MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

ENAP looks for oil and gas in Magallanes

ENAP, Chilean government owned petroleum company will be investing 2.5 million US dollars in exploring for oil and gas in two different areas, 60 and 120 miles to the northeast of Punta Arenas.

The "Drilling of Exploratory Wells in Tertiary blocks, Dorado-Puerto Sara and Riquelme-Manzano" will involve working and moving equipment in extensive farmland areas, 46 settlements belonging to Magallanes Region, for which several environmental impact assessment papers were presented.

ENAP is planning to eventually drill eight wells following extensive 3D seismic surveying.

"All activities will take place in rural areas, far from urban centers", argues ENAP adding that the project has a "strategic value" for Chile, given the "current energy crisis". "We will keep environmental authorities informed of the working schedule and the areas to survey and drill. Drilling in the first stage will range between 100 and 500 metres with further stratigraphics surveying", said ENAP representatives.

The first block, Riquelment-Manzano covers an area of 1.042 square kilometres with three sub-areas, Riquelme 265 sq. km; Riquelme South 330 sq km; and Manzano, 450 sq km. The Dorado-Puerto Sara block is 780 sq km with three sub areas: Punta del Cerro, 430 sq km; Puerto Sara, 250 sq km; and Dorado, 100 sq km.

Preliminary shows none of the land to be drilled belongs to the Protected Areas system or national heritage areas. Biodiversity describes the area as Patagonia flatland steppe.