Gas to market
Cusiana Gas Plant
Our new business phase in Colombia has centered on monetizing the significant gas reserves contained in BP-operated fields. For years this gas was stranded, and was almost entirely re-injected in order to maintain reservoir pressure and enhance oil recovery.
However, a combination of factors that included single-source dependence, sector deregulation, improved commercial terms, and increasing demand from domestic, industrial, vehicle and power-generation customers all came together to create the conditions required to participate in the long term gas market.
Build up has been progressive. To meet short-term demand, in 2003 a 52 mmscfd(*) plant was built in Cusiana, which coupled to an existing smaller facility elevated gas sales capacity to over 72 mmscfd. This amount was sufficient to supply Bogotá and surroundings, attending gas needs for domestic and industrial use.
The next stage was to build a major gas facility to further supply the growing national market. After 350 construction days, first gas from BP's new $100 million treatment plant at Cusiana was dispatched on May 17th, 2005.
Successful start up of this new infrastructure, built with partners Ecopetrol and Total, was underpinned by very strong HSE performance and extensive community benefits through local hire (over 500 jobs) and purchase of goods and services.
Gas sales currently hover at 200 mmscfd and represent roughly 30% of daily Colombian gas production. This highlights BP's increasing role as a key player in the domestic gas market.
Plans are already in place to expand the Cusiana gas facilities between 2008 and 2009 to meet ever increasing demand.
(*) mmscfd - million standard cubic feet per day
However, a combination of factors that included single-source dependence, sector deregulation, improved commercial terms, and increasing demand from domestic, industrial, vehicle and power-generation customers all came together to create the conditions required to participate in the long term gas market.
Build up has been progressive. To meet short-term demand, in 2003 a 52 mmscfd(*) plant was built in Cusiana, which coupled to an existing smaller facility elevated gas sales capacity to over 72 mmscfd. This amount was sufficient to supply Bogotá and surroundings, attending gas needs for domestic and industrial use.
The next stage was to build a major gas facility to further supply the growing national market. After 350 construction days, first gas from BP's new $100 million treatment plant at Cusiana was dispatched on May 17th, 2005.
Successful start up of this new infrastructure, built with partners Ecopetrol and Total, was underpinned by very strong HSE performance and extensive community benefits through local hire (over 500 jobs) and purchase of goods and services.
Gas sales currently hover at 200 mmscfd and represent roughly 30% of daily Colombian gas production. This highlights BP's increasing role as a key player in the domestic gas market.
Plans are already in place to expand the Cusiana gas facilities between 2008 and 2009 to meet ever increasing demand.
(*) mmscfd - million standard cubic feet per day
Environment and society
Safe, environmentally sound operations, while undertaking social investment programmes
