Ecuador Oil Spill: SOTE Pipeline Ruptures After Landslide

Section Of Ecuador's Largest Oil Pipeline Bursts

QUITO, May 31 (Reuters) - Ecuador's largest oil pipeline suspended operations after a section burst due to a landslide, state-run oil company Petroecuador said on Friday.

The SOTE pipeline transports crude oil produced by state-run company Petroamazonas, which aims to produce 325,000 barrels per day (bpd) on average this year. The pipeline is currently transporting 309,000 bpd.

"The SOTE broke this morning due to a landslide in a mountainside," Petroecuador said in a statement that gave no details about whether crude exports will be affected.

The company said that some 100 workers were dispatched to the area to fix the breakage and contain the spill.

Ecuador is OPEC's smallest member and last year produced an average of 504,000 bpd.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Eduardo Garcia)

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