Colombia’s state-run oil company Ecopetrol, in partnership with Spain’s Repsol, has acquired four new blocks in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) for deepwater oil exploration, Ecopetrol said Nov. 17.

Ecopetrol’s U.S. subsidiary, Ecopetrol America Inc., and Repsol can explore the blocks for five years at a depth of about 240 m (787 ft). The blocks, Garden Banks 77, 78, 121 and 122, are close to platforms and existing infrastructure, allowing for early production if there is a discovery, Ecopetrol said in a statement.

The new blocks are part of Ecopetrol’s deepwater focused efforts to increase its reserves and production. The company currently produces more than 12,000 barrels per day in the GoM.

Offshore