SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
October 2012
Commission File Number: 333-153452
ECOPETROL S.A.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)
Carrera 7 No. 37 – 69
BOGOTA – COLOMBIA
(Address of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- N/A
Ecopetrol Submits Top Bids for 12 Blocks in Round Colombia 2012
| · | Alliances with oil companies such as ExxonMobil, Anadarko and Repsol. |
| · | Increases number of blocks for developing unconventional resources. |
| · | Strengthens strategic position in the Caribbean offshore and heavy crudes. |
Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC; TSX: ECP) reports that it has submitted the best offers for 12 exploratory blocks in the Round Colombia2012, following the opening of bidding held yesterday by the National Hydrocarbons Agency (Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos, ANH) in Cartagena, Colombia.
Of the 12 blocks, Ecopetrol holds a 100% stake in six of them, and the remaining six in partnerships with Anadarko, ExxonMobil, Repsol, and Hocol. The total area of the blocks is approximately 3.1 million hectares and are located in the following basins: Llanos, Mid Magdalena Valley, Caguan-Putumayo, Catatumbo, Cordillera, andthe Colombian Caribbean offshore.
In this round, the ANH auctioned blocks for exploration and production of unconventional hydrocarbons. Ecopetrol has carried out activities in this type of hydrocarbons, and yesterday's biddingshould allowitto increase its strategic position in five new blocks. Ecopetrol holds a 100% stake in three blocks, and twoof the blocksare held in partnership with ExxonMobil.
In conventional hydrocarbons, Ecopetrol submitted the top bid for seven blocks. In two of them, it holds a 100% interest, and in the other five, itholds jointly with Anadarko (two blocks), ExxonMobil (one block), Repsol (one block), and Hocol (one block),the lattera company of the Ecopetrol Corporate Group.
One of the two blocks in the Caribbean Offshore is held in partnership with Anadarko Colombia Companywhile the other is held in partnership with Repsol Exploracion Colombia S.A. These alliances with oil companiesthathaveabroad experience in offshoreexploration and production,are part of Ecopetrol S.A.'s strategy of strengthening its presence in this basin.
Ecopetrol's investment in these 12 blocks is estimated at US$370 million during the initial phase of exploration over the next three years, which includes the minimum mandatory commitments and the additional investment offered in the round.
Following the verification of documents and analysis of the information submitted by the companies, the ANH expects to award the blocks on November 26, followed by the signing of contracts between November 27 and December 21 of 2012.
We expect the results obtained in Round Colombia 2012to strengthen Ecopetrol's strategic position,and to signal that major oil companies have confidence in Ecopetrol,which should contribute toour strategythat aims at increasing reserves and achieving production of 1.3 million by 2020.
The following is a summary of the 12 blocks:
| Block | Basin | Companies | Share of
Production
ANH (%) | Expected
Additional
Investment (US$ million) | Type of Block | |
| PUT13 | PUT | Ecopetrol S.A. | 7% | $ 1.6 | Type 2 – Conventional Continental and Offshore | |
| URA4 | URA | UT Anadarko Ecopetrol | 3% | $ 0.6 | Type 2 - Conventional Continental and Offshore | |
| PUT17 | CAG - PUT | Ecopetrol S.A. | 1% | $ 31.8 | Type 3 - Conventional Continental and Offshore | |
| COR46 | COR | UT EM – ECP | 1% | $ 55.1 | Type 3 - Conventional Continental and Offshore | |
| AMA4 | AMA | UT Ecopetrol Hocol | 1% | $ 43.7 | Type 3 - Conventional Continental and Offshore | |
| COL5 | COL | UT Anadarko Ecopetrol | 1% | $ 11.5 | Type 3 - Conventional Continental and Offshore | |
| GUAOFF1 | GUA OFF | UT Repsol Ecopetrol | 1% | $ 28.5 | Type 3 - Conventional Continental and Offshore | |
| CAT3 | CAT | Ecopetrol S.A. | 1% | $ 3.0 | Type 2 – Unconventional Continental | |
| COR62 | COR | UT ECP – EM | 1% | $ 22.1 | Type 2 – Unconventional Continental | |
| VMM5 | VMM | Ecopetrol S.A. | 1% | $ 11.8 | Type 2 – Unconventional Continental | |
| VMM16 | VMM | Ecopetrol S.A. | 1% | $ 6.0 | Type 2 – Unconventional Continental | |
| VMM29 | VMM | UT ECP – EM | 1% | $ 3.5 | Type 2 – Unconventional Continental | |
Cartagena, Colombia, October 18 of 2012
Ecopetrol is Colombia’s largest integrated oil & gas company, where it accounts for 60% of total production. It is one of the top 50 oil companies in the world and the fourth largest oil company in Latin America. The Company is also involved in exploration and production activities in Brazil, Peru and the United States Gulf Coast, and owns the main refineries in Colombia, most of the network of oil and multiple purpose pipelines in the country, petrochemical plants, and is entering into the biofuels business.
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the prospects of the business, estimates for operating and financial results, and those related to growth prospects of Ecopetrol. These are merely projections and, as such, are based exclusively on the expectations of management concerning the future of the business and its continued access to capital to fund the Company’s business plan. Such forward-looking statements depend, substantially, on changes in market conditions, government regulations, competitive pressures, the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors; therefore, they are subject to change without prior notice.
Contact us for any additional information:
Investor Relations
Alejandro Giraldo
Phone: +571-234-5190
Email: investors@ecopetrol.com.co
Media Relations (Colombia)
Mauricio Téllez
Phone: + 571-2345377
Fax: +571-2344480
Email: mtellez@ecopetrol.com.co
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Date: October 18, 2012
| | Ecopetrol S.A. | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | By: | /s/ Adriana M. Echeverri | |
| | Name: | Adriana M. Echeverri | |
| | Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
