Our History

ACIPET is a first degree union-like organization created in 1964 at Tibu oilfield when a group of Petroleum Engineers developed the idea to unite and strengthen professional ties with their colleagues and further actions that led to successful development of Colombia´s hydrocarbons industry.

Since its inception, the main objective of ACIPET has been to ensure the welfare and interests of Petroleum Engineers through actions and activities that promote integration and participation within the industry.

In October, 1965, the First General Meeting of the Association was held, the statutes were approved, the Board of Directors was elected and the membership and maintenance fees were set. Moreover, by initiative of Mr. Fidel Ramirez, ACIPET was adopted as the acronym of the Association.

On that same year, ACIPET hosted its first big event: the First National Seminar of Petroleum Engineering, which, in the end, became the Colombian Congress of Petroleum and Gas, currently, the most recognized and widely accepted event of the Colombian Petroleum Industry that will reach its fourteenth version next November, 2011.

On August 5, 1974, ACIPET was recognized in legal capacity and obtained the Legal No. 02357, issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Colombia.

In 1984, ACIPET promoted Law 20, by means of which the practice of the profession of Petroleum Engineers was regulated and ACIPET was recognized as the Technical Advisor of the National Government in hydrocarbon matters. Furthermore, ACIPET created the Professional Council of Petroleum Engineering –CPIP (for its acronym in Spanish), regulated by Decree 1412 of 1986.

One of the conclusions arisen from the I Colombian Congress of Petroleum held in El Cerro, Santander in 1984, was the creation of the Colombia Petroleum Institute –ICP (for the acronym in Spanish), as the center of research and development of Ecopetrol. Likewise, the II Congress of 1986 gave rise to the creation of the Colombian Chamber of Oil Services, CAMPETROL (for its acronym in Spanish), in charge of bringing together both domestic and foreign companies that provided oil services. Thus, ACIPET has shown to be linked to the major events which promote the development of the petroleum industry in Colombia.
During these long years, ACIPET has been working for the welfare of the Colombian Petroleum Engineers and has provided technical support to the hydrocarbon industry through the Monthly Statistical Bulletin, the Petroleum Information System of ACIPET (SIPA), training programs, portfolio of special services for its members, the Petrogui@ Directory, the Olympic Games for the petroleum integration, technical concepts and surveys prepared with the participation of members of the Board of Experts and the Colombian Congress of Petroleum and Gas.

Since October, 2006, ACIPET has its own headquarters, located in an exclusive area of Bogota, with modern facilities and equipped with advanced technological resources that provide timely and satisfactory services to the oil industry and government authorities responsible for activities in this area.

Founding Partners