National oil production by Petroecuador and private companies fell by almost 20% due to the pipeline rupture. SOTE resumed operations on March 19.
The 60-meter rupture of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE), which caused the crude oil spill in Quinindé (Esmeraldas), has significantly impacted oil production and forced Petroecuador to temporarily suspend exports from the Balao Terminal until the force majeure situation is overcome.
The emergency occurred on the night of Thursday, March 13. That day, national crude oil production reached 466,513 barrels, including what was generated by Petroecuador and private companies.
By March 17, production had fallen to 377,098 barrels, according to the latest data available from the Hydrocarbons Regulation and Control Agency (ARCH).
That means that in just four days, the country lost 89,415 barrels of crude oil that could not be produced. Oil production fell 19.17% during that period.
The SOTE was inaugurated in 1972, with a 497.7-kilometer pipeline for 30-degree API crude oil.
It has a pumping capacity of 360,000 barrels per day and up to 390,000 barrels per day using pressure-reducing chemicals, according to information from Petroecuador.
According to the ARCH report, more than 300 oil wells, owned by Petroecuador and private operators, had to be temporarily shut down due to the problem with the SOTE.
Added to this is the fact that other wells have had to be temporarily shut down due to problems with power generation, maintenance and cleaning, theft of cables and other materials, among other reasons.
In the case of Petroecuador, which accounts for 83% of national production, the public company's records show a sharp decline in production between March 15 and 16, falling from 366,678 barrels to 324,412 barrels, representing a decrease of approximately 11.53% in just one day.
Since the SOTE collapsed, the state oil company's production has fallen by around 18.23% through March 18.
The SOTE is the country's main crude oil transportation system, arriving from 11 Petroecuador blocks and 15 private company blocks in the Amazon. It also carries oil from two Colombian companies, according to the analytical bulletin of the oil sector, prepared by the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE), as of the fourth quarter of 2024.
Of the 172.24 million barrels transported by pipeline in 2024, the SOTE (Treasury of Transport and Transportation) accounted for 103.96 million barrels, or 60.36%; the remainder flowed through the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline (OCP).
The Trans-Ecuadorean Pipeline System's operation in 2024 represented 90.9% compliance with its annual operating plan; however, this represented a 4.8% decrease compared to the previous year.
According to the ECB, the 2024 results reflect that 72% of the country's daily production passed through the SOTE pipeline for export to the international market, and another portion was processed in refineries to meet domestic fuel demand.
For January 2025, the latest data available from Petroecuador, crude oil transportation through the SOTE was 8.5 million barrels—1.91% more than the same month in 2024—which means transporting 273,558 barrels on average per day.
Crude oil pumping through the SOTE was restored on the morning of Wednesday, March 19, Petroecuador confirmed. Operations were able to resume after work was carried out to restructure the right-of-way, prepare the new pipeline, and cut and install the new section, allowing transportation to resume from the pumping station in Lago Agrio to the Balao maritime terminal in Esmeraldas.
Oil production is expected to recover with the resumption of activity at the SOTE.
Meanwhile, Petroecuador has not yet quantified the number of barrels of oil spilled due to the emergency.
The public company maintains the force majeure declaration, which began on March 15 and is expected to last no more than 60 days.
