2024 marks a decade since the opening of Penspen’s headquarters in Villahermosa. Nicknamed the ‘Energy City of Mexico’, Villahermosa is a major hub for the country’s energy sector thanks to its thriving oil and gas industry. 

With a rich history dating back to the 16th century, the city has always been an attractive economic prospect due to a wealth of natural resources including cacao, sugarcane, bananas and hardwoods. But it was the discovery of the Ogarro Oil Field in 1957 that marked a decisive turning point for Villahermosa, bringing in major investment from the energy sector and pivoting the economic strategy of the city. Now, it’s the largest city in the Mexican state of Tabasco and it’s well-known for being a hotspot for hydrocarbon production, making it a significant industrial centre for the region. 

Since 1997, Penspen has offered asset integrity services in Mexico. The first office was opened in Ciudad del Carmen for an offshore project and later, after winning the System 1 project with PEMEX in 2009, a second temporary office was opened in the city of Comalcalco in 2012 due to its proximity to the project. With an eye on the production potential of managed oil in the area (1.7 MM bpd), an energy reform project that will attract new operators, and due to its strategic location close to other producing states such as Campeche and Veracruz, it was decided in 2014 to move the office to the main city of the state of Tabasco, Villahermosa.

The choice of Villahermosa as a key base for Penspen’s Latin American operations allowed us to build on 25 years of history in Mexico’s energy sector, and strengthen Penspen’s position as a leader in services related to asset integrity, asset management, facilities design and project management in the region. 

To celebrate 10 years of Penspen’s Villahermosa office, we’ve put together a timeline of key moments and milestones over the last decade, ranging from a first-of-its-kind degree partnership with the Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco to local reforestation programs in the Villahermosa community. 

Of course, our biggest thanks go to all of Team Penspen in Villahermosa for your hard work, and for embodying Penspen’s values in every sense. 

Take a look at some of their highlights below.