Petrobras confirms the discovery of natural gas accumulation in the Uchuva-1 exploratory well, drilled in deep waters of Colombia, 32 kilometers off the coast and 76 kilometers from the city of Santa Marta, in a water depth of approximately 830 meters.

The Uchuva-1 well was drilled in the Tayrona Block, with Petrobras as the operator (44.44% work interest), in partnership with Ecopetrol, with 55.56% work interest.

This discovery is the result of the consortium''s actions to enhance the use of data through the application of new geological and geophysical technological solutions, added to the expertise in deepwater operations.

The Tayrona Block is in Petrobras' portfolio for active portfolio management and the opening of this new frontier is aligned with the company's strategic pillar of maximizing its value with a focus on exploration of deep and ultradeep water assets. The result achieved increases the prospects for developing a new frontier of exploration and production in Colombia.

The consortium will continue its activities in the Tayrona Block, aiming to assess the dimensions of the new gas accumulation.

Colombia operations

Petrobras Colombia, the local subsidiary of Brazil's NOC Petrobras, began operating in the country in 1972, carrying out deepwater exploration activities for oil and gas. 

As part of their 2013-2017 Business and Management Plan Petrobras announced the sale of 100% of the shares issued by Petrobras Colombia Limited (PEC) to Perenco for US$ 380 million.

The Petrobras Colombia assets involved in the transaction include interests in 11 onshore exploration and production blocks with net average production of 6,530 boed (barrels of oil equivalent per day), as well as the Colombia and Alto Magdalena oil pipelines, with a carry capacity of 14,950 bpd (barrels per day) and 9,180 bpd, respectively.

Petrobras continue to run its offshore exploratory blocks in Colombia, as well as its distribution business, and press ahead with its single-block onshore exploratory operation.

KeyFacts Energy: Petrobras Colombia country profile   l   Ecopetrol Colombia country profile