Site Visit: Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo (IMP)
Site Visit: Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo (IMP)
Pontem | Centro de Tecnologías para Exploración y Producción (CTEP)
Mexico Engagements: Past, Present, Future
Early in my career, I worked projects in the Mexican refining sector, supporting an ambitious program to revamp three (3) Pemex refineries:
Madero (Tamaulipas)
Salamanca (Guanajuato)
Minatitlan (Veracruz) - this one was my baby!
For someone whose previous knowledge of Mexico was limited to Cancun - and whose previous refinery work was mostly in India or China - this offered an exciting opportunity to work on projects closer to home. And, of course, a great chance at some team-building “in-country” after the work was done.
Fast-forward, after pivoting careers (downstream → upstream), we opted for Mexico as the site for arguably the most impactful company team-building event I’ve ever hosted. Bittersweet to know something could be this good…and also know it wasn’t going to last forever, ultimately serving as the catalyst for my resignation shortly after.
And just 1.5 years ago, it was actually in Mexico (again) where the idea for Pontem was hatched. What seemed like a good - albeit daunting - idea on the beach in Cabo was vetted / executed once the plane touched down back in Houston. Funny how you don’t know the moments that are going to change your life until they do…
With so many profound career moments already having a through-line via Mexico, the past month has seen two separate trips back with Pontem: Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX) and Veracruz. Given their proximity, why wouldn’t we handle these both in a single trip, you might ask? Well, as with most things Pontem, there is always interesting / novel project opportunities (and adventure) to be had…this time, a “quick trip” much further south to visit our office in Perth in between those Mexico visits. Thankful the flight to Mexico is 2 hours and not 24+.
Introduction to IMP/ CTEP
Last week, Pontem visited the impressive IMP facilities in Veracruz. Established in 1965, the Mexican Petroleum Institute (Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, IMP) has nearly 60 years of actively supporting the Mexican oil and gas sector throughout the country. In 2018, the Technology Center for Exploration and Production (Centro de Tecnologías para Exploración y Producción, CTEP) was established in Veracruz.
The CTEP facilities encompass five (5) laboratories within their large complex:
Calificación de Tecnologías (Technology Qualification)
Aseguramiento de Flujo (Flow Assurance)
Simulación Numérica de Fenómenos Metoceánicos e Hidrodinámicos (Numerical Simulation)
Fluidos de Perforación, Terminación y Cementación de Pozos (Drilling, Completion, and Cementing Fluids)
Geotecnia e Interacción Suelo-Estructura (Geotechnics and Soil-Soil Interaction)
I visited two of the labs (Flow Assurance and Drilling/Completion/Cementing), interacting with an extremely knowledgeable and welcoming team of scientists / engineers. The comprehensive testing equipment and capabilities, aimed at addressing the most common production issues, was great to see. With Mexico’s upcoming ultra-deepwater projects coming on-line later this decade, developing these capabilities is vital to their success.
In addition to the two laboratories, I also toured the flow loop facilities. Able to test multiphase fluid flow, separation, and solids transport, the capabilities were aimed at balancing the academic vs. practical (field application). The large diameter and scale of the testing equipment is impressive. And on this particular day, no problem testing >90F without an inlet heater!
In an attempt at some personal development/growth, I actually took the flow loop tour entirely en Español! My Spanish definitely needs work, but I am getting better (I’ve had good teachers). It’s better than I let on. Plus, it helps that the multiphase test fluids are: aire, crudo y agua…and I can do quick number conversions in bar/C back to psi/F. Still have a LONG way to go, but…estoy muy contento con mi visita.
Closing
The visit to IMP’s CTEP facilities showcased an impressive range of applications, all geared at addressing technical challenges faced within the oil/gas industry. Mexico’s vast range of production scenarios (heavy oil, gas networks, frontier deepwater basins) brings an equally-wide set of problems for evaluation within the wider IMP ecosystem. Their capabilities for field-applied testing (leveraged with fundamental research) should open areas for future collaboration.
And if nothing else, Pontem has a paper accepted for this year’s Petrophase conference, chaired by IMP’s own Carlos Lira-Galeana, in Mexico this August.
Not sure Dr. Conrad and - my own newly-minted PhD status (see below!) - will be brave enough to give our presentation in Spanish. But, there is plenty of time to make plans to come down…
muy interesante y divertido!