Abkatún

Abkatún-Pol-Chuc (APC) Oil Field Profile

Location and Geology

The Abkatún-Pol-Chuc (APC) oil field is located in the Campeche basin, situated between the states of Campeche and Tabasco, Mexico. It is approximately 132 kilometers northeast of the port of Dos Bocas maritime terminal and operates in shallow waters.

History and Discovery

The Abkatún-Pol-Chuc field has been operational since 1976, when the Pol field, part of the APC complex, was discovered. Production began in 1980, and the field reached its peak production in February 1996, producing 754,934 barrels of oil per day (b/d).

Fields and Production

The APC field comprises 18 fields, with 10 currently in production. As of the latest data, the field has produced 5.54 billion barrels of oil and 6.35 trillion cubic feet (180 billion cubic meters) of gas. The oil produced has a viscosity corresponding to 37°API and 40°API, making it significant for Pemex.

Operations and Management

The field is operated by Pemex (Petróleos Mexicanos), Mexico's state-owned oil company. After the peak production period, Pemex implemented various enhanced oil recovery techniques, with water injection being the most successful method to manage the decline of the mature fields.

Recent Developments and Infrastructure

In recent years, significant investments have been made to manage the decline of the larger, mature fields and to develop newer discoveries within the complex. One notable project is the construction of the PB-Abkatun-A2 platform.

• PB-Abkatun-A2 Platform: This platform, constructed by McDermott International, is one of the largest projects in size and total value for Pemex. The platform was designed to provide replacement and expansion capabilities to the existing Abkatun Pol Chuc facilities. It was fabricated at McDermott's Altamira, Mexico fabrication facility and installed in the Bay of Campeche in 124 feet of water. The platform is capable of producing 220,000 barrels of oil per day and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

Incidents and Environmental Concerns

The Abkatun complex has experienced significant incidents, including a major explosion on the Abkatun-A Permanente platform on April 1, 2015.

• 2015 Explosion: The explosion resulted in four confirmed deaths, at least 16 injuries, and three workers presumed dead after jumping into the sea to escape the fire. Despite Pemex's claims that the fire did not cause a significant oil spill, satellite imagery and independent assessments suggested an oily sheen stretching several miles from the platform. Greenpeace Mexico's requests to independently assess the environmental impacts were denied by Pemex.

Current Status

As of 2019, the Abkatun-A2 platform was virtually complete and on the brink of startup, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance production from the Abkatun-Pol-Chuc field.

Economic and Strategic Importance

The Abkatun-Pol-Chuc field is one of Mexico's earliest and most significant offshore oil developments. It remains crucial for Pemex and the Mexican oil industry, despite being a mature field. The investments in new platforms and enhanced recovery techniques are part of broader efforts to sustain oil production in Mexico's declining fields.