ACP as a source of information
Source: La República
Date: July 31
Headline: Messages to LR
What do you think of the proposed budget distribution for 2020? (…) Juan Nicolás Villarreal Llano. Where are they going to get all that money, from the sale of shares of Isa or Ecopetrol?
Hydrocarbons Sector
Source: Portafolio
Date: July 31
Headline: The weight of doubts
At first glance, there would be no reason for it to happen. Yesterday, while oil rose by nearly two percent in international markets and brushed against 65 dollars per barrel of the Brent variety, the national currency devalued by almost half a percentage point, approaching the symbolic level of 3,300 pesos, its lowest point in the last eight weeks. The inverse correlation that usually operates between crude and the exchange rate of the greenback ceased to operate. In this regard, analysts' explanations are varied. First, there is a worsening of the global climate that can be attributed to Donald Trump, who once again directed his batteries against China.
Source: Portafolio
Date: July 31
Headline: Green light for Promigas to double its operation in Peru
After two years of waiting, Gasnorp, a subsidiary of Promigas, now has the green light to execute the concession that will allow it to bring natural gas to the Piura region, northern Peru, which will open the door for the Colombian company to double its operation in that country. (…) The executive emphasized that currently Peru is going through a period of massification in natural gas as it has large reserves. “While in Colombia these do not exceed three teras, but with a coverage of 80%; in this country the remnants are 15 teras, but only 25% of the population has access to this fuel,” he said.
Source: El Colombiano
Date: July 31
Headline: Oil rose before decision on rates
Oil had a notable increase yesterday on the eve of the Federal Reserve's decision on whether to lower interest rates in the United States. In London, the Brent barrel for delivery in September rose 1.59 % to 64.72 dollars while in New York the WTI barrel gained 2.07 % to 58.95 dollars.
Source: El Pilón
Date: July 31
Headline: ‘May the ghost of hydrocarbon imports not return to Colombia’: Carlos Leal Niño
In the framework of the series of events that have taken place in the country regarding the opportunity to carry out the Comprehensive Research Pilot Projects in generating rock or unconventional deposits in Cesar and Santander, the National Forum on Generating Rock Deposits ‘Comprehensive Research Pilot Projects’ will be held in Barrancabermeja on August 2, organized by the Colombian Association of Petroleum Engineers, Acipet, in which EL PILÓN will be the moderator. (…) The third is a socio-political panel that discusses regulation, economic self-sufficiency, it is a quite important topic that will be addressed by experts not only from local entities such as the mayor of Barrancabermeja, members of the National Hydrocarbons Agency and the Ministry of Mines and Energy, but also from the guilds where we will have the opportunity to comment on what the Government's projections are regarding these research pilots,…”.
Source: paisminero.com
Date: July 31
Headline: ‘In 2020 we will begin international promotion tasks’
Luis Morelli, president of the ANH, said they will go to China, India, Australia, Korea, South Africa, and the United Kingdom to invite oil companies to invest in Colombia. For more than 15 years, the country has not gone out to offer Colombian oil operations in international scenarios. But in the first weeks of 2020, the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) will begin to develop a proactive strategy in several countries around the world to invite them to invest in the sector. (…) Last year I was in India presenting to the government of that country the benefits of the PPAA. Representatives from ONGC Videsh stated that they wanted to grow their operation in our country as the demand for hydrocarbons in theirs was increasing rapidly. A similar situation is happening with China.
Source: paisminero.com
Date: July 31
Headline: Analysis: Oil – prices, volumes, and Ecopetrol. By. Sergio Clavijo
The price of oil will average around US$69/barrel-Brent during 2018 and 2019. This level seems close to global equilibrium, except for the volatility that tends to appear when there are news about sanctions on Iran or the collapse in the productions of Venezuela and Libya (already quite structurally affected). (…) Currently, it is estimated that of the US$5,000 million annual oil investment in Colombia, 80% goes to production and only 20% (US$1,000 million) is allocated to seeking new wells. (…) Although this figure has improved marginally compared to the 5.3 years of 2016, this occurs mainly through “improvements in recovery” of existing wells, rising from 15% to 18% (Cusiana-Cupiagua, discovered in 1991). (…) What is then required to ensure that the market has appropriate readings of the performances in Ecopetrol is: iv) advance the pilot fracking plans to demonstrate (with that good leadership from the Min-Minas-Energy) that these are, even, more environmentally friendly than the obsolete conventional fields…
Source: El Meridiano de Córdoba
Date: July 30
Headline: Yes to fracking
Fracking would leave the Caribbean US$1,000 million in royalties. This was assured by the governor of Atlántico, Eduardo Verano, who said: «The execution of the technique will allow economic development.».
Source: La Libertad
Date: July 30
Headline: To the serious problems of the Atlantic, Governor Verano wants to add one more: «fracking»
This practice has been condemned in many countries for its impact on human health, due to the gases it emits, for the effects it has on the environment, which are mainly seen in water sources. The Atlantic department has serious problems with drinking water supply, arid soils, and few suitable lands for agriculture, but as if this were not enough, now Governor Eduardo Verano wants to add another problem, which is a major one. It is about the implementation of fracking, a technique that according to experts generates toxic, allergenic, and carcinogenic substances, leaving the subsoil in irrecoverable conditions.
Source: larepublica.co
Date: July 30
Headline: ANH signs two new exploration and production contracts with Gran Tierra Energy
The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) signed the last two contracts of the 11 blocks assigned in the first window of the Permanent Area Allocation Process (Ppaa), launched in February of this year. These contracts, which correspond to blocks VMM 24 and LLA 85, cover a combined area of approximately 79,437 hectares and will be operated by Gran Tierra Energy, which also has a 100% participation. «For these contracts, the estimated investment commitments are close to US$132 million, an amount that added to the nearly US$400 million from the nine contracts already signed, allows us to close the balance of the first half of the Permanent Area Allocation Process, and that of the five offshore E&P contracts, with an estimated investment of US$1.500 billion,» said Luis Miguel Morelli, president of the ANH.
Source: elfrente.com.co
Date: July 30
Headline: Oil pools burn after attack on the Caño Limón – Coveñas pipeline in Arauquita, Arauca
In the early morning of this Monday, July 29, a new attack was recorded against the Caño Limón-Coveñas pipeline, Arauca. According to authorities, farmers from the region set fire to four pools containing 2,600 barrels of oil. The information available about the events evidenced in the Las Acacias village in the municipality of Arauquita, Arauca, indicates that apparently farmers declared in a protest set fire to the pools used to repair the pipeline and blocked the main access roads, which has prevented firefighters and technical personnel from entering to address the emergency. The same residents of the Puerto Nuevo and Las Acacias villages reported that the explosion was heard at 2:30 in the early morning of this Monday, a situation that ended the sleep and tranquility of the inhabitants.
Source: wradio.com.co
Date: July 30
Headline: Two new contracts were signed for exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the country
The signing of the last two contracts of the 11 oil blocks assigned in the Area Allocation was made between the ANH and the oil company Gran Tierra Energy. The cycle of allocation and subscription of contracts for oil blocks corresponding to the first window of the Permanent Area Allocation Process (PPAA), launched by the National Hydrocarbons Agency in February of this year, concluded with the signing of the last two contracts, for the assigned blocks VMM 24 and LLA 85. These contracts, which cover a combined area of approximately 79,437 hectares, will be operated by Gran Tierra Energy, which also holds a 100% stake.
Source: rcnradio.com
Date: July 31
Headline: Oil spills reported in the Magdalena River, in Yondó (Antioquia)
Jhosep Molina, councilor of the municipality of Yondó – Antioquia, described the discharges that Ecopetrol has been making into the Magdalena River for almost 34 years as a savage practice against nature and humanity. According to the councilor, contaminated water with chemicals is discharged into the Magdalena River through a 36-inch pipe 24 hours a day, and on occasions, as happened this Tuesday, oil waste is also discharged. «Oil wells are drilled, water is injected, crude oil is extracted, it goes to the refinery, and the water goes to the Magdalena River with chemicals. In this case, like today, with oil waste,» he indicated. (…) Molina called on Ecopetrol, the Anla, and the Municipal Administration of Yondó to take action on this matter that is affecting this population in the Magdalena Medio.
Source: lasillavacia.com
Date: July 30
Headline: In the budget, Duque shows much love for highways and little for the countryside
Money is where duty and love are. This is true in budgets, and the project presented yesterday by the Minister of Finance, Alberto Carrasquilla, in Congress is no exception. It is the budget project for 2020, totaling 271 trillion pesos, a 9 percent increase from the current one, reflecting the issues close to President Iván Duque's heart, those that are not so aligned with him, and those he has to assume out of obligation, which make up the majority of the budget. (…) Love for mining and oil. In line with a higher oil price and the new wave of contracts that the Government expects to sign this year, the National Hydrocarbons Agency was one of the big winners. Its budget increased by 76 percent, from 669,506 million pesos to 1.1 trillion pesos, largely due to the 40 contracts it expects to sign in the remainder of 2019, which would mean that more contractors pay the Agency money in exchange for the right to explore and produce.
Source: lacoladerata.co
Date: July 30
Headline: Fracking in Colombia: the battle continues
One of the campaign promises of the current president of Colombia, Iván Duque, was that under no circumstances would he allow oil exploitation via fracking. It is clear that all politicians make proposals they will never fulfill, but having a 180-degree turn on one of the most controversial and dangerous issues in the world demonstrates the little independence the head of state has to make his own decisions. (…) From the right bank. In fact, for the Minister of Mines and Energy, María Fernanda Suárez, if the country begins to exploit unconventional deposits, energy autonomy could triple, and oil and gas reserves would be 24 years and 30 to 50 years, respectively (see Will there be fracking in Colombia?). (…) However, due to the ruling issued by the Council of State, the pilots are suspended, and the National Environmental Licensing Agency (ANLA) cannot approve favorable concepts for hydraulic fracturing either.
Regional News
Source: prensalibrecasanare.com
Date: July 31
Headline: Protests against the oil industry continue in Arauca
After the disturbances between the community and the Esmad that ended in the arson of four oil pools containing 2,600 barrels of crude in Arauquita, Arauca department; the farmers declared in a protest day have blocked the road at the height of the Las Acacias village. The clashes occurred due to the dissatisfaction of the residents of the area regarding the economic conditions of their community, employed by the oil industry for the maintenance and repair of the Caño Limón Coveñas pipeline located in this sector.
Source: prensalibrecasanare.com
Date: July 31
As part of the plan for the reactivation of oil production in the country, the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) confirmed two new blocks for exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Colombia located in Meta and Santander. Together, the two projects, which will be operated by Gran Tierra Energy, will have an investment of about $32 million dollars and an approximate area of 79,437 hectares. For the case of the eastern region of the country, the new block for hydrocarbon exploitation (block LLA 85) will be located in Meta, with an approximate area of 68,565 hectares. Meanwhile, the second block located in the Middle Magdalena Valley basin has an approximate area of 10,872 hectares.
Source: llaneraradio.com
Date: July 31
Headline: Contracts ready for the Permanent Area Assignment Process of the ANH.
The cycle of assignment and signing of contracts for oil blocks corresponding to the first window of the Permanent Area Assignment Process (PPAA), launched by the National Hydrocarbons Agency – ANH in February of this year, concludes with the signing of the last two contracts, out of the 11 assigned blocks, for blocks VMM 24 and LLA 85. These contracts, which cover a combined approximate area of 79,437 hectares, will be operated by Gran Tierra Energy, which also holds 100 % participation. (…) Luis Miguel Morelli, president of the ANH, stated: “With the signing of these two contracts with Gran Tierra Energy, we close the assignment cycle of the 11 blocks offered in the first auction of the Permanent Area Assignment Process of this year. It is very satisfying that blocks VMM 24 and LLA 85 are taken on by Gran Tierra Energy, an efficient and responsible operator, which has made a significant investment commitment in Colombia…”
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas