Total starts production from Incahuasi gas field in Bolivia

French company Total has started production from the Incahuasi gas and condensate field in Bolivia.

Incahuasi lies at more than 5,600m beneath the Andean foothills, 250km from the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, and has a production capacity of 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d).

Total plans to export a major portion of the gas produced at the field.

The initial phase of the field development will involve three wells (one on the Aquio block and two on the Ipati block), a 6.5Mm³/d gas treatment plant, as well as 100km of associated export pipelines.

The second phase is still under consideration and will have three further wells.

Total exploration and production president Arnaud Breuillac said: "Incahuasi’s production will contribute to Bolivia’s gas exports to Argentina and Brazil, as well as domestic consumption.

“Delivered within budget, Incahuasi is the fourth start-up this year and as a low-cost project with a long production plateau, it will contribute to the Group’s production growth in 2016 and beyond.”

Situated in the Aquio and Ipati blocks, Incahuasi is operated by Total with a 50% stake, while Gazprom and Tecpetrol each own 20% interest and the remaining 10% interest is held by YPFB Chaco.

Final investment decision for the first development phase of the field was announced by Total in September 2013.

Total previously said it plans to drill several more exploration and appraisal wells on the Ipati and Aquio blocks in order to prove the additional potential of the Incahuasi field.