Another ‘dark’ oil contract

Ecuadornews:

Another affectation to the state pocket. The negotiation between Schlumberger and Petroamazonas to provide services to the Auca field reveals irregularities that harmed national interests. The Ecuadorian oil company did not present previous studies to fix the prices, omitted legal orders, modified conditions without notifications and even stopped charging fines to the transnational company of French origin.

The Comptroller General of the State said after analyzing the documents signed since 2013. In total, Schlumberger was awarded 73.3 million dollars for the provision of complementary services in one of the most attractive oil fields in Ecuador.

Auca (block 61) processes some 64,000 barrels of oil daily.

The report DNAI-AI-0588-2018, presented to the authorities of Petroamazonas on August 28, shows that the Ecuadorian company sought a direct contract with the transnational, in May 2013, to operate the “services of electric-submersible pumps and associated equipment. ” We did not look for a better offer, but negotiated only with one company.

The justification for omitting the participation of other bidders was that Petroamazonas was taking over the merger with Petroindustrial and at that time there were too many open processes.

The lack of an open contest is not the only novelty. Petroamazonas could not justify with documents why they set 52.3 million dollars for services. That is, Comptroller did not find the basic cost estimate to start a contract.

Later, and without there being an approval of the general management or the Board of Directors of Petroamazonas, changes were made to the object of the contract. The middle managers extended Schlumberger’s powers without written approval from the highest authorities in Ecuador.

The amount paid to the French company, after changes and expansions in the original contract, increased by 21 million dollars.

In the absence of documentation and studies that endorse the value paid, the contractor’s default is added. According to the terms signed, Schlumberger had to train Ecuadorian personnel to operate in the services provided in the Auca field. The Comptroller’s Office determined, however, that the knowledge transfer procedure did not materialize. The Ecuadorian employees did not receive, according to the control body, the preparation ordered by contract.

Diario EXPRESO consulted with Schlumberger for the irregularities detected. Their spokesmen explained that they delivered all the information requested to the Comptroller’s Office and that they will continue collaborating with the control works. They preferred not to comment on the findings of the report in question.

The irregular

Fines

The lack of records and controls on the fines caused that Petroamazonas, according to the Comptroller General, does not count with the collection of 152,500 dollars for sanctions.

Rates

The contractor did not issue credit notes of 1.5% in favor of Petroamazonas due to variation in the price of crude oil. That omission caused an affectation of $ 389,391.

Collections

EXPRESO consulted with Álex Galárraga, general manager of Petroamazonas, and he confirmed that the fines and fees were already charged. He announced that there are more examinations of the contracts signed. (I)

Source: https://www.expreso.ec/actualidad/contratos-petroleo-servicios-schlumberger-petroamazonas-MK2419284