Petrobras courting Mexico's Pemex in US oil fields

NEW YORK, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Brazil's state oil company Petrobras is trying to interest its Mexican counterpart Pemex in joining one of its offshore exploration projects in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, a Petrobras executive said on Thursday.

State-controlled Pemex is banned by law from forming joint ventures in oil exploration and production within Mexico, but it is allowed to form joint ventures abroad.

Samir Awad, executive manager for the Americas, Africa and Eurasia, said Petrobras (PETR4.SA) (PBR.N) suggested working together in U.S. waters as part of an informal cooperation agreement the two companies have had for some time.

"This was offered some time ago on a very informal basis, in a meeting between the two (chief) executives, without any particular block or area in mind," Awad said by e-mail.

He said Pemex's response was that it could not accept the offer in the near term, for internal reasons, but that it would evaluate the possibility of joining Petrobras in the U.S. Gulf in the medium to long term.

Pemex was not immediately available for comment.

The two companies pool some of their technology know-how under their cooperation agreement, and many Pemex executives say they admire the way Petrobras embraced private investment, while keeping state control, to become a top tier oil player.

Mexican senators are working on a proposal for a new energy law aimed at shoring up declining oil output and reserves in Mexico, a key U.S. crude supplier.

The law, which senators hope could be ready in April, is likely to give Pemex more operational autonomy but could also permit it to form private partnerships in Gulf oil fields that span the U.S. maritime border, amid concerns that drilling on the U.S. side could inadvertently suck up Mexican oil.

Many global oil majors, keen to have friendly ties with Pemex in case of future alliance possibilities, currently have informal cooperation accords with the Mexican monopoly. (Reporting by Richard Valdmanis; Writing by Catherine Bremer; Editing by Marguerita Choy)