LatAmOil - Latin America Oil & Gas

Ecuador restarts SOTE crude pipeline after completing bypass section

State-owned PetroEcuador has restarted the Trans-Ecuadorian Oil Pipeline System (SOTE), which has been damaged repeatedly by a series of floods.

NRG: Looking beyond the crisis

Venezuela’s Iranian stopgap

Gasoline shortages are likely to remain a problem for Maduro after Iranian supplies run out.

Technical problems force production rates down at Liza oilfield

Guyana may not be able to load its third cargo of crude oil for export on schedule next month, owing to setbacks at Liza, the country’s only operating field.

Pemex reportedly cancels $160mn worth of service contracts

Pemex has reportedly cancelled contracts with a number of its major suppliers and service providers

Re-opening of St. Croix refinery likely to be delayed again

The government of the US Virgin Islands has indicated that the re-opening of the St. Croix oil refinery is likely to be delayed once more.

AES, Tropigas affiliates team up to deliver LNG by truck in Panama, Costa Rica

Affiliates of US-based AES and Tropigas of the Dominican Republic have teamed up to distribute LNG by truck in two Central American countries.

Mexico refuses to extend oil output cuts

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said that Mexico is not in a position to extend oil output cuts and has called for other countries to do so instead.

Ecuador declares force majeure after pipeline stoppage

Ecuador declared force majeure on all upstream exploration and production activities last week, after its SOTE pipeline stopped operating.

ANP: Brazilian oil production steady in April despite pandemic

Production of crude oil in Brazil rose year on year in April, despite the fall in demand and stoppages related to the coronavirus crisis, according to the state regulator ANP.

Argentina preparing to launch tender for Vaca Muerta block

Argentina is reportedly getting ready to launch a tender for a section of the Vaca Muerta formation known as Loma Amarilla Norte.

IOCs call on Brazil to switch from PSCs to concessions

Several of the international oil companies (IOCs) operating in Brazil say the country needs to begin offering concession terms for its pre-salt acreage and abandon production-sharing contracts (PSCs).

Guyana forging ahead with gas-to-power project

Guyana’s government is reportedly moving forward with plans to use natural gas from the offshore Stabroek block as fuel for domestic electricity production.

Venezuela hikes gasoline prices, alters rules governing fuel sales

Venezuela’s government has made significant changes to regulations governing gasoline pricing and distribution.

Mexico’s Libre Abordo bankrupt, says Venezuela ended oil-for-food deal

Libre Abordo, the Mexico-based company involved in a controversial oil-for-water agreement with Venezuela, has declared bankruptcy.

Colombian oil transport firms to extend reduced pipeline charges

State-controlled oil transportation companies in Colombia have agreed to extend previously offered reductions in pipeline charges amidst persistently low oil prices.

Coronavirus cases spread among Brazil’s offshore oil producers

At least six oil companies have now registered cases of coronavirus infection among their employees or contractors working at facilities offshore Brazil.

Petrobras takes steps to give independent producers access to gas plants

Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petrobras said last week that it had begun taking steps to allow other companies to access its natural gas-processing plants.

Golar LNG reveals outlook for projects in Africa, South America

Bermuda-registered Golar LNG has issued an update on its activities related to projects in Africa and South America.

Fire casts shadow on Venezuela’s Orimulsion strategy for heavy crude

Sinovensa's fire damage has cast a spotlight on the cracks in Caracas’ strategy for marketing the country’s ultra-heavy crude, which dates back to the 1980s.

NRG: Some forward momentum, but overall restraint

Despite the relative stability of crude prices in recent days, more news of activity cutbacks, earnings losses and demand weakness continues to come in, and all eyes are turning to the forthcoming OPEC+ meeting.

US warns governments, firms against aiding Iran fuel shipments to Venezuela

Guyana exports second oil cargo

Guyana has successfully exported its second cargo of crude oil from Liza, an oilfield within the offshore Stabroek block.

Bolivian government urged to reform laws governing gas sector

Two partners from the energy practice of Indacochea & Asociados, a law firm based in Santa Cruz, have expressed concern about the future of Bolivia’s natural gas sector.

Argentina reports VLSFO production, sales up in Q1-2020

Argentina has reported a slight increase in the production of very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) in the first quarter of 2020, following the introduction of new marine fuel specifications by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).