Maloob

Profile for the Ku-Maloob-Zaap (KMZ) Oil Field, including the Maloob Field

Location and Geography

• The Ku-Maloob-Zaap oil field is located offshore in the Bay of Campeche, Gulf of Mexico, approximately 105 kilometres (65 miles) northwest of Ciudad del Carmen, off the coast of Tabasco and Campeche, Mexico.
• The field lies in territorial waters at a water depth of 60 to 90 meters (100 meters on average).

Discovery and Production History

• The Ku field was discovered in 1980, the Maloob field in 1984, and the Zaap field in 1991. First oil production from the Ku field began in 1981.
• The field complex includes five main fields: Ku, Maloob, Zaap, Bacab, and Lum, along with the smaller Zazil-Ha field.

Operator and Ownership

• The field is operated by Pemex, Mexico's national oil company, which holds 100% ownership.

Geology and Reservoirs

• The Ku, Maloob, and Zaap fields produce oil from the Kimmeridgian, Lower Paleocene-Upper Cretaceous, and Middle Eocene reservoirs.
• The oil produced varies from 12 to 25 degrees API, which is heavy crude oil.

Production Details

• The Ku-Maloob-Zaap field is one of Mexico's most productive oil fields. As of 2015, it produced approximately 853,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 349 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
• By 2022, production had declined to around 700,000 barrels per day, still accounting for roughly 40% of Pemex's total output.

Infrastructure

• The field utilizes 17 platforms:
  • Seven drilling platforms
  • Four production platforms (e.g., Ayatsil-C, Maloob-A, Maloob-B)
  • Four accommodation platforms (e.g., Ha-Zaap-C, Ha-Ku-H)
  • One telecommunication platform
  • One processing platform
  • The Yuum K Ak Naab FPSO with a 600,000 bpd handling capacity, including 200,000 bpd processing capacity and gas export capability.

Pipelines and Transportation

• There are 42 oil pipelines totaling 166 kilometers (103 miles) in length to transport the oil produced from the field.

Reserves

• The total estimated reserves of the Ku-Maloob-Zaap field are approximately 4.9 billion barrels of oil.

Production Management and Enhancement

• To maintain production levels, Pemex has implemented various techniques, including nitrogen injection and natural gas injection for enhanced oil recovery.

Contractors and Projects

• Several contractors have been involved in the development and maintenance of the field:
  • Keppel: Project management, design, engineering, procurement, hook-up, and commissioning of accommodation modules
  • SembCorp Marine: Conversion of the Ultra Large Crude Carrier, BW Enterprise to an FPSO
  • Fluor: Engineering, procurement, construction, load out, sea-fastening, and technical assistance during installation of drilling platforms
  • Saipem: Offshore transport and installation of six platforms
  • Dragados Offshore: Engineering, procurement, fabrication, interconnection, testing, and start-up of various platforms
  • Other contractors include Emtunga, VME Process, ABB, McDermott, and KWsubsea.

Recent Events and Challenges

• In 2021, the field experienced significant incidents, including an undersea gas pipeline rupture and an explosion and fire on the E-Ku-A2 platform, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
• Production has been in a declining phase, partly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pemex continues to invest in maintaining production levels through various management strategies.

Economic and Strategic Importance

• The Ku-Maloob-Zaap field is one of Pemex’s most profitable producing assets and has been crucial in offsetting the decline in production from the Cantarell field, another major oil field in Mexico.
• The field's production accounts for a significant portion of Mexico's total crude oil output, highlighting its strategic importance for the country's energy sector.