Courtesy of gazprom.com

A ceremonial event marking the start of commercial production from the Incahuasi field took place in Bolivia near the city of Camiri.

The event was attended by Evo Morales, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Luis Alberto Sanchez, Bolivian Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy, Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, Guillermo Acha, Acting Executive President of Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), Michel Hourcard, Senior Vice President of Total S.A., Guillermo Miranda, Regional Director for Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela at Tecpetrol S.A., and heads of Bolivian regions and municipalities.

Incahuasi is one of the largest active gas and condensate fields in Bolivia. Its recoverable reserves are currently estimated at 70.8 billion cubic meters of gas and 4.8 million tons of gas condensate. The field's first production stage has seen the construction of three wells, a comprehensive gas treatment unit with a daily output of 6.9 million cubic meters, an in-field pipeline system, and an integrated production control system. A 100-kilometer gas pipeline has been built to connect Incahuasi to the Bolivian trunkline system.

The field is already producing gas, with the daily output expected to reach 6.5 million cubic meters by year's end. Gas from Incahuasi is supplied to the domestic market and is planned to be exported to Argentina and Brazil.

“The launch of the Incahuasi field is a landmark event for the energy industries of Bolivia and South America at large. Together with our Bolivian partners, we are pushing forward the continent's most advanced and cutting-edge industry, which, in its turn, serves as a powerful driver for the country's economy,” Alexey Miller said.

Gazprom's interests in Bolivian projects are represented by Gazprom International, a specialized company aimed at implementing hydrocarbon prospecting, exploration and development projects outside Russia. The Incahuasi field is located within the Ipati and Aquio licensed blocks. The field is developed by a consortium consisting of Total S.A. (50 per cent, project operator), Gazprom (20 per cent), Tecpetrol S.A. (20 per cent), and YPFB (10 per cent).

Source: gazprom.com