(Catch our special Mexico Focus in the 3 June edition of Upstream newspaper.)

More than two years later, the reforms have reached important milestones, including the award of contracts to a wide range of new shallow-water and onshore operators, with a highly anticipated deep-water round coming up this December.

However, the collapse in oil prices has made for a rocky ride and crimped industry exploration budgets, also hitting the balance sheets of state oil company Pemex as it seeks to adapt to a new energy reality.

“We