SOTE pumping would resume this December 30; Refinery reactivation would be on January 4, 2022, reports EP Petroecuador

In two more days, that is On December 29, work will end on the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) and on December 30, pumping will resume. Meanwhile, The start-up of the Esmeraldas Refinery units will be on January 1, 2022 once the stock of crude oil and its availability. The stabilization of the entire refining center will take place as of January 4. This was reported by Pablo Luna, manager of EP Petroecuador, after the activity had to be paralyzed on December 10, 2021, due to the regressive erosion that is produced in the Coca river and its tributaries (Quijos and Piedra Fina).

Additionally, EP Petroecuador reported that construction of the seventh variant of the SOTE is currently 97.6%; while that of the Lago Agrio-Quito pipeline is 98% complete.

Meanwhile, as of December 26, the country’s production is very low, since Petroecuador produced 36,573 barrels per day while the private ones were at 37,395, that is, a total of 73,968 barrels. In October, daily production was approximately 480,000 barrels. As the crude cannot be transported to Esmeraldas at this time, the modest production remains, one part in the Shushufindi Refinery and the other travels to the OCP station in Baeza.

While the stoppage lasts, Petroecuador carries out maintenance work on wells and the refinery. The company also reported that after the validity of the Declaration of Force Majeure in the hydrocarbon sector, It has developed corrective and preventive maintenance work in the exploration, production and refining areas, with the aim of safeguarding the mechanical integrity of the equipment and having facilities in better condition for when crude oil pumping is resumed.

The Minister of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources, Juan Carlos Bermeo, stressed that the works are carried out according to schedules and under strict security measures. “From the national government we are absolutely committed and making every effort to restart the normal transportation of oil. Then we will resume drilling campaigns in the fields and other actions focused on increasing oil production “, Indian.

In the operational areas of thirteen oil blocks in the Amazon: 7, 12, 15, 18, 21, 31, 43, 44, 56, 57, 58, 60 and 61, pipeline sections change activities are carried out in various flow lines, replacement of valves of different diameters in process and water injection lines, maintenance and cleaning of separators, work on different equipment and electrical systems in the fields, among others.

In addition, At the Esmeraldas Refinery, repairs and cleaning of equipment are carried out in the sulfur, non-catalytic and HDS units. At the refinery La Libertad entered into maintenance, until the first days of January 2022, the Parsons, Universal and Captive units, as well as auxiliary systems. At the refinery Shushufindi no work will be done. In this case, its operation will be extended for as long as possible so as not to affect the supply of derivatives in the area of ​​influence of this refining center. Currently, the refinery operates at 60% capacity in its two Amazonas 1 and 2 units.

Meanwhile, in the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline, which is managed by the private company of the same name, work is also being carried out for a new variant, as it has also been affected by erosion. At the moment this variant has a 89% ahead and the delivery date is kept for the first week of January. The OCP indicated that at the moment they are receiving crude from Block 10 and 21 at Sardinas Station to Esmeraldas. This has happened since the beginning of the operation at approximately 15,000 barrels per day.

Currently, regressive erosion has caused the paralysis of the SOTE and OCP pipelines (in private hands), as well as the destruction of the El Reventador section of the Quito-Lago Agrio highway. The town of San Luis and the catchment works for the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant are also under threat of evacuation.