Colombian oil production edges down amid unrest, power cuts

Colombian oil production fell in July as operations were stalled by social unrest and electric power outages, according to data published by the mines and energy ministry. 

Crude output averaged 748,096b/d, down from 752,294b/d in June, while natural gas production rose 1.64% to 1.12Bf3/d.

[The oil production] decrease was due to public order problems in the departments of Meta, Putumayo and Casanare, and electrical failures in the fields of the department of Arauca," the ministry said in a statement. 

The increase in gas volumes was due to improved results at the Nelson, Corrales, Chuchupa, Provincia and Recetor West fields, it added.

Meanwhile, some 127.89km of exploratory seismic data was collected in July, taking the cumulative 2022 total to 1,546km.

"Likewise, during the year to date, 421 wells have been drilled, of which 377 are development and 44 are exploratory," the ministry said.