The Huayco and Rio Salado blocks lie in the south of Bolivia within the sub-Andean foothills of the Tarija Basin. The region is a proven hydrocarbon province with multi-Tcf gas resources. Bolivia remains one of the few overlooked provinces in Latin America and offers substantial, high-reward, investment opportunities.
Overview
Area:
Huayco: 75 km2
Rio Salado: 500 km2
Status:
Huayco: Joint Evaluation Agreement
Rio Salado: Technical Evaluation Agreement. 12 month term with effective date 12 October 2018
Seismic Available:
Full 250km2 3D coverage
Additional 2D seismic recently made available
Resource Potential:
Echo estimates that the blocks hold multi-Tcf gas potential.
Work Programme & Partnerships
As part of the ongoing evaluation programme, Echo is currently reprocessing existing seismic across the Huayco and Rio Salado blocks with its partners.
Huayco Licence
The company has signed a binding Joint Evaluation Agreement (JEA) with Pluspetrol which positions Echo to secure an 80% operated interest in the Huayco block.
Rio Salado Licence
Echo is currently participating in a Technical Evaluation Agreement with YPFB in the Rio Salado block, which, upon completion, and subject to favourable conclusions will enable the Company to negotiate a commercial agreement with YPFB or monetise the asset.
Permit Area
The Rio Salado licence surrounds the Huayco block and lies in southern Bolivia, approximately 290 km south of the city of Sucre and 60 km east of Tarija.
Both blocks sit within the prolific Tarija basin, lying to the east of the Andes within the sub-Andean foothills. These narrow, north-south trending structures form the basis for the traps in which the natural gas accumulates.
Adjacent blocks contain some of the largest gas discoveries in Bolivia, including the renowned Caipipendi and Sabalo fields.
Local Infrastructure
The Margarita and Sabalo natural gas processing facilities are found in close proximity to the Huayco and Rio Salado blocks.
The Margarita processing plant has a capacity in excess of 494 MMscf/day (LNG World News).
Existing gas export pipelines are present which deliver gas to both Argentina and Brazil.
Petroleum Geology
A potential deep footwall structure with 4-way dip closure has been identified as the main trapping structure. The company internally estimates that it may contain multi-Tcf gas potential.