Italy’s Eni SpA, the main foreign operator in Mexico, announced a new discovery at the Yopaat-1 EXP exploration well in Block 9 of the Cuenca Salina in the Sureste Basin, offshore Mexico.

The well was drilled in a water depth of 525 m and reached a total depth of 2,931 m, Eni said in a July 8 press release. The well found about 200 m of net pay of hydrocarbon bearing sands in the Pliocene and Miocene sequences.

Preliminary estimates point to potential of around 300 MMboe to 400 MMboe in place.

Eni estimates the overall resources in place in the Sureste Basin exceed 1.3 Bboe, including the new Block 9 find coupled with discoveries in the Eni-operated Block 7 and Block 10.

The resource estimate could allow Eni to advance with the studies towards a potential Sureste Basin development “hub” with discoveries from the three blocks and other prospects present in the area, in synergy with the infrastructures located nearby, the company said.

Future production to flow from the Eni-operated blocks in the Sureste Basin will the company, and Mexico in general, to boost their respective production profiles.

Eni operates Block 9 with a 50% interest. Spain’s Repsol SA holds the remaining 50% in the block.

Offshore