US major Chevron has requested to return the second of its two operated deepwater blocks offMexico,effectively marking its retreat from the country's offshore frontier.Mexico's National Hydrocarbons Commission(CNH)on Thursday approved a petition from the USmajor to return Block 22(Area 3),a frontier block in the Salina Basin that was acquired during thecountry’s second deepwater bid round in 2018.The Chevron-led consortium,which includesMexican state oil company Pemex and Japan's Inpex,signed up for a commitment well in the blockbut never drilled it.”Chevron and our partners have decided not to continue exploratory work on Block 22 offshoreMexico and initiated the process of returning the block to theCNH,”a spokeswoman told EnergyIntelligence.”However,Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico business will maintain an offi ce in Mexico City andcontinue to monitor industry developments in the country.”Late last year Chevron initiated the process to return its other Mexico offshore block,located in thePerdido foldbelt,which it acquired in Mexico's fi rst deepwater bid round in 2016.The company hadonly conducted geological studies in that block and did not drill any wells.
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