Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Natural Gas Country Notes

The early gas discoveries were made in the north-west of the country and in the Middle and Upper Magdalena Basins; in more recent times, major gas finds have been made in the Llanos Basin to the east of the Andes. Proved reserves at end-2005 are quoted by the Unidad de Planeación Minero Energético (UPME) of the Ministerio de Minas y Energía, in its Boletín Estadístico
1999-2005 as 3 994 bcf, plus 937 bcf for own use in the gas fields, giving a total of 4 932 bcf (139.7 bcm). This level compares with a fairly wide range of alternative estimates, extending from BP's 110 to World Oil's 190, with Cedigaz and Oil & Gas Journal close to the lower end at around 113 bcm.

At present a high proportion of Colombia's gas output (49% in 2005) is re-injected in order to maintain or enhance reservoir pressures. The major outlets for natural gas are own use by the gas industry (31% of total gas consumption in 2004), chemicals, cement and other industrial users (27%) and power plants (25%). Residential/commercial consumers accounted for 14%, while CNG use in road transport is small but growing rapidly.