Mexico City - Production at the giant Cantarell complex in the Sound of Campeche -- long the mainstay of Mexico's crude output -- slumped by 33% year on year in April, twice as fast as the decline forecast for this year by the state-owned Pemex, Energy Ministry figures showed Monday.

Production of Cantarell in April was 1.074 million b/d, half of its peak of four years ago and the lowest since secondary recovery by nitrogen injection began at the turn of the millennium.

Cantarell's decline is only being partly offset by increased production from other fields.

In April, Pemex produced 2.767 million b/d of crude, down 13% from the same month of last year, while crude exports dropped by 14. ... Read full article