Peru oil production hits year low, gas nearing record output

Peru’s crude output in September averaged 34,807b/d, down from 38,579b/d in August and a low for the year.

Last month’s dip can be attributed to a lower contribution from the country’s principal oil producer, northern jungle block 95.

Information from hydrocarbons licensing authority Perupetro shows that output at the PetroTal-operated acreage averaged 10,333b/d last month compared with 14,363b/d in August.

The company recently told BNamericas that operations have been stymied by low river levels, which impact the use of barges to deliver crude to Iquitos and Manaus.

Nevertheless, January-September production averaged 40,111b/d versus 38,700b/d for all 2023.

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Meanwhile, natural gas production neared record levels in September with 45.1Mm3/d (million cubic meters per day), up 15% sequentially.

The bulk of gas comes from blocks 88 (26.6Mm3/d), 56 (9.14Mm3/d) and 57 (7.42Mm3/d), which all saw increases.

August production had been impacted by maintenance at gas processing plants.

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