Latin American Luncheon
focuses on deepwater exploration
Image gallery
Julie Colley
25 September 2007—Deepwater exploration in Mexico was the topic of the day for a luncheon meeting on Tuesday at the SEG Annual Meeting.
Speaker Guillermo A. Pérez-Cruz of Pemex discussed the achievements and challenges of deepwater exploration in the region in this luncheon meeting of the ULG (Union of Latin Geophysicists) in San Antonio. Pemex' goals are reserve substitution of 100% and first production in 2012, Pérez-Cruz said. In addition, the petroleum company needs to increase execution capabilities, strengthen Pemex’s technical skills, and assure value creation through all processes.
Pemex will need to identify and focus on key areas, capture drilling rigs and seismic vessels at competitive cost, acquire 3D seismic over key areas, consolidate the prospects portfolio, increase drilling activity, improve performance, appraise and characterize new discoveries, concept selection and implementation, intensify skill development programs, and establish a new organization based on processes to face challenges.
Pérez-Cruz showed several examples of seismic data from 3D surveys and a workflow chart that revealed streamlined, well-organized processes. Also shown were examples of regional interpretation, salt interpretation, well planning, prospect evaluation, shallow hazards, visualization, regional mapping, structural mapping, amplitude extraction, 3D sedimentary models, and seal assessment. Pérez-Cruz then explained how traditional offshore oil plays of the continental platform extend broadly into the deepwater region.
Finally, he addressed the various challenges that Pemex faces, including how PSDM has provided significant improvements to seismic imaging below salt; however, additional research for more severe multiple attenuation and accurate velocity model building is required to succeed. Also, other alternatives such as WE PSDM and RTM need to be selectively applied before wide- or multiple-azimuth acquisition is recommended.
A new full-cycle deepwater asset was created to manage operations in the Gulf of Mexico in September 2007, Pérez-Cruz said. Pemex is putting together the necessary pieces to overcome challenges in deepwater exploration and processing. “Becoming a reliable operator in deepwater takes effort, time, commitment, and firm determination, and we are on the right path,” he said.
About Pérez-Cruz
Pérez-Cruz has been the deepwater manager of Pemex Exploración y Producción since 2003. He has worked for Pemex since 1975, and from 1975 to 1979 he was in northern Mexico researching gravity, magnetics, and seismic field work. From 1980 to 1981, Pérez-Cruz interpreted geologic, geomechanical, and geophysical data for prospect generation in the Northern Gulf of California. From 1982 to 1988, he revised exploratory prospects of basins in Mexico as an interpreter for the Evaluation and Interpretation Unit, interpreting 2D and 3D seismic information from the Gulf of Mexico. Pérez-Cruz coordinated joint exploratory projects with major oil companies when he joined the exploration technology team, and in 1996, he became manager of exploration technology. In 2000, he was the geosciences manager for the Strategic Gas Project. In 1975, Pérez-Cruz received a B.S. and an M.Sc. in 1987, both in geophysics from the University of Mexico. In 1992, he received a Ph.D. in geology and geophysics from Rice University. Pérez-Cruz is a former president of AMGE and a member of SEG, AAPG, and the Mexican Academy of Engineering.
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