Regulators have proposed to offer 169 exploration and development blocks in an initial Round One bid process, while state-led oil company Pemex will offer farm-ins to 10 areas including high-profile deep-water wildcats Trion and Exploratus.

"Statoil would be interested in participating in exploration and production activities offshore, especially in under-explored areas with the potential for high impact oil discoveries," spokesman Jim Schwartz told Upstream, saying the Norwegian player was "impressed" by the country's reform efforts.

"Our