EP Petroecuador seeks to recover 90% of its oil production in eight days

This Petroecuador release was published using machine translation.

Today, the General Manager of EP Petroecuador, Ítalo Cedeño, reported at a press conference on the plan to normalize operations throughout the company's value chain, related to exploration and production, transportation, refining, national marketing and international trade. , after the lifting of the national strike.

Regarding the progressive reactivation of the closed wells in the oil fields of the Amazon region, he indicated that once control of the facilities was regained, these works began and 16,000 barrels were recovered, which is estimated to reach 90%. of production in the next eight days and at 100% until the end of July, considering aspects such as workover wells because they were not technically shut down.

“We immediately activated the progressive ignition plan, we also evaluated the activities that were affected during these days of stoppage, for example, we have critical situations, we find the facilities torn apart and destroyed that were caused by acts of vandalism, especially in Shushufindi, Libertador and Sacha, considering that the evaluation carried out is preliminary and we may find many surprises and higher damages. We are solving these issues and we expect to lift the declaration of Force Majeure in the company's operations in the coming days," he said.

Regarding the transport of hydrocarbons, he said that measures have been taken to normalize it and increase pumping through the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE), according to the increase in the production of Oriente crude. Likewise, the clean product terminals will work extended hours, especially those located in Ambato, Riobamba and Santo Domingo; land routes to Loja will be resumed; dispatches of LNG from Bajo Alto, El Oro, to industrial clients in Cuenca, Azuay and in this same city the dispatch of Ecopaís to final consumers.

Regarding refining, he stated that the Esmeraldas Refinery is at 70% of its capacity and until next week it is expected to reach 100%. In the case of La Libertad Refinery, in Santa Elena, only the Cautivo plant was worked on, and since yesterday the Parson Plant is ready to receive the crude. High stocks of diesel and gasoline were also achieved, thanks to the work of the plant in Shushufindi.

Regarding national marketing, the General Manager mentioned that fuel shipments decreased and 107,978 barrels of Diesel, 2,382,886 barrels of Premium Diesel and 326,154 barrels of gasoline (Super, Extra and Ecopaís) were no longer consumed, due to the blockages on the tracks and the difficulty of transporting them through tankers despite having sufficient stock in terminals.

Finally, in International Trade, he stressed that with the activation of the Force Majeure for Eastern crude, three windows were affected, which were scheduled for the first days of July, with a total volume of 1.08 million barrels. It is estimated that as of July 7 the programming will be resumed and in this way ensure delivery to the US company Marathon Supply LLC., which won the medium-term tender, awarded on April 19, for the export of Oriente crude . It is important to point out that in the case of Napo crude, deliveries are taking place normally.

“Our facilities are considered strategic according to the Constitution and current laws, for this reason their operations cannot stop because not only the company is harmed, but also the country, since the development of hydrocarbon resources is used for the Budget. General of the State”, he concluded.

Affectations to the oil fields as a consequence of the mobilizations

In 18 days of national strike, EP Petroecuador registered a total accumulated loss of 1,997,685 barrels of oil, 959 wells shut down and 34 paralyzed towers in Edén – Apaika – ITT; wow; Coca Payamino-Yuralpa; Blue stick; Cuyabeno; Lago Agrio – Liberator; Shushufindi and Sacha, fields located in the provinces of Sucumbíos and Orellana. In total, the affectation amounts to about USD 513 million.

In addition, after a preliminary evaluation of the company's facilities in the Amazon region, the following were identified: destruction and damage to machinery, theft of equipment, materials and tools, among other aspects that caused damage to the state company.