Block 3 output could reach 2.27Mm3/d by 2013 - Petroecuador

Natural gas production from block 3 in Ecuador's Guayaquil gulf will hit 50M-80Mf3/d (1.42M-2.27Mm3/d) at the end of next year, according to state oil company Petroecuador. The drilling of two wells and the rehabilitation of another three on the block in the Amistad field will take output to 50Mf3/d from 35Mf3/d in the short term, the NOC said in a statement. The US$18mn project to repair wells 6, 7 and 8 will wrap up end-July, said Petroecuador natural gas manager Francisco Rosero Bolaños. Output currently goes to fire the Machala power plant and will supply a liquefaction plant under construction in the Bajo Alto sector of El Oro province, as part of the government's push toward a new energy matrix that includes the use of cleaner hydrocarbons. The official added that local firm Ilvetécnica completed a project to determine the presence of hydrocarbons using low frequency Anchar seismic technology. Data has been sent to Russia to be interpreted. Last year, the government terminated Noble Energy's (NYSE: NBL) PSC for block 3 after Petroecuador asked the non-renewable natural resources ministry to cancel the contract because of alleged investment shortfalls.