On January 27, crude oil exploitation in Block 43 accounted for 12% of Petroecuador's production. UN Rapporteur calls out government for non-compliance.
The abandonment and closure of Block 43-ITT (Ishpingo, Tambococha, Tiputini) is progressing and crude oil production there is declining. In 2024, 10 of the 246 wells in the oil field were closed, which meant a loss of 10,000 barrels per day. For 2025, the definitive abandonment of another 48 wells is planned, which is equivalent to a decrease of 15,830 barrels per day on average, announced Oscar Mosquera, manager of exploration and production at Petroecuador.
The official presented the current status of the ITT during the presentation of the investment plan for the hydrocarbon sector, on January 22. The oil field is located in the province of Orellana, in part of the Yasuní National Park.
The numbers Mosquera mentioned are consistent with the plan for the progressive and orderly closure of the ITT that the Government presented to the Constitutional Court (CC) in August 2024, within the framework of compliance with the 2023 popular consultation where the majority of voters voted in favor of keeping the Yasuní crude oil underground.
The first well was closed on August 28. The schedule proposed by the Executive estimates that all wells will be abandoned by December 2029.
The plan, which was drawn up by the Yasuní-ITT Popular Will Execution Committee, details that the abandonment of the wells would be carried out with two reconditioning towers (Workover), with a Workover cost per well of US$ 1 million, with an estimated time of 15 days of operation, giving a total of US$ 246 million (for the 246 wells).
The plan is expected to cost US$1.345 billion for the early closure and abandonment of the ITT, which includes five phases until 2034.
Of the ten wells closed in 2024, two were abandoned in Ishpingo and eight in Tambococha. But in addition to that, several wells had faults - such as damage to pipes, pump damage and damage to the artificial lift system - and are not being repaired, Mosquera said to national and foreign investors.
"The plan extends until 2029, when we would have to have closed a total of 246 wells and a little more than 32 million accumulated barrels that we would stop producing due to the closure of the ITT," he explained.
Well closure and abandonment activities in 2025 will begin in April and run through December. Two well reconditioning rigs will be used to carry out the tasks, which must be contracted by March.
Block 43 continues to produce crude oil
The exploitation of crude oil from the ITT field has not stopped, although its production level has been reduced. This is the reason for rejection and protest by the YASunidos collective, which promoted the popular consultation; for this reason, the environmental group maintains that the Government has not complied with the mandate of the ballot boxes.
In 2024, production in block 43 reached 17.6 million barrels between January and December, 11.2% less than in the same period in 2023, when 19.8 million barrels were extracted, according to Petroecuador's monthly statistical report.
Looking at field performance, Tiputini production fell 21.9%, Tambococha contracted 27.2%, but Ishpingo increased 10.9%, compared to 2023.
On January 27, 2025, block 43 produced 44,858 barrels, equivalent to 11.9% of Petroecuador's total production, which reached 377,094 barrels per day, according to data from the Hydrocarbons Regulatory Agency (ARCH).
UN Rapporteur claims to Court that crude oil operations continue at ITT
Marcos Orellana, the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on toxics and human rights, submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Constitutional Court (CC) regarding the popular consultation on the Yasuní, in which he calls upon the CC to consider international standards applicable to compliance with court rulings.
It highlights the importance of the Constitutional Court ensuring compliance with its decision in the case of the popular consultation. “Compliance with this ruling is essential to preserve the democratic institutionality and legitimacy of the constitutional process of popular consultation,” the text summarises.
The rapporteur emphasizes that oil exploitation in the Yasuní constitutes a significant threat both to the environment and to the rights of uncontacted indigenous peoples.
He also points out that the Government has ignored both the Court's ruling and the popular will because crude oil operations in block 43 have not stopped, despite the fact that in August 2024 the deadline of no more than one year given by the CC to comply with the decision of the polls expired.
