The company is conducting 3D surveys in the Arenal area, while also submitting drilling and hydraulic fracturing projects.
Enap Board Chairman Cristián Muga and the company’s general manager, Julio Friedmann, visited the Arenal sector in Tierra del Fuego on Monday as part of new exploration projects being developed by the state-owned company. These projects involve an investment of US$648 million.
In that area, Enap is conducting 3D seismic surveys, a modern technique that reduces uncertainty in the search for new reserves. At the same time, on June 10, the company submitted an Environmental Impact Statement (DIA, by its Spanish acronym) to the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) for a US$96 million project involving drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the municipality of Primavera. In addition, in the next few days, the company will submit a second project worth US$552 million for the Dorado-Riquelme and Manzano blocks.
“Enap plays a strategic role in the country’s energy supply, and in the case of Magallanes, with these projects we are consolidating that role. We are doing so through innovation, environmental responsibility, and financial accountability. We are projecting a company that is increasingly efficient, adaptable, and capable of developing opportunities that strengthen its sustainability and generate greater stability to face the challenges of the future,” stated Muga. 80 years after the discovery of oil in Tierra del Fuego, he made his first visit to an Enap operation since being appointed Chairman of the state-owned company’s board of directors.
Friedmann emphasized that “we will continue working to ensure an efficient supply. We face major challenges and have a clear path set forth by our Board of Directors, which includes efficient cost management, environmental compliance, operational excellence, and transparency. These initiatives in Magallanes, in which we plan to invest 648 million dollars, are precisely aligned with that vision and in accordance with our Enap 2040 strategic plan.”
Innovations
The 3D seismic survey that ENAP is conducting in the Arenal area involves emitting sound waves from the surface—using vibro trucks. These waves travel through the Earth’s crust and are refracted, allowing for the generation of a three-dimensional image of the subsurface’s structural configuration. In this way, it is possible to gather information to identify areas with potential hydrocarbon reserves.
With regard to the submissions to the DIA, in addition to traditional or vertical drilling, Enap will seek to venture into horizontal drilling. This is a technique that has yielded good results in terms of production and efficiency at the international level.
This type of drilling will mark Enap’s first steps in this technique, which involves training and the integration of new knowledge for workers and the Magallanes region itself. Internationally, horizontal drilling has yielded positive results in terms of production, operational efficiency, and reduced surface impact, considering that the size of drilling sites is significantly smaller compared to the traditional method.