National Hydrocarbons Agency News

The Petrobras Orca–1 exploratory well (Tayrona Block) has revealed a natural gas accumulation in Colombian Caribbean deep waters, 40 km off the coast of La Guajira. This is the first discovery in the history of the deep water exploration of this region of the Caribbean. Petrobras is the operator (40%), in partnership with Ecopetrol (30%), and Repsol (30%). Well drilling ended in September, reaching 4,240 meters. The water depth is 674 meters. The natural gas accumulation was confirmed at 3,600 meters. Petrobras will continue operations as planned in order to assess the discovery. Petrobras, in partnership with Ecopetrol, pioneered exploration in the Tayrona Block when the first exploration concession was granted by Colombia’s National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) in 2004…

Statoil has been awarded interest in the COL4 licence offshore Colombia in the Caribbean Sea in the 2014 Colombia Licensing Round. Statoil will hold 33,33% in the licence. Repsol will be the operator of the licence and will hold 33,34%. ExxonMobil Exploration Colombia will hold 33,33%. The award is subject to the final approval of the National Hydrocarbons Agency of Colombia (ANH). “Deepwater offshore Colombia is virtually untested. The award of new acreage in this frontier area is in line with our exploration strategy of early access at scale”, says Nick Maden, senior vice president for Statoil's exploration activities in the Western Hemisphere. The licence award represents a country entry for Statoil into Colombia.

Statoil announced today that it has been awarded interest in the COL4 license offshore Colombia in the Caribbean Sea in the 2014 Colombia Licensing Round, along with Respol and ExxonMobil. Statoil said it will hold 33.33% in the license, while Repsol will be the operator of the license and will hold 33.34% and ExxonMobil Exploration Colombia will hold 33.33%. The award is subject to the final approval of the National Hydrocarbons Agency of Colombia (ANH). “Deepwater offshore Colombia is virtually untested.

Oil companies were bidding on Wednesday for 95 oil areas Colombia is offering for exploration and production in an effort to raise output from around 1 million barrels per day and increase stagnant reserves. Rights for the onshore, offshore and nonconventional or shale oil areas will be awarded to bidders who offer the largest share of production to the government or based on how much companies commit to invest in lesser-explored regions. The government said earlier this year it hoped to attract $2.6 billion in investment into the oil sector through the so-called Colombia Round 2014. Colombia's last oil auction took place in 2012. The blocks on offer total more than 22 million hectares.