ABSTRACT
Exploration activity in South America, Central America, the Caribbean area, and Mexico in 1988 showed an increase from the low levels reported in 1987. Increases in seismic acquisition occurred in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, and Trinidad. Exploratory drilling increased in most major producing countries and, in contrast to 1987, so did development drilling activity. Ecuador had the largest increases in production of both oil and gas, resulting from operating the Trans-Ecuadorian pipeline for 12 months in 1988 compared to 7 months in 1987, when 2 major earthquakes destroyed the line. Suriname increased its oil production by 55%, and Argentina had a 16% increase in gas production. Noteworthy discoveries were made in Argentina (Estancia Vieja X-1, La Reina X-1, and La Maggie X-1), Bolivia (Sirari X-2 and Vibora X-1), Brazil (1-PRS-4 and 1-RJS-409), Chile (Skua XE-4 and Kimiri Aike Sur-2), Colombia (Quilili-1, Quillacinga-1, Pompeya-1, Chaparrito-1, Palmarito-1, Tierrablanca-1, Guarilaque-1, Santiago Este-1, Jiba-1, Guahibos-1, Guarimena-1, Quimbaya-1, and Balcon-1), Ecuador (Mono-1, Frontera-1, Cantagallo-1, Daime-1, Ginta-1, and Indillana-1), Mexico (Chipilin-1), Peru (Jibaro-IX), and Venezuela (Pato Este, El Carito, Carito Norte-1, Tejero-IX, Furrial Norte-1, Cueta-3728, Cueta-3729, and Cueta-3732).
The highlights of 1988 were in Argentina (Estancia Vieja X-1 and La Reina X-1), Bolivia (Vibora X-1), Colombia’s Llanos basin (Chaparrito-1, Palmarito-1, Jiba-1, Pompeya-1, Tierra Blanca-1, and Guahibos-1), and Upper Magdalena basin (Quimbaya-1 and Toldado-2), Ecuador (Frontera-1, Cantagallo-1, Daime-1, and Indillana-1), and Venezuela’s Monagas state (El Carito, Carito Norte-1, Tejero-IX, and Furrial Norte-1).
