Ecopetrol Sirius Gas Field: Startup Could Slip to 2031 as Colombia’s Gas Crunch Looms
Colombia · Energy
Key Facts
- First gas:Official target is 2030, but an August 2026 exclusive says Ecopetrol’s board already assumes a one-year slip to 2031.
- Resource size:More than 6 trillion cubic feet of gas in place (gas-in-place, not certified reserves); designed to produce ~13 million m³/day for about 10 years—roughly half of Colombia’s current gas demand.
- Partners:Petrobras operates with 44.44% and Ecopetrol holds 55.56%, in the deepwater GUA-OFF-0 block under contract with regulator ANH.
- Location:The Sirius-2 discovery well sits about 77 km off Santa Marta in ~803 meters of water; the newer Sandia-1 well is ~42 km offshore in ~1,285 meters.
- Leadership:Ricardo Roa left on 30 July 2026; Juan Carlos Hurtado Parra is acting president, with board chairman Luis Felipe Henao behind the Permian comments.
- Import squeeze:Gas imports hit a record 33% of consumption in early July 2026, and Moody’s sees the deficit reaching up to 39% of demand this year.
Ecopetrol’s Sirius gas field faces a potential one-year delay to 2031, while Colombia’s gas imports hit record highs.
If you are tracking Colombia’s energy future, the Ecopetrol Sirius gas field is a name you need to know—and its official 2030 start-up date may already be slipping. An August 2026 Valora Analitik exclusive, based on internal board documents, shows Ecopetrol’s own board assumes the project could enter operation a year later, in 2031.
What is Sirius and why does it matter?
Sirius is a large offshore natural-gas project in the Colombian Caribbean, sitting in a deepwater block known as GUA-OFF-0. The Sirius-2 discovery well lies about 77 kilometers off the city of Santa Marta in roughly 803 meters of water, while the newer Sandia-1 well sits about 42 km offshore in around 1,285 meters.
The project is a joint venture between Brazil’s Petrobras, which operates it with a 44.44% stake, and Colombia’s state-controlled Ecopetrol, which holds 55.56%. The block is under contract with the National Hydrocarbons Agency, Colombia’s oil-and-gas regulator known as the ANH.
The partners cite “more than 6 trillion cubic feet” of gas in place—that is the total gas estimated in the reservoir, not a certified, proved-reserves figure. The field is designed to pump about 13 million cubic meters a day for roughly 10 years, which would cover close to half of Colombia’s current gas demand.
That scale is why Sirius is being called one of the most important gas finds in Colombia in years. For a country watching its fields decline, a single offshore project of this size can reshape the national supply picture.
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A timeline that could stretch into 2031
The official start-up date is 2030, according to both Ecopetrol and Petrobras. But an August 2026 exclusive from Valora Analitik, citing internal board documents, reports that Ecopetrol’s own board already assumes the project could slip a full year to 2031.
Board chairman Luis Felipe Henao called that one-year extension risk “totalmente real”—totally real—while insisting the mission under Colombia’s new government is still to open in 2030. For you, the honest takeaway is to plan for a possible delay rather than bank on the earlier date.
The gap between the public target and the board’s working assumption is unusual to see in the open. It tells you that even the people closest to the project are hedging their bets on timing.
Ecopetrol says the current focus is on cutting the schedule wherever possible to protect the 2030 goal. Whether it succeeds depends on drilling results, permits, and the pace set by the incoming administration.
Leadership shake-up—and a key Permian quote
A big change hit the top of Ecopetrol on 30 July 2026, when Ricardo Roa stepped down as president and chief executive. Juan Carlos Hurtado Parra took over as acting president from 31 July, and as of mid-August no permanent CEO had been named.
In the same stretch, board chairman Luis Felipe Henao—not the CEO—drew attention with his comments on Ecopetrol’s US assets in the Permian Basin. He said selling the Permian right now would be “el peor error”—the worst mistake—”en este momento,” at this moment.
Henao called the Permian Ecopetrol’s best business, with the lowest cost per barrel and the largest share of profit, an asset the company simply cannot walk away from. That matters because Colombia’s government has long debated whether the state oil firm should exit fossil-fuel projects abroad.
Colombia’s gas crunch: why Sirius is urgent
Colombia is leaning harder on imported gas each month. In the first half of 2026, imports covered about 30% of national supply—around 300 million cubic feet per day.
Then, in the first week of July, imports jumped to a historic record of 33% of consumption, roughly 320 GBTU per day. Ratings agency Moody’s projects the gas deficit could reach up to 39% of national demand across 2026.
Those import records are not just statistics—they translate into higher costs that ripple through power plants, factories, and household bills. New domestic supply from a field like Sirius is exactly what could slow that trend.
Why a LatAm reader should care: If you live in or invest in Colombia, a widening gas gap can push up energy bills and rattle industries that depend on cheap, steady supply. Sirius, once flowing, could cover a meaningful slice of domestic demand—but if it slips to 2031, you may face a tighter, pricier market for a year longer.
Recent drilling progress
The Sirius area holds several wells, including Sirius-1, Sirius-2, and Copoazu-1, plus the newest exploratory well, Sandia-1. Drilling on Sandia-1 began on 12 June 2026 and reached its final depth on 29 July, with results still under evaluation.
Each additional well is part of the effort to confirm how much gas can actually be produced and to move the project toward development. For you, a successful appraisal strengthens the case that Sirius will eventually deliver—though the exact timing stays uncertain.
What to watch next
Keep an eye on Ecopetrol and Petrobras updates on the Sandia-1 evaluation and any revised project milestones. Watch, too, whether the incoming permanent CEO and the new government fight to hold the 2030 date or quietly accept 2031.
The board’s frank admission of a possible delay is a cue to manage your expectations. In the meantime, Colombia’s record gas imports are a steady reminder of what is riding on this one field.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ecopetrol Sirius gas field?
Sirius is an offshore natural-gas project in the Colombian Caribbean, operated by Petrobras with Ecopetrol as partner, containing more than 6 trillion cubic feet of gas in place.
When is Sirius expected to start producing gas?
The official target is 2030, but Ecopetrol’s board assumes it could slip to 2031, as reported by Valora Analitik in August 2026.
Who made the ’worst mistake’ comment about the Permian?
Ecopetrol’s board chairman Luis Felipe Henao, not the CEO, said selling the Permian assets now would be ’el peor error’ and the ’worst mistake’ at this moment.
Why is Colombia importing more gas?
Domestic production has not kept pace with demand; imports hit a record 33% of consumption in July 2026, and Moody’s projects a deficit up to 39% of demand in 2026.
Connected Coverage
Sources: Ecopetrol official release (Aug 3 2026); Valora Analitik (Sirius 2031 exclusive); MSN/interview (Permian ‘peor error’ quote, Henao); Marketscreener (Ecopetrol CEO change); World Oil (Petrobras/Ecopetrol Colombia gas discovery); El Frente (gas import record 33%)
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