National business newspaper Portafolio reports that in 2013, the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) will invest US$153.4M in subsurface studies in many areas of the country. The ANH will do this investment with the purpose of provide subsurface information to prospective investors, since in 2012 Round some companies chose not to invest in certain areas due to lack of geological knowledge.
The contract for the Achapo area was signed with the company Canacol Energy Colombia SA on October 31, 2012. The contract authorizes Canacol for hydrocarbons exploration and production in a 5.057 m2 area of the Caguán Putumayo basin. The expected investment is US$7.8M total investment.
The Colombian press and congress is stirred up about the lost hydrocarbons potential of the territory that disappeared in the redrawing of the Colombia-Nicaraguan maritime border (see map by Hydrocarbons Colombia). Nicaragua adds fuel to the fire by publicly rubbing its hands with glee over the prospect of auctioning the zones to deep pocketed oil companies. That may indeed happen – although we think PDVSA will end up with them – but we do not believe this represents lost reserves, production or money to Colombia.
According to Minminas, Federico Renjifo, the search for oil continues near Buenaventura (Valle del Cauca), off the Pacific coast of Colombia. For Renjifo it is important to study the area, which is virtually unexplored.After a poor performance for these blocks in the 2012 Round he is certainly right.
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