Chicontepec Formation
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The Chicontepec Basin (Chicontepec Formation) is a petroleum system in Mexico north-east of Mexico City, covering an area of around Template:Convert in the states of Veracruz, Puebla and Hidalgo. Several oil fields have been discovered in that area since 1926. A major field was discovered in 1973 but contains extra heavy crude,Template:Dubious which due to special refining needs is considered unviable at this time. Since that time, tiny amounts of oil have been produced.<ref>About 2500 b/d in 2002 according to Template:Webarchive</ref> While the reserves are overwhelmingly extra heavy crude, pockets of lighter tight oil, as well as natural gas, are also found in the basin.<ref>World oil, Nov. 2001 Vol. 222 No 11</ref>
Attempts at increasing output
In March 2006, Mexican President Vicente Fox announced that Pemex would invest US$37.5 billion over the next 20 years on the oil fields of Chicontepec. It was hoped that this will boost output to Template:Convert. Pemex's chief executive estimates that 20,000 wells are to be drilled in order to exploit this field.
Intensive drilling has taken place in Chicontepec in recent years, starting with a contract for 500 new wells offered in December 2008.<ref>Mexico seeks bids for 500 Chicontepec oil wells</ref> However, results in terms of output have been disappointing, with the field still yielding a modest Template:Convert in May 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>