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Petroleum

10 Oil Industry Workers Kidnapped in Ecuador, Taken to Colombia by Corporate Helicopter

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Ten oil industry workers, including five Americans, two French, one Argentine, one Chilean, and one Ecuadorean, were kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) in northeast Ecuador and flown to Colombia in a corporate helicopter. The hostages were working for service companies under contract to Spanish-Argentine oil group Repsol-YPF at the time of the abduction. This is the second oil industry kidnapping in Ecuador in the past year, with the previous incident occurring in December 1999.

Key Takeaways:

  • The kidnapping occurred at Repsol's Block 16 in the Amazon region, about 47 miles south of the Colombian border.
  • The hostages were identified as working for service companies under contract to Repsol-YPF, with two employees of Tulsa-based Helmerich & Payne International Drilling among the kidnapped.
  • The company that owned the helicopter used in the kidnapping was Ecuadorean company Aeromaster, which owns a Super Puma helicopter.
  • The Farc rebels, who identified themselves as members of Colombia's largest rebel group, demanded the release of the hostages due to the Colombian government's $7.5 billion Plan Colombia.
  • The US Embassy in Quito is working with its counterpart in Bogota, the Ecuadorean government, and the companies involved to obtain the workers' release.
  • Repsol and the other involved companies are also working for the hostages' release.
  • The kidnapping is believed to be a protest against the Colombian government's anti-drug program, Plan Colombia.

Statistics:

  • 10 oil industry workers were kidnapped by Farc rebels in Ecuador.
  • 5 American citizens were among the kidnapped workers.
  • 2 French, 1 Argentine, 1 Chilean, and 1 Ecuadorean workers were also kidnapped.
  • Heavily armed men numbering 15 stormed Repsol's camp at approximately 4 a.m. local time.
  • The Super Puma helicopter used in the kidnapping was owned by Ecuadorean company Aeromaster.
  • The Colombian government has pledged $1.3 billion to support Plan Colombia.
  • The total funding for Plan Colombia is $7.5 billion.

Sources:

  • "Ecuadorean Vice President Pedro Pinto Rubianes"
  • "OD Dec.21,1999,p1"
  • "US Embassy in Quito"
  • "Tulsa-based Helmerich & Payne International Drilling"
  • "Oregon-based Erickson Air-Crane"
  • "Repsol's Quito office"
  • "US Embassy in Quito"

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