Equinor will drill the Zip-1 exploration well in the Salinas-Sureste Basin during Q1 2021 following approval by CNH Mexico.

The well will be drilled in Block 7 (CNH-R01-L04-A3.CS / 2016), operated by Equinor (33.34%) on behalf of partners Total (33.33%) and bp (33.33%).

Zip-1 will target Paleogene sands with an estimated resource of 501mmboe.

Alongside approval of the Zip-1 exploration well, Shell also received approval for its Chimalli-1 exploration well, to be drilled in the Perdido Fold Belt. The well will target Oligocene reservoir with a pre-drill resource estimate of 238mmboe and 23% chance of success.

It is anticipated the well will spud on 3rd September 2020 with drilling expected to take around 27 days at a cost of ~$36.5m.

Shell is operator of Block 3 (CNH-R02-L04-AP-PG03/2018) with 60% equity alongside partner Qatar Petroleum (40%).

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