Pemex Repairs Offshore Pipeline After Gulf of Mexico Oil Leak

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Pemex Repairs Offshore Pipeline After Gulf of Mexico Oil Leak

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Pemex logo in Mexico City, Mexico (©Shutterstock/Eve Orea)
Pemex logo in Mexico City, Mexico (©Shutterstock/Eve Orea)

Mexico's state-owned oil company, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), has completed repairs on a pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico that leaked an estimated 300 barrels of crude oil, impacting a stretch of the Tabasco coast.

The company confirmed that work to contain leaks on the pipeline, which transports crude from the Akal-C platform to the Dos Bocas Maritime Terminal, concluded on May 6, with two metal clamps installed during the repairs.

Following the repair, Pemex initiated a controlled operation of the pipeline to monitor the integrity of the work, reporting no traces of oil in the repaired sections.

Pemex also addressed the presence of hydrocarbons observed along 7 kilometers of the coast in the municipality of Paraíso, Tabasco. 

The company stated that 14 out of 15 identified points with hydrocarbon presence had been treated as of May 9, with the remaining point expected to be completed the same day.

Containment measures, including the use of vessels and the installation of barriers in the Mecoacán Lagoon and near the Dos Bocas Maritime Terminal, are ongoing to prevent further coastal impact, according to Pemex.

The incident occurred as Pemex continues work on other projects, including the Zama oil development offshore Tabasco, which requires an estimated capital of $4.5 billion. 

The capital would cover the planning of two key offshore platforms, 68 kilometres (42 miles) of pipelines and cables, as well as a new onshore facility.

The company also recently dealt with a fire and explosion on its PCH-1 platform last month, which resulted in injuries to 32 workers.

Pemex views natural gas as a key pillar in energy transition efforts due to its versatility, affordability, and low emissions. 

With the discovery of significant gas deposits in Latin America, the South American country may not continue importing natural gas until 2029 as planned earlier, as the reserves would be sufficient to cover domestic consumption.