Petrobras has started drilling the Uchuva-2 well in the Tayrona block offshore Colombia’s Caribbean coast. The appraisal well is expected to validate the size of the natural gas discovery made in the Uchuva-1 exploration well in July 2022, partner Ecopetrol said in a release June 21.
The well comes as part of a plan to incorporate additional gas reserves to boost gas supply to Colombia.
“Uchuva-1 is considered a very significant discovery for Ecopetrol and Colombia because it confirmed the importance of the Caribbean as one of the main sources of gas for our country,” said Elsa Jeanneth Jaimes, offshore vice-president of Ecopetrol (OGJ Online, May 11, 2021). Data from Uchuva-2 will be used to learn more about the 2022 discovery and potentially for “the planning and execution” of connection to gas consumption centers, she said.
Uchuva-1 was drilled in deep waters (837 m) about 32 km from the coast and 76 km from the city of Santa Marta, nearly 80 km from Chuchupa gas field (OGJ Online, July 29, 2022). Uchuva-2 may advance a final development decision, which was previously reported as expected sometime between 2026 and 2028.
The well is part of Ecopetrol’s plan to invest $760 million this year to increase natural gas production, with $350 million earmarked for offshore operations in the Caribbean Sea (OGJ Online, Apr. 25, 2024).
Petrobras is operator of the Tayrona block with 44.4% interest. Ecopetrol holds 55.6%.
