(Energy Analytics Institute, 5.Apr.2016, Clifford Fingers III) – EP PetroEcuador reported crude exports of 131.4 million barrels (MMbbls) in 2015, which generated revenues of $5,477 million, reported the state company in an official statement. Derivative sales in the Ecuadorian domestic market were 92.7 MMbbls, which generated revenues of $3,440 million. […]
Category: Latin America and the Caribbean
El Niño Pulling Down Venezuela’s Water Reserves
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 1.Apr.2016) – Venezuela, which relies on hydroelectric energy to generate 62 percent of its electricity, could be overcome by power outages in coming months as water levels at many of its dams, including the large Guri, are at dangerously low levels. Water levels at Guri […]
Rosneft to Partner with PDVSA in Mariscal Sucre
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 1.Apr.2016) – Russia’s Rosneft OAO and PDVSA signed an agreement for joint development of production, treatment and the sale of natural gas from the Mariscal Sucre project offshore. Rosneft and PDVSA will each hold a 50% interest in the venture which includes the fields Patao, […]
Venezuela Turns to Gold Rush to Prevent Economic Collapse
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 1.Apr.2016) – Venezuela plans to immediately focus efforts on the exploitation and export of its massive gold resources located in Bolivar state in an attempt to avoid a financial default on its international obligations later this year. Resource-rich Venezuela’s Bolivar state contains gold reserves of […]
Petrobras’ New Program to Encourage Voluntary Severance
(Petrobras, 1.Apr.2016) – Petrobras launched a new Program to Encourage Voluntary Severance (PIDV), which will be open to all employees, regardless of their age or length of service at the company. The goal is to adjust its workforce to the needs of the Business and Management Plan, optimizing productivity and […]
Ecuador Considers Venezuela as Partner in Refinery
(Energy Analytics Institute, 30.Mar.2016, Clifford Fingers III) – While Ecuador continues to seek financing from foreign investors looking to invest in the estimated $13 billion Pacific Refinery project, the country continues to reserve an interest for Venezuela. “Venezuela is part of the project and is a strategic partner that will […]
Keppel FELS Delivers Another Two Rigs
(Keppel FELS, 27.Mar.2016) – Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), delivered two jackup rigs to Mexican company, Grupo R. Built to Keppel’s proprietary KFELS B Class design, the rigs, CANTARELL I and CANTARELL II, will be chartered to PEMEX, […]
Battery-hungry World Turns to South America’s ‘Lithium Triangle’
(Reuters, 15.Mar.2016) — Far from the soy and cattle that dominate its vast fertile pampas, Argentina harbors another valuable commodity that is rocketing in price and demand and luring newly welcomed foreign investors. Lithium, the so-called “white petroleum”, drives much of the modern world. It forms a small but essentially […]
GenPower, ExxonMobil Sign Framework for LNG Supply
(Golar LNG, 4.Mar.2016) — Golar GenPower Brasil Participações S.A., a joint venture between LNG Power Limited (UK), a standalone non-recourse subsidiary of Golar LNG Limited and GenPower Participações S.A., announced that it has signed a framework agreement for the supply of LNG to the natural gas fired power generation project […]
Statoil Strengthens Its Position In Uruguay
(Statoil, 15.Feb.2016) — Statoil has signed a farm-in agreement with Tullow to acquire a 35% working interest in offshore exploration block 15 in the Pelotas basin, deepening its position in Uruguay. “With this transaction, we are increasing our exposure to the upside potential of this untested geological setting. This is […]
Ecuador’s Refinery Dream Seems More A Fantasy
(S&P Global Platts, 15.Feb.2016) — It was supposed to be the biggest investment ever in Ecuador: $12 billion for a 300,000 b/d refinery and a kick-start to industrialization with a major petrochemical complex. After $1.2 billion and eight years of broken promises, the Eloy Alfaro Refinery of the Pacific near […]
Petrobras OTC 2015: Offshore Video
(Energy Analytics Institute, Jared Yamin, 30.Oct.2015) – Brazil’s state oil entity Petrobras discusses its challenges in the pre-salt during the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas.
Bolivia Starts Warnes Thermoelectric Plant
(Energy Analytics Institute, 9.Oct.2015) – The Warnes Thermoelectric Plant, located in Bolivia’s Santa Cruz department, will provide 200 megawatts (MW) of energy to the country’s electric grid during its first phase of operations, according to a statement posted on the website of Bolivia’s Vice Presidency. To-date, $171 million has been […]
Venezuela’s Torres Corrected During NY Meetings
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 8.Oct.2015) – Rumors have it that Venezuela’s Finance Minister Rodolfo Marco Torres had to be corrected on a number of occasions while talking about the country’s financial situation. ***
Venezuelan Officials Visit with T&T’s Rowley
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 8.Oct.2015) – A Venezuela delegation is expected to visit with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister K. Rowley, Venezuela finance minister Rodolfo Marco Torres writes in twitter post. The Venezuela delegation could be comprised of Torres, Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, and Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino. […]
OPEC Must Be Stronger on Geopolitical Front
(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 8.Oct.2015) – “OPEC should convert itself into a stronger actor in geopolitical, geo-economics, and social areas as well in the permanent search for peace,” PDVSA radio reports in a weekly broadcast, citing Venezuela’s energy minister and PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino. OPEC has had […]
Rosneft Drills Record Well in Venezuela
(Rosneft, 8.Oct.2015) – Rosneft, as part of a PetroMiranda JV including PDVSA and Gazprom Neft, has drilled an unprecedented horizontal well GG1-14 at the Junin-6 block. The well is unique for the shallow depth, only 1,140 feet or about 347 meters, of the reservoir interval and the length of horizontal […]
Petroecuador Says Time to Buy Light Crude
(Reuters, 6.Oct.2015, Alexandra Valencia) – Ecuador’s state-run oil company Petroecuador said it is ready to advance discussions with 24 companies interested in supplying light crude to the Andean country. The smallest OPEC member has said it wants to import crude for the first time in decades as light reserves are […]
Venezuela to Start Mariscal Sucre Project by YE:15
(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 1.Oct.2015) – Venezuela will soon start offshore gas production at the Mariscal Sucre project. Production from Cardon IV block is currently at 300 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) and expected to reach 450 MMcf/d shortly, said PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino during a […]
PetroCabimas to Drill Curazaito Exploration Well
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 1.Oct.2015) – This will be the first exploration well to search for and confirm the presence of oil and gas in Curazaito in Zulia state, PDVSA says in radio broadcast. The well will be located in the Cabimas block on the eastern coast of Lake […]
Oil Price Collapse to Affect Venezuela Cash Flow
(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 1.Oct.2015) – Due to the fall in oil prices, all of the oil companies and governments have experienced a strong negative impact to their cash flow. As such, the investment capacity of all the actors has declined enormously and a lot of large projects […]
Smuggling of Venezuelan Gasoline to Aruba to Continue
(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 1.Oct.2015) – The smuggling of Venezuelan gasoline to Aruba and other countries will continue as long as a large gap between gasoline prices exists, said EnergyNomics President Carlos Rossi in an interview in Houston, Texas. “Contraband is a way to keep the military happy […]
Trinidad & Tobago Gas Master Plan Final Report [PDF Download]
(Poten & Partners, 30.Sep.2015) — Trinidad & Tobago’s final master natural gas plan prepared for the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs as of September 2015 by Poten & Partners. ____________________
LatAmNRG: Heard on the Street 3Q:15
(Energy Analytics Institute, 30.Sep.2015) – Information in this section, provided by Energy Analytics Institute editors and reporters, is hearsay and thus should be treated as such. The names of our many sources have been withheld to protect their identities and family members in Venezuela. REGARDING VENEZUELA * China could ask […]
More Countries Hold Recoverable Shale Gas
(EIA, 25.Sep.2015) – The amount of unproved technically recoverable shale natural gas around the world has reached 7,576 Tcf, higher than previously estimated, according to a survey by the U.S.-based Energy Information Administration (EIA). New names were added to the list of countries with shale reserves. The U.S. holds 622.5 […]
Statoil Awards Wood Group Contract Offshore
(Statoil ASA, 22.Sep.2015) – Norway’s Statoil ASA, on behalf of the Peregrino license partners, has been awarding a contract to Wood Group to provide 4-year operations and maintenance for 2 wellhead platforms (Alpha and Bravo) and modification services for both units and the FPSO Peregrino in the Campos Basin, offshore […]
PetroEcuador Esmeraldas Refinery Restarts FCC Unit
(PetroEcuador, 18.Sep.2015) – PetroEcuador says activities initiated on September 11, 2015 to restart the fluid catalytic cracker unit at the Esmeraldas refinery, according to a statement posted to the state oil company’s website. The definitive restart of FCC unit is estimated for late-November 2015. The unit has undergone 14-months of […]
$1.2 Bln Esmeraldas Rehab Work Near Complete
(PetroEcuador, 18.Sep.2015) – PetroEcuador says that overhaul work is being performed on processing units at the 110,000 barrel per day (b/d) capacity Esmeraldas refinery that have deteriorated due to inadequate maintenance work, according to a statement posted to the state oil company’s website. Work is being performed on the catalytic […]
Petrobras Clarifies Gaspetro Details
(Petrobras, 17.Sep.2015) – Due to the article published in the press on the potential sale of Gaspetro, Petrobras clarifies that, as announced on June 29, 2015, a divestment plan has been approved totaling $15.1 bln for the 2-year period 2015 and 2016. Therefore, the company is considering divestment opportunities in […]
Lliquimuni Well Results by November 2015
(El Diario, 17.Sep.2015) – Results from the Lliquimuni exploration well are expected to be ready in late-October or early-November, reported the daily newspaper El Diario, citing Bolivia’s energy minister Luis Alberto Sánchez. Investments in the well — to be drilled to a total depth of approximately 3,200 meters — are […]
Petrobras Output Sets Record in August
(Petrobras, 16.Sept.2015) – Petrobras’ oil and natural gas production in Brazil and abroad reached 2.88 MMboe/d in Aug.2015, a new record. It is up 0.8% on the previous record of 2.86 MMboe/d set in Dec.2014. This volume is also up 4.5% on Aug.2014 (2.76 MMboe/d). Oil and natural gas production […]
Venezuela, Saudi Arabia Joint Commission
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 15.Sep.2015) – Venezuela’s Foreign Minister and Vice President of International Affairs at PDVSA, Delcy RodrĂguez, accompanied by Minister of Commerce and Industry of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq bin Fouzan Alrabiah, opened the First High Level Joint Commission Venezuela-Saudi Arabia at the Antonio Jose de Sucre Casa […]
Venezuela Oil Sector Viable with $40/bbl
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 15.Sep.2015) – “A $40 per barrel oil price is not a low price for Venezuela,” says Ramon Espinasa, oil economist at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), from Washington during an interview broadcast by Venezuelan radio station 99.9 FM. Venezuela’s oil sector is able to maintain […]
Petrobras Clarifies Details of Expense Cuts
(Petrobras, 15.Sep.2015) – Petrobras hereby responds to BM&FBovespa Official Letter 2851/2015-SAE, which requests the following clarifications: BM&FBovespa Official Letter 2851/2015-SAE      “We request that you provide clarification, by 9 a.m. on 9.Sep.2015, of the content of the article published by the newspaper Valor EconĂ´mico on 14.Sep.2015, entitled “Petrobras promises unprecedented expense […]
Venezuela’s Good, Bad Position
(Energy Analytics Institute, 14.Sep.2015) – In terms of decisions made by Venezuelan government, a former AVHI executive in Caracas shares his thoughts. “What is good for you is bad for everybody else, that’s not a good position for Venezuela,” EnergyNomics President Carlos Rossi tells Energy Analytics Institute in a phone […]
Petrobras Appoints Temp Chairman, BODs
(Petrobras, 15.Sep.2015) – Petrobras’ Board of Directors approved the appointment of Director Luiz Nelson Guedes de Carvalho at a meeting. Carvalho will chair this Board during Mr. Murilo Pinto de Oliveira Ferreira’s leave of absence, which was granted by the Council until 30.Nov.2015. The alternate to the Chairman of the […]
Petrobras Updates on Leasing of Rigs
(Petrobras, 15.Sept.2015) – In regard to the news items carried by the press concerning the leasing of oil rigs, Petrobras cannot confirm that it is about to sign a 15-year lease covering 19 oil rigs, amounting to $40 billion. As indicated on 9.Sep.2015, Petrobras currently has 28 leasing contracts for […]
PDVSA Output to Likely Fall in Default Scenario
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 14.Sep.2015) – In terms of a much talked about default, PDVSA would continue to function but the levels of output will likely decline due to a lack of investment and could see an increase in accidents at the company, said EnergyNomics President Carlos Rossi in […]
Peru’s Large Oil Block Woes
(Maria Luisa Puig, Eurasia, 14.Sept.2015) – Indigenous groups occupied the installations of block 192, the largest oil field in the Amazon jungle, to force the government to listen to their economic and environmental demands. The Humala administration announced in Aug.2015 a 2-year contract with Canadian Pacific Exploration and Production (previously […]
PDVSA Falsely Accusing Innocent Workers
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 14.Sep.2015) – PDVSA is falsely accusing innocent workers of smuggling fuel, according to an oil union official. “By falsely accusing innocent PDVSA workers of smuggling diesel and gasoline, the Venezuelan government is trying to cover up the smuggling being carried out by military officials,” oil […]
Petrobras Says Board Pres. Takes Leave
(Petrobras, 14.Sep.2015) – Petrobras’ Chair of the Board of Directors, Murilo Ferreira, has advised the Board that he will be on leave of absence until 30.Nov.2015. ***
AES Awarded Panama’s First Gas-Fired Plant
(AES Corporation, 11.Sep.2015) – AES Corporation announced that its subsidiary, Gas Natural Atlantico S. de R.L., won a competitive bid process conducted by the Electric Transmission Company, SA (ETESA), the state’s electric transmission company, to supply 350 MW of new capacity. The project will include the construction of a 350 […]
Petrobras Reports on Downgrade by S&P’s
(Petrobras, 11.Sep.2015) – Regarding Standard & Poor’s announcement of its new rating on September 10, 2015, Petrobras reiterates the medium-term fundability of its projects has been assured through loans taken out this year from financial institutions in Brazil and other countries. Petrobras also clarifies its loans do not contain any […]
Petrobras’ Naphtha Contract with Braskem
(Petrobras, 11.Sep.2015) – Petrobras and Braskem have signed contracts to supply naphtha for 2-months, starting on September 1, 2015: one is for the Braskem Unit in SĂŁo Paulo and the other is for the Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul units. Petrobras tried to negotiate a price for the naphtha […]
Venezuela Records Quake in Sucre State
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 10.Sep.2015) – A 4.5 magnitude quake was reported in Venezuela’s Sucre state (41km north of Guiria), Venezuelan Seismological Foundation (Funvisis) reported. ***
Energy Should Be Key Integration Driver
(PDVSA, 10.Sept.2015) – The World Energy Council (WEC) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), with the support of the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy (MEER) of Ecuador, hosted the South American Energy Council (CES) at the headquarters of UNASUR in the city of Quito The Fifth Meeting […]
Petrobras’ Clarification on Drilling Rigs
(Petrobras, 10.Sep.2015) – Currently, Petrobras has 28 contracts with Sete Brasil to charter drilling rigs. Charter contracts for 7 of the rigs were signed in Jun.2011 and the remaining 21 rigs were signed in Aug., totalling $89 bln. The 28 drilling rigs are scheduled to be delivered at different times: […]
Del Pino Says Producers Must Overcome Differences
(Energy Analytics Institute, 10.Sep.2015) – “Let’s overcome our differences of opinion between OPEC and non OPEC producers to achieve consensus,” Venezuela’s oil ministry posted via twitter , citing the country’s oil minister Eulogio Del Pino. “Let’s have a discussion on fair prices, minimum prices to ensure sustainability,” said Del Pino, who […]
Venezuela Arrest Nine for Trafficking Copper, Lead
(AVN, 9.Sep.2015) – Venezuela’s public prosecutor office arrests 9 persons convicted of trafficking 15 tons of copper and lead that belonged to PDVSA. ***
Moody’s Withdraws Pan America Rating
(Moody’s Investor Service, 9.Sep.2015) – Moody’s Latin America Agente de CalificaciĂłn de Riesgo has withdrawn the Aa1.ar National Local Currency rating for the Senior Unsecured Bank Credit Facility of Pan American Energy LLC, Argentine Branch (PAE) for business reasons. However, the B2 Global Scale Rating remains unchanged. Pan American Energy […]