Petrobras, Ecopetrol confirm gas discovery extension off Colombia’s coast

Petrobras and Ecopetrol have achieved the main objective of the Uchuva-2 well, offshore Colombia, confirming the extension of the gas discovery made in 2022 with the drilling of the Uchuva-1 well. 

In a press release, the Brazilian state-run company said the well adds important information for the development of a new exploration and production frontier in Colombia, reinforcing the volumetric potential for gas in the region.

Located in the Tayrona block, the Uchuva-2 well, where drilling began on June 19, is located 31km from the coast at a water depth of 804m.

Source: Petrobras

The well is being drilled in five phases, and the gas-bearing interval was detected in phase 4 of the drilling, by means of electrical profiles, which will later be characterized by means of laboratory analyses.

The consortium, formed by Petrobras as operator (44.44% stake), in partnership with Colombia’s national oil company (55.56%), will continue operations to complete the project to drill the well to the expected depth and characterize the conditions of the reservoirs found, with a formation test planned to be carried out by the end of this year, according to the release.

In a separate statement, Ecopetrol said the results achieved were possible thanks to the joint work with national and regional authorities, as well as the knowledge and experience contributed by the consortium partners.

"It’s very gratifying for Ecopetrol to be able to confirm that we’re on track to provide Colombians with new sources of natural gas before the end of the decade. This announcement confirms that the Colombian Caribbean has an important gas province that will provide the country with energy security," said Elsa Jeanneth Jaimes, Ecopetrol's VP for offshore. 

Colombia's petroleum regulator ANH clarified that the Uchuva-2 well had the purpose of extending the limits of the reservoir discovered with the Uchuva-1 well (Uitpa formation) in 2022. 

After reviewing the information, the agency determined that, from a logging point of view, the Uchuva-2 well exhibits behavior quite similar to that of Uchuva-1, corroborating the fact that the Uchuva-2 well accessed the Uitpa formation. 

Additionally, there was a notable increase in gas chromatography and a considerable rise in the recorded resistivity, suggesting the presence of hydrocarbons, it said in a release.