Hocol

Hocol is a subsidiary of the Ecopetrol Group that engages in oil and gas exploration, production, transportation and commercialisation in Colombia. The company owns and operates conventional oil and gasfields and a portfolio of transportation infrastructure in the country.

Hocol’s exploration and production activities are centred in three main areas:

• Upper Magdalena Valley, where the company is present in four exploration blocks and 20 producing fields that contribute about 7,000 boepd to its production.
• Northern Colombia, where the company holds nine exploration blocks and seven producing fields, including interests in the Chuchupa and Ballena fields acquired from Chevron. Hocol’s production in this area stands at approximately 34,000 boepd
• The Llanos Basin, where the company holds seven exploration blocks and 10 producing fields. Hocol’s production in this area rose sharply following the Ocelote discovery in 2009 and stands at approximately 12,4000 boepd.

The company’s operating strategy is based on the rapid development of production assets and the utilisation of advanced techniques to reduce extraction costs and optimise recovery rates. Hocol is one of Colombia’s most active exploration companies, and approximately 70% of its production is derived from discoveries made by the company.

Gas has become increasingly important in Hocol’s development strategy. It currently accounts for slightly more than half of the company’s production.

Hocol has participated in the construction of numerous hydrocarbon transportation assets in Colombia and currently operates several pipelines linking production sites to distribution and export centres, including:

• Upper Magdalena
• Purificación-Saldaña
• La Hocha-Los Mangos
• Ocelote-Palmeras

In addition, the company owns unloading facilities in Lérida and Babillas.

Company website: www.hocol.com.co