ACP as a source of information
Source: La República – National
Date: August 29
Headline: Unconventional sources could contribute 30% of GDP
The Medium-Term Fiscal Framework calculated that the exploration and production of Unconventional Reservoirs (YNC) through hydraulic fracturing would leave the nation with revenues of $324 billion, equivalent to 30% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (…) But the projections of what the effect of these methodologies would be on the Government's fiscal accounts were not only those published by the Ministry of Finance. At the beginning of the year, when the Commission of Experts granted approval, with conditions, to start the first pilot exploitation projects with YNC, the Ministry of Mines and Energy recalled that a single project could yield $1.5 billion per year, which is divided into 55% for the nation and 45% for the investors. Finally, according to the Colombian Petroleum Association, the YNC pilots would contribute $100 billion to Colombia in their development stage over the next 25 years. “Unconventional reservoirs, through fracking, would allow the country to ensure its energy self-sufficiency, that is; that we produce what we consume, for example, gas,” said a report from the guild. It was reported in: larepublica.co (August 29).
Source: Portafolio – National
Date: August 29
Headline: Today, a key day for fracking in Colombia
Colombia has reached the zero hour to decide whether to approve the use of the fracking technique or Unconventional Reservoirs (YNC) in oil exploitation. Today, the Third Section of the Council of State must rule on the appeal presented by the National Government and decide whether to lift the precautionary measure on the technical regulation of the so-called hydraulic fracturing, taking into account the recommendations made by the expert commissions regarding the implementation of the Comprehensive Research Pilot Projects (PPII’s). (…) For his part, Francisco José Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP), in the column “Vaca Muerta, a lesson for Colombia,” published in this edition of the newspaper, emphasized that Colombia could lose energy self-sufficiency and, in fact, is moving towards a difficult fiscal situation (…), by not yet allowing the exploratory phase of fracking, to validate its potential. It was reported in: portafolio.co (August 28).
Source: Portafolio – National
Author: Francisco José Lloreda Mera
Date: August 29
Headline: Vaca Muerta, a lesson for Colombia
Throughout the 21st century, Argentina has gone through various economic crises, partly due to the loss of energy self-sufficiency, having to resort to the import of hydrocarbons. In 2014, for example, its energy imports reached 11.2 million dollars, that is, resources equivalent to 55% of soybean export revenues; they practically produced soybeans to buy hydrocarbons. (…) For this reason, when attention is drawn in Colombia to the importance of energy self-sufficiency, it is not alarmism. Already in the 1970s, the country experienced it: with sacks of coffee, foreign currency was obtained to import hydrocarbons. That history should not be repeated. The reference to Argentina is important because 10 years ago both countries decided to develop their unconventional reservoirs through fracking. *President of the ACP. It was reported in: portafolio.co (August 28).
Source: Portafolio Magazine – National
Date: August 29
Headline: ‘Fracking’ a debate that will last a long time
The fate of fracking in Colombia is in the hands of the magistrates that make up the Council of State. And the future development of the so-called Unconventional Reservoirs (YNC) through this technique will largely depend on a report presented by a group of professors from the National University to this high court. (…) It is worth remembering that the suspension was decreed on November 8 of last year, and it is considered a precautionary measure to halt the regulatory framework that governs fracking for the development of YNC, through decree 3004 of December 26, 2013, and resolution 90341 of March 27, 2014, regulations issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. (…) «I speak for the oil industry and believe in the analysis carried out by the Expert Commission on YNC and its importance, and when it is said that Colombia is prepared for the exploratory phase, I believe we must continue down that path,» says Francisco José Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP). The union leader emphasizes that one of the important issues is the analysis that the Council of State will make regarding those considerations of the expert commission on the suspension of a technical regulation.
Hydrocarbons Sector
Source: El Tiempo
Date: August 29
Headline: The most important decision in 200 years. By: Bruce Mac Master
Over the last 20 years, Colombia has relied on resources from mining and hydrocarbons as a fundamental basis for supporting public finances, the economy, the exchange balance, and macroeconomic sustainability. Thanks to these resources, Colombia has been able to increase its per capita GDP from $2,335 in the year 2000 to over $6,800 today.
Source: El Espectador
Date: August 29
Headline: For rural high school graduates
Ecopetrol awarded scholarships to 35 of the best rural high school graduates in the country to pursue higher education. The criteria taken into account were the results of the Saber 11 tests, coming from the rural area, not being a beneficiary of another scholarship, and being in the Sisbén.
Source: La República
Date: August 29
Headline: Council of State and the S.O.S for gas reserves
Today the Council of State will rule on the appeal presented by the Government regarding the precautionary measures issued by the high court in November of last year concerning the 2014 regulations for the exploitation of unconventional reservoirs, in short, it will decide whether to open the door to start pilots to make fracking a reality in Colombia, a technology that is approved, by the way. A topic that has become a standoff between environmentalists - many misinformed - and a sort of developers who justify the brand-new technology to ensure the increase of oil and gas reserves, and consequently make the Colombian economy much more competitive. The worst is that scenario of confrontation generated and sponsored by non-governmental organizations, funded by money from international foundations that obey strange interests that want to demonize the exploitation of national unconventional reservoirs to maintain the advance of countries like Russia in the global oil market. Chart. Gas reserves. Source: ANH.
Source: La República
Date: August 29
Headline: The importation of gas will not allow the industry to be competitive
The eyes of oil workers, businessmen, unions, environmentalists, geologists, and even the Government will be focused today on the ruling that the Council of State will issue regarding the plea for reconsideration presented on the precautionary measures in the technical regulations of fracking. Despite the ongoing study of the regulation, to the point that the topic has generated controversy in the country, the truth is that the decision of the high court could open a window of opportunities not only in oil but also in energy and gas. How feasible is it that a scenario arises in which we have to import more due to a lack of internal production? (…) O.C.: Importing gas and prioritizing both offshore and onshore deposits is not necessarily exclusive. Importation is a complement. In fact, last year 31% of consumption was imported. Obviously, the strategic interest of the country is to develop local potential, which we have. This is where the discussion of fracking plays an important role. (…) The Profile. Orlando Cabrales is an expert in oil and gas sector issues. He has been Deputy Minister of Energy at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, president of the National Hydrocarbons Agency, and legal vice president for Latin America at BP. He is currently the executive president of Naturgas.
Source: Portafolio
Date: August 29
Headline: ‘The development of fracking is environmentally sustainable’
The fracking technique used in the Unconventional Reservoir (YNC) of Vaca Muerta (Argentina) is environmentally sustainable because it has demonstrated that each of the processes involved in its development generates minimal impacts on ecosystems. This assertion comes from Pablo Bizzotto, upstream executive vice president of the Argentine state oil company YPF, who emphasized in a conversation with Portafolio that the water used for this process is the one found in the reservoir and is not suitable for human consumption, but is used in hydraulic stimulation cyclically. (…) The field is developed under a partnership contract between the Argentine state oil company YPF and the multinational Chevron, which is the operator, and its formal operation began in 2013, extending for 30 years, according to the Hydrocarbons Law. The oil and gas reservoir located in the Vaca Muerta window is today the most profitable asset in YPF's upstream portfolio.
Regional News
Source: lavozdelcinaruco.com
Date: August 28
Headline: Ecopetrol awarded a scholarship to the best graduate of the Department of Arauca
In a ceremony at the National Museum of Colombia in Bogotá, Ecopetrol awarded the “Ecopetrol Graduate” scholarship to Freider Caleb Toro Rivera, who will study Electrical Engineering at the University of Pamplona. The scholarship recipient, who studied at the San José de La Pesquera Institution in the rural area of Arauquita, achieved this distinction by obtaining 358 points in the Saber tests. The criteria considered for this assignment include the results of the ‘Saber’ 11 test, being a graduate from the rural area, not having benefited from another scholarship, and their socioeconomic condition reflected in the Sisbén.
Source: lavozdelcinaruco.com
Date: August 28
Headline: The second version of the SENA Research and Innovation Symposium will be held in Arauca
For three days, SENA Regional Arauca will host the research and innovation event that brings together apprentices and students from different cities in the country. The most important annual research event of SENA Regional Arauca will take place from August 28 to 30. This is the Second version of the Research and Innovation Symposium, an event that has become a proposal towards the competitiveness of the Eastern Plains. During these three days, apprentices and instructors from the regions: Cundinamarca, Valle del Cauca, Santander, Guaviare, Meta, and Casanare, will be speakers in the city of Arauca presenting their research projects.
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas