This work is based on a critical analysis of oil exploitation as public policy: firstly, the Constitutional and legal regulations that allow for oil exploitation activities to be carried out and the institutions that administrate these activities are examined; secondly, the characteristics of oil exploitation in regards to territorial appropriation, the linking of oil incomes with economic development, and the environmental impacts are analyzed. Under this framework, the expansion of oil extraction borders as part of Ecuadorian extractive oil policy is examined.. Lastly, in a rule of law and justice State that favors human and environmental rights, a need to rethink this public policy is seen, given the less than positive balance upon its implementation. KEYWORDS: Extractivism, public policy, oil exploitation public policy, productive capacity, oil reserves JEL CODE / CLASIFICACIÓN JEL: F18, H23RESUMENA lo largo de este trabajo se busca analizar crí­ticamente al extractivismo petrolero dentro del marco de acción del Estado, en especí­fico como polí­tica pública. En primer lugar se desarrolla el marco constitucional y legal que permite la realización de este tipo de actividades, y la institucionalidad que la administra y gestiona estas actividades. Posteriormente, se analiza las caracterí­sticas del extractivismo respecto a la territorialización de los proyectos, la vinculación de las rentas extractivas al desarrollo económico del paí­s, y los impactos ambientales que producen las actividades extractivas. Con este marco de análisis, se pudo observar cómo la polí­tica extractiva petrolera en el Ecuador ha sido a lo largo de los años una polí­tica de expansión de las fronteras de extracción de petróleo. Finalmente, dentro de un Estado de derechos y justicia que privilegia la realización de los derechos de las personas y la naturaleza, se pudo visibilizar la necesidad de un replanteamiento de esta polí­tica pública frente a un balance no muy positivo a la hora de su implementación. ABSTRACTThis work is based on a critical analysis of oil exploitation as public policy: firstly, the Constitutional and legal regulations that allow for oil exploitation activities to be carried out and the institutions that administrate these activities are examined; secondly, the characteristics of oil exploitation in regards to territorial appropriation, the linking of oil incomes with economic development, and the environmental impacts are analyzed. Under this framework, the expansion of oil extraction borders as part of Ecuadorian extractive oil policy is examined.. Lastly, in a rule of law and justice State that favors human and environmental rights, a need to rethink this public policy is seen, given the less than positive balance upon its implementation. KEYWORDS: Extractivism, public policy, oil exploitation public policy, productive capacity, oil reserves JEL CODE / CLASIFICACIÓN JEL: F18, H23