Spanish operator Repsol has been given approval for three exploration plans on blocks it won in Mexico’s second deep-water bid round, with drilling for two areas planned to start in 2020, writes Kathrine Schmidt.

Malaysia’s Petronas also had an exploration plan approved at a meeting of Mexico’s National Hydrocarbons Commission for a seismic-only plan on Block 25 in the Salina basin, with investments of $41 million envisaged.