ACP as a source of information
Guild
Source: Portafolio
Date: January 10
Headline: In the next six months, the fate of ‘fracking’ in the country will be sealed
The fate for the development of fracking in the national territory will be sealed in the next six months. The reason is not only the decision of the Council of State regarding the challenged regulations but also how the regulations for launching the pilots of the so-called hydraulic fracturing would be drafted, which would clear the way for the exercise of this technique. (…) For this reason, in recent days, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) posted on its website for comments the draft decree that sets the guidelines for advancing exploration activities in Ppii on unconventional hydrocarbon deposits (YNC) using the fracking technique through horizontal drilling. (…) Once the comment phase concludes, the MME will proceed to adjust the draft decree in order to issue it officially before the end of the first quarter. Thus, it will give the green light to Ecopetrol, the oil company that is already preparing the ground to start its fracking pilot.
Source: El Nuevo Siglo
Date: January 10
Headline: Ecopetrol completed offshore seismic operation in the Caribbean
The Colombian Petroleum Company, Ecopetrol, announced that it has completed the first operation of acquiring marine seismic information in deep waters of the Colombian Caribbean, in block COL5, which is located offshore, about 100 km from the Gulf of Morrosquillo. The state oil company stated in a press release that the activities, which took about two months, were conducted in an area of 2,000 km2 of 3D seismic, with the purpose of obtaining information to identify potential accumulations of gas and oil. (…) The ship was accompanied by two local support vessels and state-of-the-art helicopters capable of operating offshore. It also had the authorization of the Maritime Directorate, Dimar, from the Ministries of Mines and Energy, Environment, and Sustainable Development.
Source: El Colombiano
Date: January 10
Headline: Ecopetrol has information from Caribbean waters
The company announced this through a press release in which it stated that seismic collection was carried out in deep waters of the Caribbean, “about 100 kilometers from the Gulf of Morrosquillo.” In two months, a study was conducted in an area of 2,000 square kilometers of 3D seismic.
Source: Vanguardia Liberal
Date: January 10
Headline: First operation
Ecopetrol conducted its first marine seismic acquisition operation in deep waters. This was carried out in block COL-5, which is located offshore in the Colombian Caribbean. The operation was authorized by the Maritime Directorate, Dimar.
Source: El Meridiano de Sucre
Date: January 10
Headline: Ecopetrol seeks hydrocarbons
Ecopetrol reported that it has completed its first marine seismic acquisition operation in deep waters in block COL-5, located offshore in the Colombian Caribbean, about 100 kilometers from the Gulf of Morrosquillo. (…) This information will allow Ecopetrol to define the possible extension of the discoveries of Kronos and Gorgon to the west and mature additional exploratory opportunities. For this operation, Ecopetrol contracted the vessel SW Amundsen from Shearwater, which was equipped with the technology available for the development of these activities.
Source: La W Radio
Date: January 09
Topics
Source: El Colombiano
Date: January 10
Headline: In 2020, geopolitical tensions will make oil prices volatile. By: David Amsellem
“The geopolitical map of oil has changed a lot in recent decades. Since 2013-2014, the U.S. has been the number one producer, thanks to shale oil. The U.S. controls about 15% of global production compared to 13% from Saudi Arabia, which ranks second. Another major change: oil from Gulf countries mainly feeds Asia, particularly China and Japan. (…) (In 2020) oil prices may experience a lot of volatility due to geopolitical tensions; for them to be durably affected, a major change in supply and demand is required. Now, as in 2019, the market should remain marked by a good level of production and depressed demand due to economic weakness. Prices may rise a bit, but will remain below the 2014 level when the barrel was below $100.”.
Source: El Colombiano
Date: January 10
Headline: Fluctuations in oil prices
Last Friday, as soon as it was known that a U.S. drone had ended the life of General Qassem Soleimani, one of the military figures of the Iranian theocratic regime, oil prices surged amid fears of an escalation of violence in the region. (…) Thus, after the initial rise of 5% in oil prices, with a new peak last Tuesday when WTI was quoted above $65 per barrel and the Brent reference at $71.17, prices retreated and today are at levels similar to those observed last year, $59.68 per barrel for WTI and $65.55 for Brent. (…) In any case, the effect on the global economy of a new rise in oil prices depends on its duration and magnitude. Expensive oil affects production costs in most countries, but it hits importers hard and can generate inflation. Oil producers, like Colombia, benefit in the short term. However, it is not good news for the weakened global economy that will have to pay for more expensive energy and face greater uncertainty.
Source: El Diario
Date: January 10
Headline: Samy Merheg, in Permanent Constitutional Commission
(…) Bills. Senator Samy Merheg presented and participated in a series of Bills, among which stands out: By means of which the use of hydraulic fracturing, Fracking, for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in unconventional deposits is prohibited in Colombia. This bill aims to prohibit throughout Colombian territory the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in unconventional deposits through hydraulic fracturing known as Fracking, as well as to prevent the competent state authorities from signing contracts, issuing titles to miners, environmental permits and licenses aimed at developing this type of projects and that they be prohibited and suspended until scientific studies and the corresponding institutional strengthening are available, the projects and pilot plans currently being carried out in this matter.
Source: eltiempo.com
Date: January 10
Headline: Without fuels, the country's exports did increase.
2019 was a year of constant decline in Colombia's exports. Between January and November (the latest available data), the country's sales abroad decreased by 6.2 percent. However, that figure hides a reality: the growth of exports of all goods other than oil and coal. Without these two, sales abroad grew by 1.3 percent, with products such as aluminum, bananas, insecticides, and fungicides standing out. For its part, oil and coal suffered declines of 6.6 and 22.1 percent, but due to their weight within the supply of Colombian goods, they affected the overall result. Products other than fuels are grouped into agricultural products and beverages, the manufacturing sector, and other sectors. The latter is the one that contributes the most to growth.
Source: prensalibrecasanare.com
Date: January 10
Headline: Oil spill due to multiple accident on the road to the south of Casanare
An accident involving three tanker trucks loaded with crude oil and a dump truck was recorded on January 8 on the road from Monterrey to Tauramena. The national road to the south of the department was closed due to the oil spill that occurred on the roadway following the accident of the vehicles belonging to various companies, which had to activate their contingency plans to minimize ecological risks. The accident occurred on a curve in the area known as «casa de piedra,» where there are traffic controllers from Covioriente.
Source: El Frente
Date: January 09
Headline: UIS students and professors awarded in innovation and entrepreneurship contest
The awards ceremony took place at the Colombian Petroleum Institute (ICP), Piedecuesta, where a community of higher education institutions competed in ‘Innóvate,’ which aims to pave the way for a more equitable, productive, and biodiverse Colombia, based on science, innovation, and technology. In the regional challenge categories, the UIS-Company and KASTEL alliance team won with the solution ‘HYBROV’ Hybrid Controllable, winners of $45,000,000 to finance the realization of the project.
Source: La Guajira
Date: January 09
Headline: To plant the royalties. By: Amylkar D. Acosta Medina
In Colombia, as in Latin America, as stated by the Executive Secretary of ECLAC Alicia Bárcena, “we have become exporters of raw materials, we have returned to schemes that we thought were overcome,” and she concludes by saying, “this will make it very difficult for us to ensure the sustainability of our growth.” While, as Christina Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the Convention, states, […] In Colombia, as in Latin America, as stated by the Executive Secretary of ECLAC Alicia Bárcena, “we have become exporters of raw materials, we have returned to schemes that we thought were overcome,” and she concludes by saying, “this will make it very difficult for us to ensure the sustainability of our growth.”.
Institutional
Source: El Tiempo
Date: January 10
Headline: By 2050, electricity and natural gas will lead
Although Colombia is fully engaged in the energy transition seeking to electrify the economy through generation with renewable sources (conventional and non-conventional) and various voices are calling for a faster change, in the case of liquid fuels, the transition will not be so quick. This was pointed out by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Mining-Energy Planning Unit (Upme) when presenting the National Energy Plan 2050 and the Natural Gas Supply Plan. (…) “One would wish that the technology is already ready to switch us to something with zero emissions. The reality is that today it still cannot generate a total substitution, and that means that liquid fuels will continue to be used for a significant time,» emphasized the Minister of Mines and Energy, María Fernanda Suárez.
Source: Portafolio
Date: January 10
Headline: Starting in 2024, gas imports will grow
If before the end of 2024 the country does not increase its natural gas production to meet the growing domestic demand, it will have no choice but to increase imports of the mentioned fuel. The warning was made by the Minister of Mines and Energy, María Fernanda Suárez, before the country's energy sector in the framework of the socialization of the National Energy Plan 2050 and the Natural Gas Supply Plan. (…) The Minister reiterated that despite the advances in the reactivation of the sector with the signing of offshore contracts and the permanent round of area assignments, it is necessary to invest in new infrastructure and alternatives in Unconventional Reservoirs. (…) 30 years is the timeframe projected by the National Government to replace liquid fuels with natural gas and electricity. For the former, it insists on the development of unconventional reservoirs (fracking).
Source: El Nuevo Siglo
Date: January 10
Headline: Colombia would import gas starting in 2024: Minminas
The national government confirmed that Colombia will have to start importing gas from 2024, due to the fact that domestic demand will grow by nearly 60% in the next 30 years, meaning that current production will not meet the needs of all its inhabitants. The announcement was made by Minister María Fernanda Suárez during the presentation of the National Energy Plan 2050 and the Natural Gas Supply Plan. “In the next 30 years, domestic energy demand could grow by more than 60%. It is our job to ensure energy self-sufficiency for the country,” said the Minister, warning that although work is being done on a plan for unconventional reservoirs, it is not a guaranteed solution to the gas supply problem, so “we cannot wait for that moment to see how we solve it.”.
Source: El Nuevo Día
Date: January 10
Headline: Ecopetrol carried out the first operation in Caribbean waters to find hydrocarbons
The oil company reported that it concluded its first operation of acquiring marine seismic information in deep waters of the Caribbean Sea in block COL-5, where several companies have contracts with the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH). Although Ecopetrol did not communicate the results of the research, it indicated that it conducted a study in an area of 2,000 kilometers of 3D seismic, in order to obtain information that allows it to identify potential accumulations of oil and gas. (…) Note. The operation was authorized by the Maritime Directorate, Dimar; the Ministries of Mines and Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, National Defense, and the National Authority of Aquaculture and Fishing.
Source: El Frente
Date: January 10
Headline: ’The country needs fracking’
The Colombian Association of Natural Gas indicated yesterday that it supports the components of transparency and institutional strengthening that the Ministry of Energy includes in the draft decree that defines the guidelines for exploration activities in ‘Comprehensive Research Pilot Projects’ in unconventional reservoirs. (…) The draft decree recently published by the national government includes the creation of a transparency center, an environmental monitoring plan, and territorial dialogue spaces, to involve citizens and the community. (…) “Drummond currently has a contract with the National Hydrocarbons Agency and an environmental license for the exploration and exploitation of the La Loma field, which was acquired according to current regulations. We respectfully request the Council of State to review the decision to declare the company in contempt and allow the development of the coal methane gas wells that, among other things, help reduce gas emissions in the mining project,” emphasized Cabrales Segovia.
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas