Colombian Andes y los llanos

We field toured today near where Petrominerales is firing off massive production from Corcel/Candelillia/Monterrey.  The surface locations are near Villanueva where we flew into a small airport (on a butte like structure that probably didn't need a centimeter of grading given its flat nature) and used every last foot of runway to stop.

From there we choppered to see the topography of all three fields.  Monterrey is intense - the road leading up to it rivals scenes from the Alps as it squiggles to gain elevation.  As I was imagining cycling, lo and behold I spot two riders turning around at the top to coast back down.  Mental note made.

Corcel and Candelilla are a bit nearer to Barranca de Upia.  The amazing thing to me about the facilities isn't complexity or anything like that, it's standard oilfield stuff.  It's amazing how fast they built it to produce after a discovery (like 5m).

Learned about time pressures, wages, changing economics of regions.  Regulation created where there was none prior - in short order.

Planes, helicopters, cycling roads and non-oil industry.  Industrial tourism is awesome.

Boarding for a flight to Villanueva.

Policia.  We must be secure!

This guy loves choppers.  I'm hoping we were gonna fly with the doors open, but nope.

Town.  Andes.  Los llanos behind us.  All good.

Spot the good cycling roads... the elevation gain isn't apparent from this angle obviously, but that's some badass climbing.   When we flew over, two cyclists were just turning around at the top to go back down... mental note!

Industrial tourism.

Holes in the ground for resource.