Organizational Consolidation

Science and Innvation

The application of technological solutions between the Colombian Petroleum Institute (ICP in Spanish) and the company’s operating units resulted in a total of US $385.7 million in economic benefits for Ecopetrol, which is equal to six times the budget executed by the  institute in 2009 (US $64 million.

During the year, nine technological advantages were implemented in the operating businesses, as a result of the ICP’S research projects and technological development since its creation, which will mean competitive advantages for the company to 2015.


Throughout 2009, nine technological advantages were
implemented to leverage business development

The ICP is responsible for the development of technological solutions based on research, development, transfer and assurance of technologies and strategic knowledge for the company. The most outstanding achievements in 2009 include:

  • Exploration: An age model was developed to reconstruct the paleogeography of the Colombian Caribbean, which allows the localization, distribution and extension of reservoirs. This methodology was applied for stratigraphic control in 14 wells, which meant proven benefits in two successful wells for over US $104 million. A methodology that uses mechanical stratigraphy to predict the temporariness of traps and arrange exploratory areas in order of importance was developed for the foothills area.

  • Production: The enhanced recovery technologies applicable to Ecopetrol fields were defined. "Combustion In Situ” was selected as the technology most applicable for heavy crude fields and "Polymer and Gel Injection" for intermediate crude fields. The increase in the recovery factor is expected to be leveraged by 2% with the implementation of these processes.

  • Refining: A process was developed to increase the production of Light Cycle Oil (Diesel pool component) and the OPTIMET simulator and the SigmaRef platform (Ecopetrol Technologies) were implemented at the Barrancabermeja Refinery to maximize economic margin, leading to US $6 million per year in benefits. The conditions to obtain microcrystalline wax (the product had not been obtained in 20 years) were established and two new products were developed: a vehicle to apply pesticides and a solvent to extract copper, with a potential market of 70 thousand barrels per year.

  • Transport: The ICP optimized naphtha requirements and evaluated alternative solvents for the safe transport of nearly 100 thousand barrels of Rubiales crude per day through the Oleoducto de los Llanos (pipeline). In addition, studies were conducted for the transport of acid crudes and their export in the Nare mix.

  • Alternative Energies and Biofuels: A process was adapted to obtain BioCetano® by co-processing vegetable oils in refinery and a process was developed at the pilot level for the production of bioparaffins using palm oil. The pre-feasibility studies began for the use of geothermal energy in production fields, and wind, solar and kinetic energies in Ecopetrol's operating areas.

    • Laboratories and Pilot Plants

    The ICP laboratories were kept at the highest standards of international quality, reporting scores of excellence of over 98.5% in repeatability and reproducibility programs carried out with over 2000 Shell laboratories worldwide and the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials).

    In 2009, molecular distillation and supercritical pilot plants were acquired, along with the continuous distillation unit and the delay cocking unit, which will support the master plans of the refineries. During the period, the laboratories’ support for quality control in fuel sulfur content played an important role.

    Knowledge Management

    Ecopetrol was consolidated as a leader in knowledge management. The company’s experience was presented to over 10 companies from different sectors nationwide as an example, while on the level of Latin America, it was named the leader of the Committee for Human Resources and Knowledge Management of the Regional Association of Oil and Natural Gas Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean – Arpel.

    Corporate University

    In 2009, efforts continued to strengthen and position Ecopetrol’s Corporate University as a strategy for knowledge management and to develop the technical and human qualifications of workers. The university offered 291 training events for over 3254 participants, providing 97.792 hours of training and 120% accumulated satisfaction of the total offer. To date, 15 technical training programs have been put together, with the company’s own methodology, focused on the critical understanding of the business.

    Intellectual Production

    Ecopetrol’s intellectual capital is preserved by technology assessment procedures, which include a component to protect intellectual property, such as the consolidation of trade secrets, patents, copyrights, registered trademarks and the publication of articles in specialized journals.

    During the 2009 period, 39 patent applications were submitted in the United States, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, China, India and Japan, among others, in different topics such as additives to improve asphalts, decrease deactivation in catalysts, processes to obtain bioproducts in refinery and tools to control hydrocarbon theft in pipelines.

    The company managed to declare 23 technological products related to processes of the production chain, and 12 new trademarks were granted, along with the 8 that were renewed for a 10-year period.

    The ICP published the 15th issue of the technical scientific journal Ciencia, Tecnología y Futuro, CT&F (Science, Technology and Future), catalogued as A2 in Colciencia's Publindex in recognition of its scientific and editorial quality, visibility and national and international reputation, and it has been included in 19 specialized international databases and bibliographic indexes.