As the Brent oil price pushed above US$53 on Thursday, there is hope that 2017 will see a recovery of exploration and drilling activity.
Colombia’s Senate and Chamber of Representatives have approved the revised peace agreement between the government and the Farc. The main opposition to the agreement, the Centro Democratico, abstained from the vote, and government officials urge a quick implementation of the accord.
Regulation and PolicyMexico’s oil regulator National Hydrocarbons Commission (CNH) announced a list of 17 oil companies from 12 different countries that have pre-qualified to bid on the country’s first-ever offshore auctions, set for December 5th 2016.
Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) said that its 2016 Round to award smaller or non-strategic fields was successful, receiving US$53.4M in bids for assets in Catatumbo, Putumayo, Middle Magdalena and Meta.
Despite questions on the competence of municipalities to decide on the use of their subsoil through “popular consultations”, a number of communities are still moving forward with plans to hold a vote, or resorting to blockades.
Mexico has its own benchmark price that policy-makers and the public look at to see if they are depressed or elated. Colombia does not have that habit – the newspapers and TV still mostly talk about WTI – but if it did, Vasconia would be the prime candidate.