Trans-Andean Oil Pipeline

From Global Energy Monitor
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The Trans-Andean Oil Pipeline, also known locally by its Spanish initials OTASA, or by its full Spanish name Oleoducto Trasandino Estenssoro-Pedrals or Oleoducto Trasandino, is an oil pipeline in Argentina and Chile.[1]

Location

The pipeline runs from Puesto Hernández in the oil fields of Argentina's Neuquén basin to Enap's Bío Bío refinery in Concepcion Port, Chile.[2][3][4]

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Project details

  • Operator: Oleoducto Transandino SA (OTASA)
  • Owner: Empresa Nacional del Petroleo (ENAP) [36.25%], YPF [36%], Unocal Argentina Ltda [27.75%][5]
  • Parent company: Empresa Nacional del Petroleo (ENAP) [36.25%], YPF [36%], Chevron* [27.75%][3]
  • Current capacity: 115,000 barrels per day[2][6][7]
  • Length: 425 km[8]
  • Diameter: 16 inches[6][8]
  • Oil source: Neuquen basin, Argentina
  • Status: Operating [9][7]
  • Start year: 1994[10] (re-started in 2023)[11][12]
  • Cost: US$220 million[13]


*Chevron owns a percent in the pipeline via its subsidiary Unocal Argentina.[14]

Background

The Trans-Andean Oil Pipeline runs approximately 425 km (264 miles) through the Andes Mountains from Puesto Hernández in Argentina's Neuquen basin to the Bío Bío refinery in Talcahuano, near Concepcion, Chile.[3][15] The 16-inch pipeline possesses a capacity to transport 107,000 bpd and traverses rugged mountain terrain and high elevation.[1] The pipeline cost $220 million and took two and a half years to build, supplying Chile's oil demand with the rest being shipped to pacific-rim markets.[13] In October 2000 the pipeline's capacity was reported to be 115,000 bpd.[16]

In January 2006, upon expiration of its contract with Chevron, the Argentine government stopped oil shipments to Chile through the Trans-Andean Oil Pipeline[10], citing the unsustainability of keeping the pipeline operating at less than 5000 cubic meters (31,450 barrels) per day.[17]

In 2019, the Argentine and Chilean governments announced plans to revitalize the pipeline for renewed export of oil to Chile, due to expanding production at the Vaca Muerta shale fields.[18][15] As of February 2020, Chile had completed preparations to reopen the pipeline on its side of the border, but operations remained stalled on the Argentine side, due to lack of funding[19] and challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.[3]

As of November 2021, plans were in place for the pipeline to start operating in the first quarter of 2022.[20] However, subsequent reports in July 2022, January 2023 and February 2023 estimated that the pipeline would return to service sometime later in 2023.[21][22][23][24][25] As of February 2023, based on recent inspections, the Argentine section of pipeline appeared to be in good shape, but work on the Chilean section was reportedly still experiencing delays.[24]

In May 2023, the pipeline began a 45-day trial period of operations, after being inactive for 17 years[12][11]. During this period, YPF and the Chilean National Oil Company agreed that 41,000 barrels of oil per day were to be sent from the Vaca Muerta Oil field to Chile through the Trans-Andean Pipeline.[12] As of 31 December 2023, after a successful trial period, the pipeline continued to be operational, delivering a consistent amount of oil to Argentina's neighboring country. [9]

Ownership

As of March 2023, the pipeline was jointly owned by Chile's state owned energy company ENAP (36.25%), Argentine energy company YPF (36%) and Unocal Argentina (27.75%).[5] Previously, the pipeline was owned by a consortium made up by ENAP (46%), Alberta Energy Co. (36%) and Repsol-Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (18%).[16]

Articles and resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Trans-Andean Oil Pipeline, Fluor, accessed September 2017
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Oleoducto Trasandino, una puerta de divisas inmediata para el país: ¿qué falta para que funcione?". Diario Río Negro. July 24, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "El coronavirus restrasó la reactivación del oleoducto para exportar crudo por el Pacífico". Patagonia Shale. June 29, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "South America Pipelines Map". Geografía Info. Retrieved November 4, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. 5.0 5.1 "The Company - Oleoducto Trasandino Argentina S.A." ENAP. Retrieved 2023-03-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Logística de Hidrocarburos en Argentina (p 24)" (PDF). Facultad de Ingeniería - UNLP (Universidad Nacional de La Plata). March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Neuquén ya envía petróleo de Vaca Muerta a Chile por el Oleoducto Trasandino". www.minutoneuquen.com (in spanish). Retrieved 2024-01-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Quienes Somos". Oleoducto Trasandino. Retrieved 2023-03-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. 9.0 9.1 Terzaghi, Victoria (2023-12-31). "Cambio histórico: el petróleo de Vaca Muerta superó al convencional". RED/ACCIÓN (in español). Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Enap dejó de recibir crudo argentino a través de oleoducto en VIII Región". Electricidad. February 9, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. 11.0 11.1 "OTASA pipeline: YPF volvió a exportarpetróleo a Chile". CLUBminero (in español). 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 TÉLAM. "YPF comienza a exportar petróleo a Chile a través del Oleoducto Trasandino". www.telam.com.ar (in español). Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Oil pipeline between Argentina and Chile inaugurated, UPI, February 15, 1994
  14. "Argentina shale oil beckons, bottlenecks loom | Argus Media". www.argusmedia.com. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  15. 15.0 15.1 "Buscan rehabilitar el oleducto trasandino para iniciar exportaciones de crudo por el Pacífico". Neuquen Digital Noticias. September 30, 2019.
  16. 16.0 16.1 AEC completes Trans-Andean pipeline purchase, Oil & Gas Journal, Oct. 20, 2000
  17. "Clausurarían el oleoducto trasandino". Diario Río Negro. January 11, 2006.
  18. ""Vamos a invertir en torno a US$ 2.500 millones en los próximos cinco años"". Electricidad. August 12, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. "Alerta en Vaca Muerta por paralización de obras en oleoducto trasandino". Energía y Transporte. February 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. Newbery, Charles (2021-11-18). "Argentina-to-Chile oil pipeline to start in 2022, boosting Vaca Muerta exports". www.spglobal.com. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  21. "Oleoducto que une Chile y Argentina inicia última etapa de rehabilitación para retomar operaciones en primer trimestre de 2023". ENAP. July 18, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. "Oleoducto Trasandino, una puerta de divisas inmediata para el país: ¿qué falta para que funcione?". Diario Río Negro. July 24, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. "Inversión de argentina YPF superará los US$5.000mn este año". BNamericas (in español). January 31, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. 24.0 24.1 "Oleoductos: cómo se prepara Vaca Muerta para el salto exportador". Más Energía. February 18, 2023.
  25. "Génesis neuqueniana del Oleoducto Trasandino". Editorial Río Negro. July 2, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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