EX-99.2 12 v310367_ex99-2.htm EXHIBIT 99.2

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

 
   
  Gaffney, Cline & Associates, Inc.
   
  1300 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1000
  Houston, TX  77056
  Telephone:  +1 713 850 9955
  www.gaffney-cline.com

 

ASF/bgh/C2048.00/gcah.28.12 February 07, 2012

 

Mr. Oscar H. Valbuena

Director de Control de Reservas

Ecopetrol, S. A.

Vicepresidencia Financiera

Edificio Principal, Piso 7

Bogota, Colombia

 

Reserve Audit for Forty Five Fields in Colombia

as well as Ecopetrol’s Participation in Savia S.A.

 

Dear Mr. Valbuena:

 

This consolidated Proved reserves statement has been prepared by Gaffney, Cline & Associates (GCA) and issued on February 07, 2012 at the request of Ecopetrol, S.A. (Ecopetrol), a participant operator and investor in forty five fields in the Lower, Middle and Upper Magdalena Valley, Catatumbo, Putumayo, Llanos Orientales and Nororiente Basins, Colombia and 50% holder of the interest in Savia, S.A.(Savia), operator of the Lote Z-2B in Peru. This report is based on prior audits conducted by GCA and the same is intended for use in conjunction with Ecopetrol’s December 31, 2011 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

GCA has conducted an independent audit examination as of December 31, 2011, of the Proved hydrocarbon liquids and natural gas reserves for forty five fields in the Lower, Middle and Upper Magdalena Valley, Catatumbo, Putumayo, Llanos Orientales and Nororiente Basins, Colombia and provided to Ecopetrol a reserve statement dated January 20, 2012. GCA separately audited as of December 31, 2011, Savia’s net proved reserves for its operated interest in Lote Z-2B in Peru and provided to Savia a reserve statement dated January 12, 2012. The table below presents the consolidated volumes corresponding to the Ecopetrol’s interest in the mentioned fields.

 

Statement of Proved Hydrocarbon Reserves Volumes
Forty Five Fields, Colombia and Ecopetrol’s Participation in Savia, S.A.
as of December 31, 2011

 

Reserves Category  Gross Field
Volumes
   Net to Ecopetrol 
   Liquids   Gas   Liquids   Gas 
   MMBbl   Bscf   MMBbl   Bscf 
Proved                    
Developed   467    1,386    327    630 
Undeveloped   282    831    230    389 
Total Proved   749    2,217    557    1,019 

 

 
 

 

ASF/bgh/C2048.00/gcah.28.12
Ecopetrol, S. A.

 

Hydrocarbon liquid volumes represent crude oil and condensate, natural gasoline and LPG estimated to be recovered during field separation and plant processing, and are reported in millions of barrels (MMBbl). Natural gas volumes represent expected gas sales, and are reported in billions (109) of cubic feet (Bscf) at standard conditions of 14.7 psia and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. These volumes have been reduced for fuel usage in the field. Royalties payable to the State have been deducted from reported net volumes.

 

Proved gas volumes are based on firm and existing gas contracts and on the reasonable expectation that such gas sales contracts will be renewed on similar terms in the future.

 

Ecopetrol has advised GCA that these Proved volumes represent 39.6% of Ecopetrol’s total Proved reserves on an oil-equivalent basis. Based on information provided by ECOPETROL, the third party estimate conducted by GCA addresses 38.3% of the total proved developed net liquid hydrocarbon reserves, 28.2% of the total proved developed net gas reserves and 44.5% of the total proved undeveloped net liquid hydrocarbon reserves and 72.2% of the total proved undeveloped net gas reserves of ECOPETROL. GCA is not in a position to verify these as it was not requested to review Ecopetrol’s other oil and gas assets.

 

This audit examination was based on reserve estimates and other information provided by Ecopetrol and Savia to GCA through December 2011, and included such tests, procedures and adjustments as were considered necessary. Field data and information provided by Ecopetrol varies from field to field, Ecopetrol provided production data sets, depending on the field, up to September or October 2011. All questions that arose during the course of the audit process were resolved to our satisfaction.

 

Technical information and comments related to the methodology followed to audit the reserves volumes for each one of the fields, is presented in separate individual reports. As these reports are quite extensive and detailed, the significant points of the work performed are summarized below.

 

Recoverable volume estimates as derived from profiles of expected future performance were checked for consistency with the development plans provided by Ecopetrol and Savia and verified on the basis of individual well decline analysis, typical well performance models, material balance calculations, reservoir simulation results, analogies, etc. as appropriate to the available information and category of the reserves. Gross reserves and those net to Ecopetrol’s interests were verified on the basis of the fiscal and contractual terms applicable in each case.

 

In order to confirm estimates of petroleum initially in place, the structural and stratigraphic descriptions of the accumulations, various reservoir limits, rock petrophysical parameters and reservoir fluid properties were reviewed checked for reasonableness and/or modified as appropriate based on information and data supplied by Ecopetrol or Savia. Reservoir and individual well performance was analyzed in order to assess the predominant reservoir drive mechanisms currently active in the fields and those expected to affect the future production performance.

 

The economic tests for the December 31, 2011 reserve volumes were based on a prior twelve-month first-day-of-the-month average reference price for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude of US$96.19/Bbl, corrected for location and quality to an average wellhead price in the range of US$78.88 – 109.70/Bbl, depending on the specific field, for the fields in Colombia. For the fields in Peru, the prior twelve-month first-day-of-the-month average reference price for Ardjuna and Mines crudes of US$113.38/Bbl, was used as reference price Sales gas and plant product prices were advised by Ecopetrol/Savia according to existing contracts and/or regulations. No price escalation has been included, other than as provided for in existing contracts. The following tables include additional details of these prices:

 

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ASF/bgh/C2048.00/gcah.28.12
Ecopetrol, S. A.

 

Oil and Condensate Prices

 

Note  Price US$/Bbl 
      
12 Month average price for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude used as reference for the crude prices in Colombia.   96.19 
Unweighted average of the prices adjusted for location and quality used  to determine oil and condensate proved reserves for the different fields in Colombia   88.86 
12 Month average price for the Ardjuna and Mines crudes used as reference for the crude prices in Peru.   113.88 
Unweighted average of the prices adjusted for location and quality used  to determine oil and condensate proved reserves for the different fields in Peru.   113.88 

 

Product Plant Prices

 

Note   Products Plants   Price US$/Bbl  
           
12 Month average reference price  (Mont Belvieu, Texas)   Propane   61.74  
    Butane   77.65  
    Gasoline   98.92  
Unweighted average price adjusted for location and quality used to determine proved reserves in Colombia Assets   Propane   57.67  
    Butane   73.32  
    Gasoline   114.10  
Unweighted average price adjusted for location and quality used to determine proved reserves in Peru Assets   LPG   74.05  

 

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ASF/bgh/C2048.00/gcah.28.12
Ecopetrol, S. A.

 

Gas Prices

 

Note   Location/Fields   Price
US$/MMBTU
 
           
Average benchmark natural gas price - Colombia   Guajira (Benchmark Price)   4.86  
    Opón (Benchmark Price)   5.46  
    Cusiana (Benchmark Price)   5.59  
           

Natural gas average price defined by contract/

agreements used to determine proved reserves in some Colombia fields

  Fields audited: Dina Terciario, Mana, Sardinata, Tenay, Tempranillo and Toqui Toqui.   2.88  
Adjusted gas price  used to determine proved reserves in the remaining Colombia Fields   Fields audited: Corazon, Corazon West, Dina Cretaceo, Palogrande, Cebu, Ballena, Chuchupa, Rio Ceibas, Riohacha, La Cira, Infantas, La Salina, Nutria, Payoa and Provincia.  

5.29

 

 
Adjusted gas price  used to determine proved reserves in some Peru Fields.   .Fields audited: Lote Z-2B   6.29  

 

Future capital costs for the fields were derived from development program forecasts prepared by field operators. Recent historical operating expense data were utilized as the basis for operating cost projections. GCA has found that sufficient capital investments and operating expenses have been projected by the operators to produce the projected volumes.

 

It is GCA’s opinion that the estimates of total remaining recoverable hydrocarbon liquid and gas volumes as of December 31, 2011 are, in the aggregate, reasonable and the reserves categorization is appropriate and consistent with the definitions for reserves set out in 17 CFR Part 210 Rule 4-10(a) of Regulation S-X of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (as set out in Appendix II). GCA concludes that the methodologies employed by Ecopetrol in the derivation of the reserves estimates are appropriate and that the quality of the data relied upon and the depth and thoroughness of the reserves estimation process are adequate.

 

GCA is not aware of any potential changes in regulations applicable to these fields that could affect the ability of Ecopetrol or Savia to produce the estimated reserves.

 

This assessment has been conducted within the context of GCA’s understanding of Ecopetrol’s petroleum property rights as represented by Ecopetrol’s and Savia’s management. GCA is not in a position to attest to property title, financial interest relationships or encumbrances thereon for any part of the appraised properties or interests.

 

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ASF/bgh/C2048.00/gcah.28.12
Ecopetrol, S. A.

 

There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating reserves and resources, and in projecting future production, development expenditures, operating expenses and cash flows. Oil and gas reserve engineering and resource assessment must be recognized as a subjective process of estimating subsurface accumulations of oil and gas that cannot be measured in an exact way. Estimates of oil and gas reserves or resources prepared by other parties may differ, perhaps materially, from those contained within this report. The accuracy of any Reserve or Resource estimate is a function of the quality of the available data and of engineering and geological interpretation. Results of drilling, testing and production that post-date the preparation of the estimates may justify revisions, some or all of which may be material. Accordingly, Reserve and Resource estimates are often different from the quantities of oil and gas that are ultimately recovered, and the timing and cost of those volumes that are recovered may vary from that assumed.

 

* * * * *

 

For this assignment, GCA served as independent reserve auditor. The firm’s officers and employees have no direct or indirect interest holding(s) in the property units evaluated. GCA’s remuneration was not in any way contingent on reported reserve estimates. The qualifications of the technical person primarily responsible for overseeing this audit are included in Appendix I.

 

Finally, please note that GCA reserves the right to approve, in advance, the use and context of the use of any results, statements or opinions expressed in this report. Such approval shall include, but not be confined to, statements or references in documents of a public or semi-public nature such as loan agreements, prospectuses, reserve statements, press releases etc.

 

Very truly yours,

 

GAFFNEY, CLINE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

 

David K. Morgan

 Senior Technical Manager

 

Attachments

Appendices

I: Technical Qualifications of Person Responsible for Audit.

 

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Appendix I:

 

Technical Qualifications of Person Responsible for Audit

 

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Statement of Qualifications

D. K. Morgan

 

D. K. Morgan is one of GCA’s Senior Technical Mangers and was responsible for overseeing the preparation of the audit. Mr. Morgan has over 42 years of diversified international industry experience mainly in reservoir-engineering, geology, reserves estimates, project development, economics and training in the assessment, classification and reporting of reserves and resources. Over the past 5 years he has been responsible for project review and oversight for GCA’s Houston office as it pertains to exploration and production activities including the reserves audits conducted on behalf of Repsol YPF S.A. and YPF S.A. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and holds a petroleum engineering degree from Marietta College.

 

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