. Shares of Premier rocketed higher with the find. “Few think of Mexico in the same terms as Saudi Arabia, despite the fact that Mexico has similar quantities of hydrocarbon resources,” argued a recent report published by Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. However, this is about to change with higher oil prices and growing investor interest.

Lending further credence to Mexican oil potential, IHS Markit thinks the country’s untapped Tampico-Misantla Basin on the east coast of Mexico could be one of the world’s next “super basins.” Part of the basin includes the massive Poza Rica oil field, estimated to contain 3.8 billion boe, and IFR’s Tecolutla project which has now commenced completion operations for its recently drilled TEC-10 well.

The Tampico basin is known to have geology similar to the prolific North American basins, with stacked conventional and unconventional pay zones. In fact, IFR recently drilled 138 meters of reef thickness at its directional evaluation, TEC-10 well. It is also known that such basins tend to have “halo” zones of tight oil (light oil that is easily produced) surrounding them, this may be supported by the limited amount of exploration that has so far occurred at Tecolutla.

Seven wells were drilled between 1956-1972, with a well with last recorded production rates in January 2016. IFR announced the completion of a successful workover of a legacy TEC-2 well which was tested for production for a total of seven days and far exceeded management expectations. The well reported an average flow of 125 barrels of oil per day which was more than 13 times higher compared to last recorded production on the well! Newly drilled TEC-10 is next to test for production rates which is the most exciting moment for IFR JV since its inception!

IFR was awarded the block in May 2016 with no cash payment, merely a royalty agreement which offered one of the most favourable terms in comparison to the royalties on other blocks offered during the bid round. Furthermore, Export Development Canada (EDC) backstopped IFR by putting up the company’s portion of the performance bond required by Tonalli, allowing the company to conserve its cash, while lending a great deal of validation to the project. IFR ended the first quarter of 2018 with $2.81 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt.

The first drill rig penetrated the ground in April, reached depth of 2,453 meters total vertical depth and was cased for production testing this month which was a historic moment for the Mexican oil and gas sector. Several points stand out when looking at the disclosed results, namely the fact that visible oil was noticeable from the core and the fact that oil was hit at deeper levels than oil was ever produced in the zone historically, indicating the El Abra reservoir at Tecolutla could have greater volume than ever believed.

Moreover, IFR, via Tonalli, is using modern exploration technology at Tecolutla for the first time. IFR is using the first-ever 3D seismic data shot for the whopping 81-billion-barrel Chicontepec formation with the aim of helping better understand Tecolutla field.

The beauty of the rock, according to Hanson, is not just that it is apparently flush with oil, but naturally fractured as well, making horizontal drilling easy, without the need for fracturing that draw the ire of environmentalists. These characteristics mean that the drilling is low cost, to the extent that Hanson believes the company can produce profitably at a cost of less than $20-$25 per barrel.

The Upcoming Catalysts

IFR is presently working on production testing, continuing analysis of the wireline, image logs and core analysis, refining the 3D seismic model and identifying the next drill target. The JV is looking ahead to the second tender of Round Three of bidding for projects (scheduled for September 27, 2018). Given the surge in value that Premier Oil experienced with its find, any positive data regarding the initial drill hole underpinned by historic production, should energize IFR shares and likely drive the attention of the investment community.

“We started IFR and moved aggressively in Mexico with the purpose of building a billion-dollar company,” Hanson added during the call. He continued, “We are very proud of being a first-mover in what we believe is going to quickly emerge as one of the most vibrant energy markets in the world and we’re not going to relent in our efforts to build value just as we have with previous companies.”

It’s difficult to disagree with anything Hanson says. They have nailed all of their milestones so far and certainly have plenty of running room to add to their portfolio. They have an outstanding partner in Grupo IDESA, the backing of EDC, are fully-funded for the existing work program, all the necessary infrastructure is in place, and they have outstanding experience across the entire supply chain that should allow IFR to sell oil at a price that couldn’t be realized anywhere else in the Western hemisphere.

Now, if they just start to prove the oil and the economic viability of the resource as they believe, IFR should be off to the races as the company looks to notch the next major success in their already impressive accomplishments.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this article should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this article is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. Baystreet.ca has been paid a fee of four thousand dollars for International Frontier Resources Corp. advertising. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this article as the basis for any investment decision. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in this article is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

 

Baystreet Staff / May 22

 

Proveedores y prestadores de servicios para las operaciones de Exploración y Extracción de hidrocarburos en el mar

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En un sector tan complejo como el de los Hidrocarburos, las empresas no pueden ser autosuficientes, por lo que requieren que terceros les provean de bienes y servicios que les permitan llevar a cabo sus actividades.

La exactitud, prontitud y calidad con la que proveedores y contratistas presten sus servicios son factores indispensables para el adecuado funcionamiento de una organización.

En el caso específico de las empresas que realizan actividades en el Sector Hidrocarburos, al desempeñarse en un ámbito de alto riesgo requieren la certeza de que sus proveedores y prestadores de servicios desempeñarán sus tareas con los más altos estándares de seguridad, para evitar la ocurrencia de accidentes, que pongan en peligro la vida y/o integridad de personas, daños a bienes o al medio ambiente.

Por eso, de acuerdo con las Disposiciones Administrativas de carácter general que establecen las reglas para el requerimiento mínimo de seguros a los Regulados que lleven a cabo obras o actividades de exploración y extracción de hidrocarburos, tratamiento y refinación de petróleo y procesamiento de gas natural (DACGS), emitidas el 23 de junio de 2016, las empresas del Sector Hidrocarburos que realicen las actividades antes mencionadas, deben requerir a sus contratistas, subcontratistas, proveedores o prestadores de servicio que cuenten con pólizas de seguro con las coberturas y montos necesarios y suficientes para amparar la responsabilidad por los daños que pudieran generar con motivo de las obras, servicios y/o actividades que realicen.

En este sentido, es responsabilidad de las empresas titulares de las licencias para operar, asegurarse que sus proveedores y contratistas podrán responder por los daños que llegaran a causar en el desarrollo de sus operaciones, además de que deberán contar con las coberturas de control de pozos, responsabilidad civil y responsabilidad ambiental, de acuerdo con la regulación aplicable.

En el caso de los montos, por ejemplo, una empresa que lleve a cabo la exploración y extracción de hidrocarburos que requiera de lanchas rápidas y embarcaciones menores de servicio y para ello contrate los servicios de otra empresa que se dedique al transporte marítimo, deberá solicitarle sus pólizas de seguro de protección e indemnización (P&I) por un monto no menor a USD 5´000,000 (cinco millones de dólares de los Estados Unidos de América), de conformidad con  el artículo 29, fracción II de las DACGS. En caso de que las embarcaciones que sean utilizadas no estén listadas en el artículo antes mencionado, la fracción V del mismo dispone que la póliza de seguro sea por un monto no menor a USD  100,000,000.00 (cien millones de dólares de los Estados Unidos de América).

En NRGI Broker somos expertos en seguros de protección e indemnización y en regulación en materia de seguridad industrial y protección ambiental. Acércate a nosotros, con gusto te atenderemos.

 

La Administración de Riesgos en el Sector Hidrocarburos

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Uno de los nuevos órganos reguladores que surgieron con la Reforma Energética fue la Agencia Nacional de Seguridad Industrial y Protección del Medio Ambiente del Sector Hidrocarburos (ASEA), con el objetivo de promover la cultura de la previsión entre los regulados, por ello, el 13 de mayo de 2016, se publicaron en el Diario Oficial de la Federación, las Disposiciones Administrativas de carácter general que establecen los lineamientos para la conformación, implementación y autorización del Sistema de Administración de Seguridad Industrial, Seguridad Operativa y Protección Ambiental (SASISOPA).

El SASISOPA es un conjunto de elementos interrelacionados y documentados cuyo propósito es prevenir, controlar y mitigar una instalación o un conjunto de ellas en materia de seguridad industrial, seguridad operativa y protección ambiental.

Su objetivo primordial es mitigar el riesgo inherente a las instalaciones y actividades del sector hidrocarburos, a fin de evitar accidentes y con ello garantizar la seguridad de las personas, los bienes y el medio ambiente.

Tomando en consideración que las empresas no empiezan de cero en la conformación del sistema de administración, se estableció la obligación de elaborar un Documento Puente, en el que conste el estudio de correspondencia de los elementos del sistema de administración de cada empresa con los establecidos en el artículo 13 de la Ley de la ASEA, para estar en posibilidad de conformar, implementar y obtener la autorización del SASISOPA.

Lo anterior, permite retomar las medidas previas y complementarlas con las políticas establecidas por la ASEA, para lograr la uniformidad en el sector.

Uno de los aspectos más importantes para la conformación del SASISOPA es la identificación de peligros y análisis de riesgos, para definir las medidas de prevención, control y mitigación, así como la valuación de incidentes, accidentes y pérdidas esperadas en los distintos escenarios de riesgo, en función de las consecuencias que esos riesgos representan en la población, medio ambiente, instalaciones y edificaciones comprendidas en el perímetro de las instalaciones industriales y en las inmediaciones.

La identificación de riesgos y la valuación de incidentes y accidentes son componentes fundamentales para tomar medidas preventivas y determinar cuáles serán los mecanismos correctivos en caso de que se llegara a materializar el riesgo.

En este punto, la contratación de los seguros es indispensable, pues una vez identificado y valuado el riesgo, se podrán contratar los seguros adecuados y suficientes para transferir el riesgo y con ello evitar que la empresa pueda ver afectadas sus finanzas por la reparación de los daños ocasionados por un siniestro.

En NRGI Broker, somos expertos en seguros para el Sector Hidrocarburos. Acércate a nosotros, con gusto te atenderemos.

 

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Los beneficios sociales de la Reforma Energética

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Cuando se promulgó la Reforma Energética a finales del año 2014, fueron diversos los beneficios sociales anunciados por el Gobierno Federal, entre los que se encontraban: 1) la creación de empleos; 2); el aumento de recursos públicos que serían utilizados para la construcción de escuelas, hospitales y el mejoramiento de servicios públicos en general, y 3) el aprovechamiento sustentable de los recursos naturales.

A poco más de tres años de la puesta en marcha de la Reforma Energética, es importante preguntarse si estos beneficios se han cumplido o tienen posibilidades de hacerse realidad, lo anterior, teniendo como base la idea de que estamos hablando de un proyecto de largo plazo, cuyas bondades requieren de tiempo para madurar. No obstante, podemos mencionar algunos datos que ya es posible vislumbrar.

Actualmente, más de 70 empresas nacionales e internacionales se encuentran realizando actividades para la exploración y extracción (E&E) de hidrocarburos en México, a través de los más de 100 contratos que ya se han adjudicado en los procesos de licitación organizados por la Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos (CNH), y que se traducen en inversiones comprometidas de más de 200 mil millones de dólares.

Todas estas empresas requieren de una variedad de servicios y personal capacitado para llevar a cabo sus operaciones en nuestro país, lo que trae consigo la creación y/o reactivación económica de empresas mexicanas, así como empleo para diversos profesionistas en lo individual; esto además, facilita a los contratistas cumplir con sus obligaciones de contenido nacional. De acuerdo a estimaciones de la Secretaría de Energía, se espera la creación de 230 mil a 900 mil empleos durante los próximos 15 años[1].

En cuanto a mayores recursos públicos para el Estado, los contratos de E&E, prevén diversas contraprestaciones a su favor, entre las que se encuentran regalías, bonos y pago de impuestos; además, México obtiene, en promedio, el 70% de utilidad de los mencionados contratos[2]. Hoy en día ya es posible hablar de importantes éxitos como el pozo Zama, perforado por la empresa Sierra Oil & Gas, de capital mexicano, el cual es definido como uno de los más grandes descubrimientos de los últimos 20 años; o el campo de la empresa italiana Eni, que ha resultado ser más productivo de lo que inicialmente se pronosticó. Dichos éxitos se verán reflejados también en las finanzas públicas.

Por último, en cuanto al objetivo de aprovechar sustentablemente los recursos naturales, la Agencia de Seguridad, Energía y Ambiente (ASEA) ha puesto especial atención en regular los aspectos relacionados con la seguridad industrial y protección ambiental, a fin de procurar que las actividades de la industria de los hidrocarburos no causen daños a terceros, en sus bienes y personas, instalaciones y medio ambiente.

Una de las medidas tomadas al respecto consiste en la obligación que tienen los operadores del sector hidrocarburos de contratar seguros de responsabilidad civil- ambiental y control de pozos, una efectiva garantía financiera, cuyo propósito es asegurar que contarán con los recursos necesarios para reparar los daños que causen en el desarrollo de sus actividades.

En NRGI Broker hemos participado activamente en la Reforma Energética y conocemos su regulación. Para contratar seguros, acércate a nosotros, somos los expertos y con gusto te atenderemos.

[1] https://www.animalpolitico.com/2018/02/900-mil-empleos-pemex/

[2] https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/Enfatizan-beneficios-de-reforma-energetica-20171206-0020.html

El descontrol de pozos ¿un riesgo catastrófico?

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Un descontrol de pozo ocurre cuando la presión de la formación[1] es mayor a la presión del fluido de control, lo que provoca un reventón o blow out, que no puede manejarse a voluntad.

El descontrol de un pozo es el evento más indeseado en materia de actividades petroleras, por las consecuencias catastróficas que se pueden desencadenar, tales como pérdida de vidas humanas, pérdida del pozo y del equipo de perforación, así como daños al medio ambiente.

El caso de mayores proporciones que se ha vivido recientemente en el mundo fue el Deepwater Horizon, en Estados Unidos. El 20 de abril de 2010, la empresa británica British Petroleum (BP) se encontraba realizando operaciones de exploración de aguas profundas en el pozo Macondo, ubicado a 75 kilómetros de la costa de Luisiana, cuando un escape de gas provocó una explosión de la plataforma semi-sumergible Deepwater Horizon con un incendio que duró 36 horas. Millones de barriles de petróleo fueron derramados, en una superficie de entre 86,500 y 180,000 kilómetros cuadrados; fallecieron 11 personas y otras más resultaron heridas.

Este siniestro es considerado uno de los peores en la industria del petróleo, no sólo por los daños directos provocados, sino también por los perjuicios resultantes, tales como la afectación a las actividades pesquera y turística.

En México no existen cifras oficiales acerca de qué tan frecuentemente se descontrola un pozo, pero el peor caso conocido hasta ahora fue el del Ixtoc I. El 3 de junio de 1979, mientras se llevaban a cabo los trabajos de perforación del pozo Ixtoc I de Petróleos Mexicanos, se produjo el descontrol del pozo, lo que ocasionó un incendio de gran magnitud y el derrame de más de 3 millones de barriles de crudo. El evento provocó que el petróleo llegara hasta las costas de Campeche, Tabasco, Veracruz y Tamaulipas e incluso a algunas zonas de Texas, por las que Estados Unidos solicitó compensación.

Para evitar un acontecimiento de este tipo que sin duda puede llegar a ser catastrófico, las empresas petroleras implementan diversas medidas de seguridad industrial y seguridad operativa, mediante la aplicación de sistemas adecuados de fluidos de perforación, equipos de medición y control de parámetros, y personal debidamente capacitado; no obstante la posibilidad de se origine el descontrol de un pozo es un riesgo latente.

De ahí la importancia de que las empresas petroleras cuenten con un programa integral de seguros, que les permita afrontar las consecuencias de un siniestro, sin poner en riesgo la rentabilidad de la compañía.

En NRGI Broker, somos expertos en programas integrales de seguros para empresas petroleras. Acércate a nosotros, con gusto te atenderemos.

[1] Por formación se entiende la estructura rocosa en la que se encuentra el hidrocarburo.

Energy Reform Could Generate $1T in Foreign Investment for Mexico by 2040

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FROM:  Natural Gas Intelligence / Ronald Buchanan / 19 de marzo de 2018

 

Mexico’s energy reform could generate $1 trillion of direct foreign investment by 2040, said leaders of the industry lobby, Mexican Association of Hydrocarbon Companies, earlier this month.

The association, known by its Spanish acronym Amexhi, was presenting its Agenda 2040, a huge volume that reviews the industry’s past, from its origins at the beginning of last century; the present, including current uncertainties; and a future through 2040 that would “transform Mexico.”

Amexhi President Alberto de la Fuente admitted that the investment goal is ambitious.

The Agenda presupposes that power and hydrocarbons would account for  4% of gross domestic product by the target date. And, de la Fuente emphasized, it would require accurate instrumentation of the reform’s precepts, “as well as the resolution of challenges that are a legacy of the previous model.”

The defense of the Agenda would require four watchwords, he added: “Steadfastness, competence, transparency and knowledge.”

Amexhi has taken pains to remain neutral during the current campaigns for Mexico’s July 1 presidential election.

“All the candidates have shown interesting elements in their policy statements,” said Enrique Hidalgo, president of ExxonMobil Exploracion y Produccion Mexico, and the coordinator of Agenda 2040.

Some of the industry group’s sympathizers, however, have claimed that the pronouncements of the current leader in the race, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who helms the left wing nationalist Morena party, has been less than steadfast in support of the reform. They also claim that his proposal for new refineries show a lack of understanding of the industry.

At the moment, the No. 2 in the race is Ricardo Anaya, leader of the National Action Party, the traditionally pro-business PAN. But Anaya has yet to issue any policy statements on energy.

Anaya also has embraced policies of left-wingers with whom he has formed an alliance. With them, he signed a statement of “No to the gasolinazo” — the liberation of gasoline prices.

Running third in the opinion polls is senior technocrat Jose Antonio Meade of the incumbent Institutional Revolutionary Party, the PRI. Meade was hand-picked by President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Meade’s loyalty to the energy reform has not been questioned. However, his loyalty to Peña Nieto has so far placed a political millstone around his neck. Pena Nieto is said to be the most unpopular Mexican president since political opinion polls were first published in the nation late in the 20th century as its democratic era began to dawn.

The democratic dawn has begun late for the former state monopolies of oil and natural gas, Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and power, Comision Federal de Electricidad, the CFE.

Neither is free to set a budget, as Congress and the Finance ministry keep a tight grip on their spending. The Pemex and CFE unions, particularly that of Pemex, have corporate powers that go well beyond the defense of the interests of the workers in terms of pay and conditions.

The challenge are considerable, said senior analyst Arturo Carranza of Mexico’s National Institute of Public Administration. But, he added, the rewards are realistic.

Agenda 2040 proposes 15 bid rounds to lease oil and gas acreage. Since the 2013-14 reform was enacted, there have been two rounds featuring eight separate completed lease auctions. Three auctions are currently underway for the third round.

“But the pace has been stepped up and it can be pushed further,” Carranza said. “The country’s potential is beyond question for the industry. And the government has to do its part by identifying opportunities that the companies can grasp. In return, it can reap the benefits, such as royalties, on behalf of the nation.

“At the same time, the government has to cast off the restrictions on the budgets of Pemex and the CFE,” he added.

De la Fuente said at the presentation that about 80% of the nation’s oilfields are currently in decline, “but the best tool that’s available to revert the trend is the energy reform.”

 

 

FROM:  Natural Gas Intelligence / Ronald Buchanan / 19 de marzo de 2018

¿Tomas decisiones en el sector energético? Conoce como estar respaldado.

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Tomar decisiones, por lo general, no es un proceso sencillo. Un individuo o un grupo de ellos se enfrenta a múltiples opciones, de cuya elección se derivarán una multiplicidad de consecuencias, que pueden ser positivas, pero también negativas.

En el ámbito empresarial, generalmente las decisiones suelen ser de mayor complejidad porque los efectos no se limitan a la persona que está tomando las decisiones, sino a toda la empresa y aún más, posiblemente a parte de la economía de un país, o bien, a un conjunto de la población. En resumen, pueden afectar a terceros.

En esta ocasión nos referiremos específicamente a las empresas que están participando en la Reforma Energética de México como contratistas petroleros. ¿Qué tipo de decisiones están tomando? ¿Qué implicaciones pueden tener en el corto, mediano y largo plazo? ¿Qué podría suceder si toman malas decisiones? ¿Hay alguna forma de proteger al directivo que, sin dolo, tomó una decisión que derivó en efectos negativos?

Quizá la primera gran decisión que realizan las empresas del sector energético es participar en los procesos de licitación organizados por la Comisión Nacional de Hidrocarburos y llegar a convertirse en contratistas petroleros. Pero ¿qué pasa si ganaron un campo que no es tan rentable como esperaban? ¿Y si en determinado momento se ven imposibilitados de cumplir con el Programa Mínimo de Trabajo? ¿Qué pasa si se presentó un siniestro y el monto del seguro contratado es insuficiente o las coberturas no son las adecuadas?

No debemos olvidar que el Contrato de Exploración y Extracción menciona en sus primeras páginas que se firma considerando que el riesgo corre total y exclusivamente a cargo del contratista, por lo que las consecuencias que podrían presentarse ante los casos antes mencionados como baja rentabilidad, problemas financieros o incumplimientos ante proveedores serán a exclusivo costo y riesgo del contratista.

Las decisiones generalmente se toman en el seno de un Consejo de Administración. Si fallan, es posible que tengan que asumir responsabilidades ante terceros y que tengan que responder incluso con su patrimonio personal.

Para evitarlo, los miembros de un Consejo de Administración y los directivos pueden estar asegurados con un seguro de responsabilidad civil conocido como D & O (Directors & Officers), que otorga respaldo frente a decisiones que comprometan a la empresa frente a terceros.

Su cobertura abarca los gastos de defensa y costas judiciales ante una reclamación o las posibles indemnizaciones.

Es importante destacar que se trata de un seguro que ampara específicamente al individuo, es decir a la persona que funja como directivo o como miembro del consejo de administración.

D&O es un seguro con el que todo aquel que tome decisiones en un Consejo de Administración o un directivo, debe contar para estar protegido frente a reclamaciones de terceros que pudieran derivar en una afectación patrimonial individual.

En NRGI Broker, somos expertos en seguros para las empresas del sector energético. Acércate a nosotros, con gusto te atenderemos.

 

Desarrollo de negocios en las áreas de exploración y extracción de hidrocarburos

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La Reforma Energética generó un abanico de posibilidades para el desarrollo de negocios relacionados con los hidrocarburos y petrolíferos.

La punta de lanza para la generación de nuevos negocios se encuentra en la exploración y extracción de hidrocarburos, donde se requiere la participación de empresas preparadas para extender sus servicios y de otras dispuestas a innovar para satisfacer los requerimientos de los contratistas petroleros.

En el primer grupo podemos mencionar, por ejemplo, a las empresas dedicadas a la perforación que si bien, previamente ya venían desarrollando estas funciones, ahora lo harán de forma más intensiva ante la multiplicidad de campos que ya se encuentran en las etapas de exploración o extracción.

En el segundo grupo, se encuentran las empresas que incursionan en áreas novedosas, como pueden ser los sistemas de información, bases de datos, así como desarrollo de software para necesidades específicas del sector.

En la era tecnológica que vivimos, estas áreas de negocio adquieren especial importancia, dado que pueden ofrecer soluciones reales a las empresas que incursionan en la Reforma Energética.

Un buen ejemplo es la medición de los hidrocarburos para la transferencia de custodia, que están obligadas a realizar las empresas para determinar las contraprestaciones al Estado. Se trata de una actividad que  requiere de mucha precisión por lo que es necesario recurrir a sistemas de última tecnología que satisfagan esta necesidad y evitar controversias entre las autoridades y el contratista respecto a su confiabilidad.

Actualmente, uno de los sistemas más utilizados es el SCADA, acrónimo de Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, consistente en un software para el control y la supervisión de procesos automáticos a distancia; provee información y permite su gestión.

Es importante mencionar que ya sea que se trate de empresas del primero o segundo grupo que aquí hemos mencionado, todas se consideran proveedores de las empresas contratistas u operadoras del Sector Hidrocarburos y, por lo tanto, podemos afirmar que participan del “riesgo” que tienen implícito las operaciones en este sector.

Por lo anterior, están obligados a contar con un seguro que ampare la responsabilidad por daños a terceros que se causen por las actividades en las que participan.

La contratación de estos seguros es sencilla y expedita. En NRGI Broker somos expertos en seguros para los proveedores del sector hidrocarburos. Acércate a nosotros, con gusto te atenderemos.

 

Mexico Energy Reform Slowdown Would Be ‘A Shame,’ Pemex CEO Says

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FROM: Bloomberg / Adam Williams / 7 de marzo de 2018

Mexico’s 2013 decision to end the government monopoly on energy has resulted in billions in investment and the arrival of dozens of international oil companies.

Carlos Trevino, Petroleos Mexicanos’s new chief executive officer, thinks it would be unfortunate for that to be interrupted by the next administration.

The top concern of Trevino, who took over at Pemex in November, is that Mexico will elect a president in July that will “slow down the energy reform pace,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television at the CERAWeek by IHS Markit event in Houston.

“Someone who doesn’t believe in the energy reform may reduce the speed very much and I think that would be a shame in Mexico,” Trevino said. “The energy reform has a lot of benefits to the country, to the people, so the the worst case scenario in my point of view is that the speed that we are implementing the energy reform will be reduced.”

Trevino’s concern matches that of many energy industry leaders in Mexico, which has signed more than 90 oil and gas production contracts with international majors such as Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Chevron Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. since a landmark 2015 crude auction. Presidential front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who leads polls ahead of the July 1 election, has vowed that his administration will slow the pace of the current oil auctions and review contracts signed by the current government.

A reversal or significant modification to the overhaul would be “almost impossible because to change the energy reform you will need to change the constitution,” Trevino said. It would require a majority in Mexico’s upper and lower houses and it “is really difficult for any president to have that amount” of support.

“It is possible but improbable,” Trevino said. “We have a lot of certainty on what is going to happen in the future no matter who wins the election.”

Refining partner
Pemex, which has reiterated that partners will improve crude production and refining margins, will formalize a joint-venture agreement with Mitsui & Co. at its flagship refinery this month, Trevino said. The partnership with Mitsui is an estimated $2.6 billion deal that will increase production to help reduce the nation’s reliance on imported fuels.

Pemex also expects to sign at least one additional refinery partnership as soon as this summer, Trevino said, without providing additional details. The company continues to seek partners for refinery auxiliary services in areas such as power generation, water treatment and steam generation, he said.

he partnership with Mitsui is an estimated $2.6 billion deal that will increase production to help reduce the nation’s reliance on imported fuels.

Pemex also expects to sign at least one additional refinery partnership as soon as this summer, Trevino said, without providing additional details. The company continues to seek partners for refinery auxiliary services in areas such as power generation, water treatment and steam generation, he said.

The company’s Salina Cruz refinery, which was offline for several months last year following a series of natural disasters, is operating at half of its capacity, processing around 150,000 daily barrels, according to Trevino. Pemex’s Madero refinery, which is in the process of a restart, is currently processing between 60,000 and 80,000 barrels, he said. The Madero refinery, which has the capacity to process 190,000 barrels per day, should ramp up to normal rates at the end of the month.

Oil Auctions
Pemex, which won rights to develop four deep water areas in Mexico’s Jan. 31 auction, is going to bid for a few block in the March 27 tender of 35 shallow water zones, he said. Pemex would prefer to bid in partnerships but is willing to go it alone if need be, Trevino said.

The company, which launched its own oil hedge last year to safeguard against a potential price drop, will continue the program next year, Trevino said.

 

 

FROM: Bloomberg / Adam Williams / 7 de marzo de 2018

Mexico’s Natural Gas Dilemma

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FROM: OilPrice / Jude Clemente / 12 de febrero

 

Mexico’s 2013 energy reforms are based on bringing in more competition for the two state-owned monopolies that had become too stagnant, Pemex (oil and gas) and CFE (electricity). One of the key areas with huge upside for foreign firms is the very expensive process of natural gas storage, which is critical for Mexico as it moves to replace overused fuel oil and reduce GHG emissions to meet climate change goals.

Despite rapidly declining production, Mexico is one of the most natural gas dependent nations on Earth. Gas now supplies 45 percent of all energy and 60 percent of electricity. Mexico has been forced to increasingly depend on cheaper piped imports from the U.S., which at 4.5 Bcf/d now account for about 55 percent of Mexico’s total gas usage. Much more gas will be required. Per capita, Mexico’s 130 million citizens consume just a third of the electricity that other OECD nations do. Additionally, there is a manufacturing boom in Mexico, namely in the automotive industry that will use increasing amounts of natural gas.

Currently with no underground sites, gas storage in Mexico will help even the market out — especially during high-demand times — and smooth bottlenecks that needlessly increase prices. Mexico now utilizes three LNG import terminals for short-term balancing, but this pricier supply is a problem for a nation where 50 percent of the people live below the poverty line. Mexico has been the largest buyer of U.S. LNG due to its dearth of pipelines. As seen during Hurricane Harvey, where officials had to force industrials to curtail operations, Mexico remains vulnerable to supply disruptions north of the border.

 

 

Today, the promotion of strategic gas inventories by the Mexican government should eventually lead to a commercial storage business with long-term, large-scale options. To start, the Energy Ministry (Sener) has been crafting a draft on storage policy, with the key proposal being a strategic reserve mandate for Sistrangas, the state-owned operator of Mexico’s largest pipeline network. The main policy requires the National Gas Control Center (Cenagas) to hold 45 Bcf of working gas in storage, which is still just what the country consumes in five days. So obviously, much more needs to be done in Mexico. Other OECD nations hold an average of at least 80 days’ worth of gas in storage.

For a sufficient storage market to emerge, Mexico needs to first better understand the seasonality of its own gas demand. Consumption in the U.S., for instance, can double in winter from summer because of heating needs, and the gas storage market has two phases: a “withdrawal season” from November–March and an “injection season” from April–October. Although not as dramatic, Mexico’s gas demand does peak in summer when hot temperatures surge electricity demand for air conditioners. To illustrate, U.S. gas exports to Mexico have typically been 35–50 percent higher in summer than winter.

Following the U.S. model, gas storage in Mexico also hinges on the private sector developing price indexes at pipeline interconnections and allowing regional price differences to materialize. Long reliant on U.S. gas based on price points at Henry Hub and Houston Ship Channel, Mexico seeks its own hub pricing system. This should occur sometime this year, likely first starting in the manufacturing hub of Monterrey, the capital city of the northeastern state Nuevo León. Going forward, rising trading volumes should help grow the immature market as well. Ultimately, commercial gas storage could become a viable business in Mexico within three to five years at the earliest.

Mexico wants a domestic gas storage option that can offer attractive prices that don’t include transport adders, like users must now pay to import gas from the U.S. But it will be difficult to compete with the U.S. storage market, which is the largest and most dynamic in the world. Existing U.S. gas storage sites are immense, with a working capacity of ~4,700 Bcf at 385 storage fields. Many of these have been operating for decades and enhance liquidity by offering short-term contracts.

The U.S. South Central is the closest source of storage for Mexico, and the region’s working gas in storage currently sits at 703 Bcf, which is 293 Bcf lower than this time last year and 199 Bcf below the previous five-year average. And opening up more opportunities for American sellers, U.S. gas pipeline gas capacity into Mexico will reach 15 Bcf/d by 2020, a 50 percent rise from today.

But Mexico’s deregulation is about upgrading energy security with increased self-sufficiency, not spiraling dependence on the U.S. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the current favorite for Mexico’s July presidential election, has made this clear and has suggested a return to the old days of resource nationalism. Mexico also realizes that the huge U.S. LNG export build-out means that loads of gas will be leaving the country, destined for the booming markets in Asia. Both China and India have proven willing to pay more for energy and sign long-term contracts to ensure supply.

As such, the good news is that Mexico’s recent reforms have widened investment opportunities and brought in new producers. For example, although still small-scale, there are now about 18 non-Pemex and non-CFE gas sellers in the nation. And with an EIA-reported 550,000 Bcf of recoverable shale gas, development should start in Mexico in the early-2020s, especially bolstered by more suppliers, rising prices, and enhanced security against narco-traffickers.

Additionally, current and potential non-state producers were encouraged by Mexico’s Energy Regulatory Commission’s (CRE) decision last June to eliminate the maximum price that natural gas can be sold at “first-hand sales.” Freed from the hands of state control, this is another step for the immature market to finally incorporate the true value of natural gas — increasingly Mexico’s most vital fuel.

 

FROM: OilPrice / Jude Clemente / 12 de febrero