The nation already has millionaire resources ready to achieve full connectivity between the gas fields and the regasification plant on the Caribbean coast, with the interior and south of the country, and thus supply natural gas to most of the territory.
(US $ 2.9 billion will be invested to supply the country with natural gas).
There are US $ 2,900 million identified in 127 projects, of which US $ 1,162 million are earmarked for exploration and production (E&P), and US $ 1,688 million earmarked for transportation and distribution.
“Specifically, there are 12 strategic works to bring natural gas to 366,000 families in 363 municipal seats located in the departments of Nariño, Boyacá, Santander and Chocó”, said Luz Stella Murgas, president of the Colombian Natural Gas Association (Naturgas).
The union leader specified that of the total of the resources drawn up, $ 200,000 million will be disbursed from the Special Fund for Development Quota (FECFGN), “Which with the help of private investment would mean eliminating 3.3% of all CO2 emissions in the country, in addition to stopping the destruction of forests and jungles.”
Within the framework of the national congress that Naturgas is holding these days in Cartagena, the union stressed that, The country has a high potential for supplying fuel with which it would go from having 3 tera cubic feet (tpc) of proven reserves, available for 7.7 years, to close to 60 tpc, which ensure self-sufficiency for the next 100 years .
(The role of gas in economic reactivation).
“In the midst of the enormous challenge of reactivation, it is necessary to recognize that natural gas is the energy ally of Colombians to improve the country’s competitiveness and bring development to all regions in a sustainable way. We have achieved great achievements in the last 20 years, we went from having 1.9 million users to achieving more than 10,446,000, which is equivalent to a penetration of almost 80% and makes us a world reference; spaces for dialogue such as those of this congress allow us to continue strengthening this promising industry ”, Murgas indicated.
In terms of hydrocarbon contracts for natural gas (E&P), out of nine agreements come out in the offshore of the Caribbean Sea (COL-1, COL-2, COL-3, COL-4, COL-5, COL-6, COL- 7, GUAOFF-1 and GUAOFF-3). “These blocks are added to the Kronos, Purpple Angel and Orca projects, which will deliver natural gas to the national territory in the medium and long term”, said the president of Naturgas.
ECOPETROL’S CONTRIBUTION
While the country continues in its task to achieve greater exploration and production of natural gas, the Ecopetrol company is executing investments for US $ 1,300 million by the year 2023 with the objective of developing a potential of up to 50 tpc through projects in the Llanero foothills. , the Colombian Caribbean Sea, in the Permian (USA), Brazil and in the Pilot Projects for Integral Research (PPII) of unconventional deposits (YNC).
So far in 2021, eight wells have been drilled and extensive tests have begun in Mamey-3, Arrecife-1 ST, Bullerengue-3 and Liria YW12.
“Recently, as we announced, the discovery of Liria YW12, whose initial tests showed that 64% of the production corresponds to natural gas, will increase the supply of this energy to the interior of the country”, stressed Felipe Bayón, president of Ecopetrol.
The leader of the oil company stressed that, during 2022, an “unprecedented” activity will be carried out with four drills in the Llanero Foothills for the drilling of six wells, nine wells in the Caribbean, an offshore well and the PPII.
“Likewise, progress is being made with the development of a new cost-efficient option for importing micro-LNG, that is, on a small scale from 20 to 40 million cubic feet per day (mcdd)”, Bayón said.
TRANSPORT
Within the transportation works for the distribution of natural gas, seven projects stand out for the firm supply of fuel in the national territory.
The initiatives contained in the new Natural Gas Supply Plan (PAGN), formulated by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (Upme), intend to support the supply of this fuel for the next 10 years .
“This fuel is an essential service for the country, not only because eight out of ten households use it daily, but because it contributes to the protection of the environment. It is also considered the fuel of the energy transition: it reduces carbon emissions by 40% and particulate matter by 96% ”, explained the Minister of Mines and Energy, Diego Mesa.
Among the seven natural gas transportation and distribution works in the national territory The interconnection and bidirectionalities of the Barranquilla – Ballena (north) and Barrancabermeja-Ballena (north – center) gas pipelines stand out.
(Why is Colombia importing natural gas?).
Additionally, a bidirectionality of the Yumbo – Mariquita (west) section will be built and the transport capacity will be increased in the Jamundí branch (Valle del Cauca) and in the Mariquita-Gualanday section (Tolima) in order to ensure the demand is met. .
Another of the mega-works that is added to the seven transportation projects, and that will guarantee the firm supply of natural gas by the west of the country, is the Jobo – Medellín gas pipeline, whose execution will be led by the Canadian multinational Canacol, but its development it will be borne by a contractor.
“The investment for the assembly of the gas pipeline is US $ 500 million, it will be assigned in March of next year and its operation will begin on December 1, 2024”, explained Charle Gamba, CEO of Canacol.
ALFONSO LÓPEZ SUÁREZ
Cartagena, Bolivar
