Shell plans to start a major operated deep-water drilling programme off Mexico as soon as this December, an area where it snapped up nine blocks in the country’s second such bid round in early 2018, writes Kathrine Schmidt.

The Anglo-Dutch supermajor has exploration plans on file with regulators and intends to start drilling by the end of the year on its Campeche deep-water blocks, Martin Stauble, Shell vice president exploration for North America and Brazil, said at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston this week.