Mexico has opened up its historic bid for shallow-water blocks in the first opportunity for private investors in more than 70 years.
The country's regulator CNH (Comision Nacional de Hidrocarburos) had been calling for bids above the minimum 40% of pre-tax profits required by the government.
To recap - Of the nine blocks so far, just two have been successful with a consortia of Sierra Oil & Gas, Premier Oil and Talos Energy winning both.
Mexico may have missed the mark in opening up its energy market to foreign investors as the oil price decline continues to hit, according to a leading expert.
Derek Leith, UK head of oil and gas taxation at EY, said the fall in oil price may be a deciding factor in the historic auction for 14 licences in the South American country.
Mexico has made the bold move as its rebounds from a decade long decline in oil production.
It is estimated there has been an overall loss in that time of around a million barrels of oil per day.
The Danish Energy Agency (DEA)has received a record number of applications in its seventh licensing round for oil and gas in the North Sea.
Applications have been made by several companies who have previously not held licences in Denmark.
