News and AnalysIs for

It is safe to say that Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) is confronting one of its toughest years in 2015, with a complex scenario both internally, as it searches for a new president, and externally, as the fall of oil prices cuts into its exploration budget and future revenues.

The Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) says that the impact on E&P activities due to the fall of oil prices will start to make a strong impact on daily crude production, which will likely start to decline in 2016.

This article is not about Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE). It is about Colombia’s most productive field and the challenges of maintaining the 1mmbd goal.

The low price of oil could be an opportunity for Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) to take advantage of smaller companies struggling with their cash flow and financial obligations and grow their proven reserves through acquisitions, argues a columnist.

Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) continues to take a hit with investors, accumulating nearly a 50% drop on the TSX over the last month, with investors punishing the stock simultaneously with a company announcement last week that it would put exploration on hold to focus on production in 2015.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) says that it has held workshops to train local leaders and residents in 332 municipalities on how to adequately react to an emergency, a program that is now in its third year.

The international oil price scenario might be grim, but Ecopetrol has some good news to celebrate as its Chichimene Field reached a new daily production record. But in the current price scenario, how important will this milestone be?

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) has offered an overview of operations at the Barrancabermeja Refinery, which it says is one of its most important industrial complexes, but did not mention any expansion plans.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) says that it has successfully sent the first shipment of heavy crude to the Coveñas port using a new butane diluent designed to replace imported naphtha, a technique the NOC says could save it US$70M a year.

Parex Resources (TSX:PXT) has revised its 2015 capital spending plan and cut planned investments to US$145-155M from US$300M as a result of falling oil prices. But the firm says it still expects annual production growth of 18% for the new year.