Mexico's Main Campeche Offshore Oil Zone Not Hit By Marco

MEXICO CITY (Dow Jones Newswires), October 7, 2008

Tropical Storm Marco didn't affect Mexico's main offshore oil fields in the Campeche Sound when it passed through the area on Tuesday, but it did cause some evacuations in the northern area of the country and a production halt at six natural gas wells.

"We were not affected in any way," a Petroleos Mexicanos spokesman said Tuesday from Cuidad del Carmen when asked about operations in the oil-rich Campeche Sound.

The country's largest two oil fields, Cantarell and Ku-Maloob-Zaap, are located in the area.

Pemex reported on Monday night that it had evacuated staff from four offshore platforms in the northern region, and shut in six wells at the Lankahuasa natural gas platform. The company also shut a natural gas processing plant and evacuated staff from two other offshore platforms at Bagre, a small oil field, and the Carpa B platform. No oil wells were shut at Bagre or Carpa.

A Pemex spokeswoman wasn't able to give a timeline for when production will be restored at the six gas wells.

The northern region produces 86,000 barrels a day of oil, and additional volumes of natural gas. On Monday, Pemex said that, due to heavy rains, it was taking preventative measures at the Chicontepec oil basin, which produces over 30,000 barrels a day, and the Poza Rica natural gas basin.

As of Tuesday morning, the Pemex spokeswoman was unable to confirm if the company had to shut in production at onshore facilities, but said the company would have an update on operations later in the day.

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