Mexico sets new deep-water pace

Interest in the North American offshore continues, with Mexican deep-water opportunities expected to star

Mexico's last deep-water offering in January, before July's presidential election, saw the government award 19 out of 29 contracts on offer in three deep offshore areas. Of those, nine went to Shell, either alone or in partnership with other bidders. The total prospective investment under the tender neared $100bn, as modifications to the tender terms made the round the most successful to date. "We've seen more pragmatism in the Mexico leasing process," says Julie Wilson, head of global exploration research at consultancy Wood Mackenzie in Houston. This, she adds, is in line with similarly increased flexibility from Latin America's other large rising oil producer, Brazil. It remains to be see