 In 2003 aged 18, Arce signed for Bolivian Primera División club Oriente Petrolero.In his debut season Arce played fifteen games scoring two goals and won the 2003 Copa Aerosur in the process.Following his debut season, Arce played forty four games in 2004 – cementing his position in the first team – scoring seven goals and helped the team to a Semi-finals finish in the Copa Aerosur.