On 16 July 2020, Hocol Petroleum, a 100% subsidiary of Ecopetrol, announced that the Merecumbe 1 new-field wildcat (NFW), in the SSJN 1 Block, in the Lower Magdalena Basin, found gas in Eocene conglomeratic sandstones and some limestone layers of the Chengue Formation.  The NFW spudded on 5 November 2019, it was completed in December 2019 and reached a total vertical depth (TVD) of 7,235 ft (2,205 m). The well lies in the northern part of the SSJN 1 Block, about 14 km north of the Bullerengue gas discovery.  The Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (ANH) reported that the Merecumbe 1 produced 2.38 MMcfg in December 2019, 0.47 MMcfg in January 2020, and 35.11 MMcfg in March 2020.  Lewis Energy is the operator of the 920.11 sq km SSJN 1 Block with 50% working interest and lone partner is Hocol with the remaining 50% since December 2009 when Hocol farmed in. The original 1,672.7 sq km SSJN 1 Block was officially awarded to Lewis Energy in December 2008, and in July 2019, 752.28 sq km were relinquished.  Background Information  On 5 May 2020, Hocol Petroleum, announced that the Bullerengue 3 shallower-pool wildcat (SPW) discovered gas in several sand intervals in a shallower reservoir than the Bullerengue 1 discovery, which produces from Eocene sandstones of the Chengue Formation. It is speculated that the Bullerengue 3 discovered gas in the Miocene-Oligocene sandstones of the Cienaga de Oro Formation. The company indicated that they are doing several production tests since 17 November 2019.  The Bullerengue gas/condensate field was discovered in October 2015 by the Bullerengue 1 new-field wildcat (NFW). The NFW was drilled to a TD of 7,500 ft (2,286 m) where it tested 2.5 MMcfg/d and 50 barrels of condensate in an unreported reservoir. Five other wells have been drilled in the structure: Bullerengue Sur 1 to 4 and Bullerengue SW 1. The Bullerengue Sur 1 exploratory well found 25 m (80 ft) of Eocene Age gas pay over several horizons, Ecopetrol SA announced on 27 December 2019. The field started production in October 2015.
(Lower Magdalena b.), MerembÃ©-1 nfw operated by LEWIS EN (50%), ECOPETROL (50%) in SSJN 1 block, drilled 5-27 Nov '19, gas discovery in the Eocene Chengue fm, tested during 1H '20, results n/a.