The development stages:Exploration drilling/2006-06.The Samán block belongs to Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol's subsidiary Hocol, which has a 100% working interest in the E&P license. The block was awarded by the country's hydrocarbons regulator ANH in June 20, 2006. Two exploratory wells struck natural gas reservoirs. The first, Bonga 1, in 2011 and the second, Mamey 1, a year later. The former encountered the Ciénaga de Oro formation and initial tests yielded 18Mf3/d (509,400m3/d). The latter also produced from Ciénaga de Oro and its initial output reached 39Mf3/d as well as 20-30b/d of 38-42º API crude. By April 2013, the company had announced its plans to commercialize its gas production once online. Two evaluation wells were planned for the year, as well as the design and engineering of treatment and production facilities. about US$180mn will be destined for further exploration and US$200 will allocated to production. In terms of exploration, eight exploratory wells and nine stratigraphic wells were to be drilled while 500km of 2D as well as another 500km 3D seismic were to be acquired. According to ANH, additional exploratory activity was still underway in June 2015. Samán is expected to hold about 300Bf3 of natural gas. The block is set to begin production by late 2015 and plateau at 28Mf3/d for six years.