Oil & Gas: The week in 10 stories

ARGENTINA

Neuquén province approved eight new investment plans for natural gas production from unconventional reservoirs in the Neuquén Basin that will see around US$4.67bn of investments over the next four years.

BRAZIL

Petrobras launched a tender for a contract to construct and operate the second definitive production system of the Mero field in the Santos pre-salt basin. The platform will be a floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO) capable of producing 180,000b/d and processing 12Mm3/d. It will be installed in water depths of 2,000m.

Brazil has begun a new stage of oil and gas exploration, based on rational rules and attraction of competitive investments, President Michel Temer said. "Now our subsoil wealth is effectively being used on behalf of the country's development," he added during a ceremony to sign the contracts for licenses auctioned off at the 2nd and 3rd pre-salt bidding rounds, held last year.

COLOMBIA

The Caño Limón-Covenas pipeline came under attack by rebel group ELN, causing a shutdown, paralyzing the country's second-largest crude transport route.

CUBA

Australian firm Melbana Energy received a microlocalization certificate from Cuba's regulatory authorities, which represents the successful completion of the first phase of the company's Block 9 drilling permitting process.

ECUADOR

Local offshore services firm Astinave EP signed a framework agreement with state oil company Petroamazonas to supply and install a flexible submarine flowline in the Gulf of Guayaquil.

MEXICO

The hydrocarbons commission awarded 19 deepwater fields in the country's latest auction, with Shell taking nine blocks and state oil firm Pemex bagging four. Pemex expects first oil from the fields in 6-8 years.

Pemex and Mitsui are reportedly close to striking a deal to increase refinery capacity at the state oil company's Tula facility, and which would require around US$2.6bn in investment.

The state oil company will soon launch a strategic partnership program that will include fields for both exploration and production, according to CEO Carlos Treviño Medina.

The Oil Price Information Service, which calculates implied wholesale rack costs in the Mexican fuel market, announced it will have an in-person presence in the country.