Central & South America

Construction of Cuxtal Gas Pipeline to Boost Yucatan Economy

The start-up of the Cuxtal 1 gas pipeline represents a key infrastructure project aimed at satisfying the demand for energy in this region of Mexico, which is currently growing at twice the national average: 4.1% versus 2.6%.

Venezuela Gas Pipeline Tract Explosion Blamed on Attack

A tract of a gas pipeline in eastern Venezuela suffered an explosion on Saturday afternoon, according to a report from state oil company PDVSA seen by Reuters, an incident the country’s oil minister blamed on an attack.

Baker Hughes Flexible Pipe Technology Should Overcome Challenges of Pre-Salt Subsea Developments

Baker Hughes reached a significant technology milestone in pioneering a solution to overcome flexible pipe stress corrosion cracking (SCC) tendencies in high CO2 content fields, such as those found in Brazil’s pre-salt offshore developments.

Peru's Ultra-Conservative Candidate Could Kick Out Odebrecht

Peru's Rafael López Aliaga, an ultra-conservative member of Opus Dei, has a serious shot at becoming the Andean country's next president.

Brazil Hopes to Attract Natural Gas Investors with New Law

Under the bill, companies interested in building gas pipelines will need a simple authorization rather than a more complex concession contract.

Organized Crime Siphons Billions from Gas Stations in Brazil

Fuel-related crimes are common in oil-producing nations in emerging markets, sometimes involving theft from pipelines.

Spotlight on South America: New Gas Pipeline to Boost Northern Peru

Gasnorp, a subsidiary of Promigas in Peru, signed a 32-year concession contract with the Peruvian state for the distribution of natural gas through the pipeline network in the provinces of Piura, Talara, Sullana, Paita and Sechura.

Argentina's Vaca Muerta Growth Depends on LNG to Asia

Argentina needs to plan and build more liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity to accelerate the development of its largest shale play, Vaca Muerta, the CEO of Pan American Energy said.

Venezuela Offers Natural Gas to Mexico, Experts Question Plan

Venezuela does not have a liquefaction plant to convert natural gas into LNG, which would be necessary to send the gas via sea to Mexico, industry experts said.

Argentina's Shale Oil Drives Rebound

Oil output from the Vaca Muerta region in Patagonia, which holds the fourth-largest shale oil reserves in the world, stalled during the coronavirus pandemic but hit a record high in December as producers revved up wells with an eye on rebounding prices and a new export market.

NG Energy to Evaluate Formations in Maria Conchita Field

After NG Energy International Corp. successfully drilled a well on the Maria Conchita block, where there is now a pipeline being built to deliver natural gas, NGE’s technical team and external consultants recently finalized a study to evaluate the formations in the Maria Conchita field as a whole.

EIG Agrees to Sell Stake in Brazilian Pipeline to Fluxys

EIG signed an agreement with Fluxys for the sale of EIG’s approximately 27.5% stake in Transportadora Brasileira Gasoduto Bolívia-Brasil, which owns and operates the Brazilian section of the Bolívia-Brazil pipeline.

Construction of Pipeline to Colombia’s Coast Nears Completion

The demand for natural gas in Colombia will increase by 50% in the next 13 years, from 961 MMBtu/d in 2019 to 1,449 MMBtu/d in 2033. With that in mind, Promigas has undertaken construction of the 250-MMcf/d Paiva-Caracolí gas pipeline along the Caribbean coast of Colombia, which was 92% complete in August.

Family of Jailed Houston Oil Exec Asks for Venezuelan Leader's Mercy

The family of a Houston-based Citgo oil executive convicted and ordered to prison in Venezuela alongside five others appealed directly to President Nicolás Maduro for mercy.

Tanker Traffic to Venezuela Suggests Oil Export Rebound

At least 18 oil tankers are expected to load oil for export from Venezuela in the coming weeks, according to tracking data and internal documents from state-run PDVSA, in a sign the sanctioned OPEC nation's crude exports may rebound this month.

Ecuador Crude Output Reduced by Pipeline Ruptures, Budget Cuts

Ecuador expects its crude output to end 2020 "significantly" below initial expectations due to budget cuts at state oil companies and the rupture of two key pipelines earlier this year, Energy Minister Rene Ortiz said.

Fluor Awarded Pipeline Construction, Maintenance Contract in Peru

Fluor has been awarded a pipeline construction and maintenance contract in Peru by Compañía Operadora de Gas (COGA) under the Consorcio Mantenimiento de Gasoductos del Peru (CMgP) consortium.

Indigenous Activists Occupy Petroperu Pipeline Facilities Over Healthcare Demands

A pipeline owned by Peruvian oil company Petroperu has been occupied by indigenous protests demanding better healthcare from the government, the company said on Tuesday.

U.S. Charges Former Manager of European Oil Firm over Graft in Ecuador

The U.S. Justice Department has charged a former manager of a European oil trading firm with paying bribes of $870,000 to help win a contract from Ecuador's state-run oil firm.

PowerChina Eyes Rail Project to Transport Oil and Gas From Argentina's Vaca Muerta

Chinese energy firm PowerChina is in talks to finance a rail project to transport oil and gas from Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale play to the port city of Bahia Blanca,

Petrobras on Track to Expand Rio LNG Import Capacity

Brazilian state-owned oil energy firm Petrobras said the company is on track to expand import capacity at its Rio LNG facility by 50%,.

Argentina Pitches Pipeline to Brazil for Vaca Muerta Shale Gas

Officials in Argentina are planning to propose a multibillion-dollar pipeline project with Brazil to carry shale gas from Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale play to Brazil's gas distribution market.

Brazil's Lower House to Vote on End to Petrobras Virtual Gas Monopoly, Encourage Pipelines

The lower house of Brazil's parliament is set to vote soon on legislation that would end the state-owned energy company Petrobras' virtual monopoly of the natural gas industry, opening up the sector, including pipelines, to private investment.

TechnipFMC Awarded Subsea Contract for Petrobras Offshore Project

Petrobras has awarded TechnipFMC a large subsea infrastructure contract for the Brazilian oil company's Mero offshore project.

Indigenous Protesters Agree to Leave Peru Pipeline Station

Petroperu announced it has reached an agreement with indigenous protestors who had occupied a pipeline pumping station along one of the country's crude oil pipelines.

Quality Issues Add Delays to Venezuela's Crude Exports — Documents

The worsening quality of crude oil exports from Venezuela is causing further delays in loading times at the state-run oil company PDVSA's main terminal according to internal company documents.

Petroperu Resumes Pipeline Operations After Coronavirus-Related Halt

Peru's state-run energy firm Petroperu has restarted pipeline operations after being halted due to concerns over the coronavirus.

Brazil's Petrobras Forges Ahead with Midstream, Downstream Divestments

Speaking to investors on Friday, executives at Petrobras, Brazil's state-run oil firm, said the company is moving forward with the IPO of its gas pipeline assets and expects to conclude a deal for its RLAM refinery in the near future.

Petrobras Sells Remaining Stake in TAG to Engie Brasil, CDPQ

Petrobras, Brazil's state-owned oil company, has agreed to sell its remaining stake in natural gas pipeline company TAG Engie Brasil and Canadian investment fund Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec (CDPQ).

Brazil's Petrobras Considers Offshore LNG Units for Pre-Salt Gas

Brazilian state-controlled oil company Petrobras is considering installing offshore units to liquefy the growing natural gas production from the so-called pre-salt area, the company's emissions and climate change manager said.