France-based Total announced that it has commenced production from phase two of the Itaú gas and condensate field, situated in Block XX (Tarija Oeste) in the Andean Cordillera foothills of Bolivia.
Phase two triples production capacity to 5 million cubic meters of gas per day or 35,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, building on the first phase of Itaú, which started production in February 2011.
Total said that the entire gas production of Itaú’s two phases will be processed in a new unit on the same site as the facilities for the neighboring San Alberto field.
Phase two production will also be exported to Argentina, as with phase one production.
Total E&P Americas senior vice president Ladislas Paszkiewicz said the start-up of Itau phase two demonstrates company’s long-term commitment to Bolivia, where actively pursuing the development of the Incahuasi field.
“Lifting Itaú’s production capacity allows us to keep pace with the region’s growing gas demand,” Paszkiewicz added.
Total E&P Bolivie has 41% interest in Itaú field and Petrobras is the operator with 30%, while BG Bolivia and YPFB Chaco holds 25%and 4% respectively.