The rollout of the secondary recovery phase at Ecuador’s Libertador-Atacapi field has driven a sharp rise in production, enabling far better use to be made of the resources already in place.

At Ecuador’s Libertador Field, the results speak for themselves. The successful deployment of secondary recovery techniques has boosted output by an extra 8.5 million barrels of oil, enabling the team to make the most of existing resources. The achievement reflects not only the effectiveness of the technology, but also Tecpetrol’s extensive experience in managing mature fields, in Ecuador and beyond.

“Tecpetrol was a pioneer in bringing this technique to Ecuador. When we arrived in 1999, it was already well known in the industry but still new to local operations,” recalls Carolina Gualavisi, Development Engineer Expert. “We first applied it in the Bermejo area from 2003 until the contract ended in 2019, achieving a significant increase in production. It was an invaluable learning experience.”

Jorge Ramírez, Conventional Development Director, recounts how Tecpetrol entered the Libertador Field in 2014 as a service provider, where decision-making was more complex than in Bermejo since everything had to be coordinated with the operator, Petroecuador. “The contract allowed us to apply this technique to offset the field’s natural decline, but each step had to be agreed with Petroecuador,” he explains. “As this was one of the first projects of its kind in the country, we were able to showcase the results as they began to emerge.”

Since 2014, 19 wells have been converted into water injectors, with up to 30 producing wells operating alongside them. By 2015, output had climbed to 5,500 barrels per day—effectively extending the life of a field that might otherwise have entered a sharp decline.

Juan Martín Andueza, Development Geologist Expert, explains that under the terms of the contract, Tecpetrol is compensated for production above a set base curve. “One third of that additional output comes from secondary recovery, which is far beyond our initial projections. We had estimated 7.4 million barrels by the end of the concession, and we’ve already reached 8.5 million. It’s an outstanding result.”

One of the most notable investments has been the project at Secoya Southwest, launched in 2019. The Secoya-52 well, once used as a sink, was converted into a producer, boosting output from 280 to 1,200 barrels per day. At the same time, major improvements at Secoya-54 pushed production from 700 to peaks of 1,300 barrels per day. Together, these two wells now account for 30% of total field production, a clear measure of the project’s success.

Carolina adds that the technique has been applied across areas of the reservoir with very different characteristics, and the results have surpassed every expectation. “It was an undeniable success, but the real achievement goes beyond the numbers. For us, it was about putting theory into practice, challenging assumptions, and learning by doing. The commitment of the team that’s been here from the start—and of everyone who’s contributed along the way—was key. The human factor made all the difference.”

Juan emphasizes that the team built on lessons learned from other projects, especially El Tordillo in southern Argentina, to bring out the best of what the field had to offer. “This technique wasn’t widely used in Ecuador, and we take real pride in having helped put it on the map,” he says.

As for what’s next, Tecpetrol is planning to keep working on its recovery strategy. “We’re just getting started,” Juan asserts confidently. “There’s still plenty more to explore and drill, and much more potential waiting to be discovered in this field.”