Colombia: Environmental permits slow Llanos work

July 21, 2011
Lengthy delays in issuing environmental permits are adversely affecting the operations of large and small companies in Colombia, said Quetzal Energy Ltd., Calgary.

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 21
– Lengthy delays in issuing environmental permits are adversely affecting the operations of large and small companies in Colombia, said Quetzal Energy Ltd., Calgary.

Quetzal said it has waited 8 months for a permit on Block 27 that it now anticipates will be granted in the third quarter of 2011. It will build locations as soon as it receives the permit.

A follow-up 54 sq km 3D seismic shoot has been completed in the southeastern part of the block and is being interpreted. The company has defined exploratory drilling locations on three structures and several potential development locations from the 3D seismic. It is studying several more geologic features as potential drilling locations.

A two to three-well drilling program is to start 1 month after location building begins. The wells have a planned depth of 10,000 ft to test prospective oil-bearing intervals in the Carbonera, Mirador, and Une formations. Quetzal is operator with 50% paying interest in Block 27.

Quetzal is also operator with 505 paying interest in Block 21, where an 83 sq km 3D survey is being interpreted. The company plans to drill two wells in late 2011-early 2012.

On Block 36, Queztal 20%, 109 sq km of 3D seismic is being processed. A 15,000-ft well is to be drilled in 2012.

On the Canaguaro block where Quetzal is operator with 25% working interest, long-term production testing of Canaguay-1 is continuing with the well making 500 b/d of oil and 150 b/d of water.