Attacks Continue on Peru's ONP Oil Pipeline

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Researched by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--PetroPeru reported three new attacks on Section I of the Oleoducto Norperuano (ONP) pipeline in the last week.

On January 2, PetroPeru, which is Peru's national oil company, reported two new cuts on Section I of the 1,106-kilometer (687-mile) ONP pipeline. The company said it also found a cut on the pipeline's Section I on December 27.

The attacks discovered on January 2 took place in the local community of Cuninico, while that of December 27 was near the Nueva Alianza and Santa Rosa communities, all located in the northeastern province of Loreto.

Attacks on the ONP are not uncommon: From December 2021 until January this year, there have been at least 15 attacks, leading to more than 50 cuts on the pipeline. Most of these incidents have occurred in Section I.

The ONP is Peru's main oil pipeline, transporting oil from the remote northeastern Amazonian oil fields to the Bayovar terminal on the Pacific coast. Section I of the pipeline, where these three attacks occurred, has a length of 306 kilometers (190 miles) and goes from Station 1 at San Jose de Saramuro through the forest and the river Maranon, until reaching Station 5 still within the Loreto province.

Nevertheless, a part of Section I of the ONP has been shut down since February last year, due to different incidents in the area.

Also connecting at Station 5 is the Ramal Norte, which has a length of 252 kilometers (156 miles) and transports oil from the northern fields in the Loreto Province, such as Block 192. This oil block was granted to Petroperu in July last year. However, conflicts with local communities have previously disrupted the operations of this asset, which has been offline for years.

The final portion of the pipeline is Section II, which is 548 kilometers (340 miles) in length and goes from Station 5 to the Bayovar terminal, where the nation's oil can be exported.

Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Pipeline Plant Database includes profiles of seven PetroPeru crude oil pipeline stations. Subscribers can click here for the list.

According to the energy ministry, Peru's oil production in November of last year (the latest available numbers) stood at 37,800 barrels per day (BBL/d), which is below the average of 40,600 BBL/d seen between January and November last year.

Among the reasons for lower production in November was the production stoppage at Perenco's block 67 in Peru's Amazonian region. According to the local newspaper La Gestion, the British company could be considering leaving Block 67 after the government considered declaring the area a natural reserve. Since October, the block has stopped its production, according to the ministry's data.

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