Italian energy giant Eni said on Friday it has successfully tested an oil well in the shallow waters of the Campeche Bay off southern Mexico.
Eni carried out the successful test on the Tecoalli 2 well in Area-1, approximately 200 km West of Ciudad del Carmen, in 33 metres of water.
The results confirm the excellent production capabilities of the Orca formation and good quality of the oil encountered in the reservoir, Eni said.
During the test well reached a flow rate of 7000 BOPD, a result constrained by the capacity of the production equipment.
With the final production completion, the well is expected to reach 10000 BOPD, Eni said.
Eni now estimates that there are 1-2 billion barrels (BBOE) of hydrocarbons in Area 1 of which oil makes up around 90 percent and the rest remaining associated gas.
Once its development plan is approved by Mexican authorities, Eni will sanction the development of Area 1 (the Amoca, Mizton and Tecoalli fields), said the company.
Production startup i expected in the first half 2019, Eni stated.
Eni has been present in Mexico since 2006 and established its wholly owned subsidiary Eni Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. in 2015.
Eni holds rights in 4 exploration and production blocks in the Sureste Basin, all as the operator, the company said.
