Pemex repairs pipeline leak at Chuc-1 platform in Gulf of Mexico

Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) reported a leak in a pipeline at the Chuc-1 platform, part of the Abkatún Pol Chuc production complex in the Gulf of Mexico. The issue was identified on October 5 after operational personnel detected iridescence on the sea surface near the complex, located approximately 65 kilometers northeast of Paraíso, Tabasco.

Following the detection, Pemex activated underwater inspection protocols and identified a pore in the pipeline. Repair work was conducted and completed by October 6. The Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment (ASEA) conducted flyovers of the Chuc-1 and Chuc-A platforms to monitor the repair activities, which included dredging and the installation of a metal clamp.

On October 8, personnel from the Mexican Navy (Semar) and Pemex performed reconnaissance flights to check for hydrocarbons near the Chuc-1 and Caan-A platforms and the Cantarell natural tar pit. According to the company, these inspections found no presence of hydrocarbons on the surface, observing only sargassum and organic material.

Satellite imagery from September 30 had previously indicated a potential oil slick of approximately 11 kilometers in length, raising questions regarding whether that observation was linked to the leak confirmed on October 5 or represented a separate incident.