A new company could take over hydrocarbon production on Block 8 in the Maranon Basin if the authorities approve a pending transfer of interest in the block, according to information from the Perupetro. Pluspetrol Norte is attempting to transfer its 100% working interest in the block to Altamesa Energy Canada. The block is the site of both long term production and a continuing socio-environmental conflict as some communities in the block oppose oil production there due to poor environmental practices in the past leading to contamination and serious effects on the health of residents in some communities. This is the stated reason Pluspetrol wants to sell the block. These conflicts with the communities have at times been violent and have led to the temporary seizure of production facilities. This led to an average oil production in Block 8 for October of 2,540 bo/d which has increased to 6,257 bo/d as of 19 November.Pluspetrol Norte is a Peruvian partial subsidiary of Pluspetrol which in 2017 submitted a US$ 169 million five-year work program in its environmental impact statement (EIS) for Block 8. The EIS included drilling eight development wells, along with water injection wells, workovers and expansion of facilities. The Pluspetrol work program EIS was designed to increase production and guarantee reserve recovery on the block. The indigenous federations representing the Pastaza, Corrientes, Tigre and Maranon river basins have been involved with Pluspetrol in negotiations over the historical contamination from surface discharge of waste waters and other poor oil field practices that have affected the indigenous population on the block. Although this is no longer an issue in the present, the responsibility for the liability of the contamination and cleanup remains a tough issue with legal arguments to be made against Pluspetrol, former operator Occidental and the Peruvian government which used to allow the contamination due to a weak regulatory framework in the past. 
A new company could take over hydrocarbon production on Block 8 in the Maranon Basin if the authorities approve a pending transfer of interest in the block, according to information from the Perupetro. Pluspetrol Norte is attempting to transfer its 100% working interest in the block to Altamesa Energy Canada. 