SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Ecopetrol uses AI to improve oil exploration and production

Colombian oil company Ecopetrol will use AI to improve exploration and increase existing crude production. This initiative is part of the company's transition to greener energy sources.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

SUBSCRIBE - 99$/year

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Colombia’s majority state-owned oil company, Ecopetrol, has announced that it will use new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve exploration success rates and increase production from existing oil fields.

Advanced technology and artificial intelligence for oil production at Ecopetrol

The company’s new CEO, Ricardo Roa, who officially took office on Monday, said the goal was to make Ecopetrol’s oil fields “a little bit smarter” and increase crude production in different wells. He added that the use of “new technologies, with artificial intelligence, combined with data intelligence,” could increase daily production to about 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). Currently, Ecopetrol produces 709,500 boe/d.

Roa also said the company would increase the recovery factor in its oil fields by at least 2%. The current recovery factor in Ecopetrol’s oil fields is about 19%, he said. In addition, the company will work to increase its exploration success rate, which is currently between 18% and 20%, although Roa did not give a specific target.

Acquisition of ISA: a responsible decision for Ecopetrol in the energy transition

This announcement comes in the context of the desire of the government of left-wing President Gustavo Petro to reduce Colombia’s dependence on oil and gas. Ecopetrol’s acquisition of a 51.4% stake in the energy conglomerate ISA was the first “responsible decision” the company made in the transition to greener, renewable energy sources, Roa said. The stake was purchased from the Colombian government for 14.2 trillion pesos ($3.1 billion) in 2021.

“When Ecopetrol acquired ISA, it acquired a different business than oil and gas,” Roa said. “This diversifies the portfolio, it decouples wealth generation from what is today Ecopetrol’s primary source, gas and oil, to generate cost-effective and profitable revenue options for the future,” he added.

The use of AI and other technologies in the petroleum industry is not new, but the growing demand for energy efficiency and the transition to greener energy sources have made it a necessity.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
CNOOC launches production at Weizhou 11-4 oilfield in South China Sea
Norway launches a commission to plan the post-oil era
BOTAŞ strengthens LNG capacity with expansion of Marmara Ereğlisi terminal
Turkmenistan seeks to expand gas export routes beyond China
Venezuelan crude exports to Europe drop by 75% in 2025
ExxonMobil shuts down steam cracker in Singapore and redirects assets to China
ExxonMobil is shutting down its oldest ethylene steam cracker in Singapore, reducing local capacity to invest in its integrated Huizhou complex in China, amid regional overcapacity and rising operational costs.
South America strengthens its role in global oil supply through 2030
Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Argentina are expected to provide a growing share of non-OPEC+ oil supply, backed by massive offshore investments and continued exploration momentum.
Bourbon secures five-year contract with ExxonMobil for Angola’s Block 15
Bourbon has signed an agreement with ExxonMobil for the charter of next-generation Crewboats on Angola’s Block 15, strengthening a strategic cooperation that began over 15 years ago.
Shadow fleet renews tankers to bypass sanctions and operational risks
Faced with tighter legal frameworks and reinforced sanctions, grey fleet operators are turning to 15-year-old VLCCs and scrapping older vessels to secure oil routes to Asia.
ReconAfrica identifies 64 metres of recoverable oil at Kavango West 1X well in Namibia
Reconnaissance Energy Africa completed drilling at the Kavango West 1X onshore well in Namibia, where 64 metres of net hydrocarbon pay were detected in the Otavi carbonate section.
Shell and Equinor finalise the creation of Adura, largest independent North Sea producer
The Adura joint venture merges Shell and Equinor’s UK offshore assets, becoming the leading independent oil and gas producer in the mature North Sea basin.
Citgo shifts under Elliott control for $5.9bn pending U.S. approval
A Delaware court approved the sale of PDV Holding shares to Elliott’s Amber Energy for $5.9bn, a deal still awaiting a U.S. Treasury licence through OFAC.
Nigeria releases $100mn to accelerate local integration in the oil sector
A new $100mn fund has been launched to support Nigerian oil and gas service companies, as part of a national target to reach 70% local content by 2027.
Sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil redirect oil flows toward Asia
Western measures targeting Rosneft and Lukoil deeply reorganise oil trade, triggering a discreet yet massive shift of Russian export routes to Asia without causing global supply disruption.
Nigeria auctions 50 oil blocks in its 2025 licensing round
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission opens bidding for 50 exploration blocks across strategic zones to revitalise upstream investment.
Nigeria auctions 50 oil blocks in its 2025 licensing round
La Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ouvre la compétition pour 50 blocs d’exploration, répartis sur plusieurs zones stratégiques, afin de relancer les investissements dans l’amont pétrolier.
Serbia forced to shut down its only refinery after US sanctions
Serbia's only refinery, operated by NIS, has suspended production due to a shortage of crude oil, a direct consequence of US sanctions imposed on its majority Russian shareholder.
Oil prices rise amid tensions between Washington and Caracas
Crude prices increased, driven by rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela and drone attacks targeting Russian oil infrastructure in the Black Sea.
Tullow Oil cuts board size and seeks to refinance $1.8 bn debt
Amid persistent financial losses, Tullow Oil restructures its governance and accelerates efforts to reduce over $1.8 billion in debt while refocusing operations on Ghana.
Baghdad invites US companies to replace Lukoil on West Qurna 2
The Iraqi government is inviting US oil companies to bid for control of the giant West Qurna 2 field, previously operated by Russian group Lukoil, now under US sanctions.
Two tankers targeted in the Black Sea, Ankara warns over maritime security
Two tankers under the Gambian flag were attacked in the Black Sea near Turkish shores, prompting a firm response from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on growing risks to regional energy transport.
Harbour Energy to cut 100 offshore jobs over sustained fiscal conflict
The British producer continues to downsize its North Sea operations, citing an uncompetitive tax regime and a strategic shift towards jurisdictions offering greater regulatory stability.
Dangote claims 100% of Nigerian petrol supply and demands priority access to crude
Dangote Refinery says it can fully meet Nigeria’s petrol demand from December, while requesting regulatory, fiscal and logistical support to ensure delivery.
BP restarts Olympic pipeline after leak, increasing pressure on safety
BP reactivated the Olympic pipeline, critical to fuel supply in the U.S. Northwest, after a leak that led to a complete shutdown and emergency declarations in Oregon and Washington state.
Washington increases military pressure on Caracas as Maduro alerts Opec
President Donald Trump confirmed direct contact with Nicolas Maduro as tensions escalate, with Caracas denouncing a planned US operation targeting its oil resources.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

START - 99$/year

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.