Bolivia’s hydrocarbons story is dominated by natural gas from the eastern basins (Tarija, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca). YPFB leads the sector alongside partners such as Repsol, Petrobras and TotalEnergies under service/JV contracts. The 2010s peak has faded as legacy megafields declined and new finds lagged, but selective exploration (e.g., Mayaya) and pipeline reversals have reshaped regional flows since 2024–2025.
Key fields & operators: San Alberto–Sábalo–Margarita–Huacaya (Repsol/partners with YPFB), Itaú (Petrobras/partners), plus newer gas-condensate like Mayaya under YPFB’s upstream reactivation plan. Oil is a minor share (≈20 kb/d), concentrated in Santa Cruz/Chuquisaca, while gas drives production, exports and fiscal take.
| Year | Avg daily gas output | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ~36–37 MMm³/d | Down from mid-2010s peaks (~60 MMm³/d). (INE/industry tallies) |
| 2024 | ~32 MMm³/d (≈11.9 Bm³/yr) | ~12–13% y/y decline. Exports to Argentina ended Sep 2024; Brazil remained main buyer. |
| 2025 (YTD) | ~28–29 MMm³/d | Q1 avg ~28.7 MMm³/d; July monthly peak ~29.06 MMm³/d. Argentina began exporting its Vaca Muerta gas to Brazil via Bolivian pipes (reverse flow). |
Field Acronyms
EUR_MMBOE = Estimated ultimate recovery in million barrels of oil equivalent
Giant oil and gas fields = those with 500 million barrels (79,000,000 m3) of ultimately recoverable oil or gas equivalent.
Super giant oil field = holds equivalent of 5.5bn barrels of oil reserves.
Incahuasi x-1 ST Field, Bolivia, Discovered 2004, Giant FieldItau Field, Bolivia, Discovered 1999, Giant FieldMargarita Field, Bolivia, Discovered 1998, Giant FieldSabalo Field, Bolivia, Discovered 1999, Giant Field