Colombian state-controlled energy company Ecopetrol has started drilling a new well in the country’s Caribbean waters that could provide further evidence of a major natural gas province in the region.

Ecopetrol is using the Noble Corporation semi-submersible rig Noble Discoverer to spud the Orca Norte-1 appraisal well in the Tayrona block to verify the potential of the Orca discovery made nearly a decade ago.