Naturgas Plans Boost to Colombia’s Gas Transport Capacity

Naturgas president Orlando Cabrales projects investments of $300mn are forecast for 2019 to boost Colombia’s natural gas transport system by 220mn ft³, online media reported April 9.

Of that total, $200mn will be targeted to systems along Colombia’s Caribbean coast, while the remaining $100mn will go to systems in interior regions, reported online media El Espectador.

Naturgas, a private, non-profit organization comprised of 25 of Colombia’s leading gas producers, transporters, distributors and marketers, estimates investment this year across the entire gas chain from transport to production will reach $500mn.

“Colombia has a great potential to find more natural gas, and not all countries can say the same. The key to this is that we can incorporate reserves,” Cabrales said.

Colombia, with proved gas reserves of 3.9 trillion ft³ at year-end 2017, according to BP’s Statistical Review of Energy, is moving forward with a number of unconventional pilot projects with the potential to add another 10 trillion ft³, Ecopetrol president Felipe Bayon said last month at CeraWeek in Houston.

In addition to efforts to boost transport capacity, Cabrales said it was necessary for government to push forward with fracking efforts to boost gas reserves.

“The recommendation from the commission of experts on fracking is positive with an emphasis on strengthening the government’s supervisory capacity, with which we agree,” Cabrales said.