The deal comes after the passage of historic energy reform in Mexico, which is set to boost demand significantly for offshore vessels and services, as the nation hikes spending and seeks to attract foreign investment.

Little deepwater work has been carried out in Mexican waters compared with extensive deepwater projects on the US side of the Gulf of Mexico.

Pemex itself is seeking to invest between $20bn and $30bn each year from 2014 to 2020 as it hopes to reach three million barrels per day (mbpd) of oil by 2018 and four million bpd by 2025.

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