Offshore staff
(Venezuela)-Venezuela's state oil and gas firm PDVSA could tender E&P licenses on seven offshore natural gas blocks in eastern Venezuela in 2006, according to PDVSA Gas President Aníbal Rosas. Five of the blocks are located in the Deltana Platform area, and two are in the Gulf of Paria.
These blocks join a growing list of offshore developments that PDVSA is either exploring or has put out to tender. PDVSA has plans to partner with Brazil's Petrobras to explore four blocks in the Mariscal Sucre region. Additionally, PDVSA has recently awarded three offshore gas blocks in western Venezuela in phase 2 of the Rafael Urdaneta project to a group of companies including Vinccler Oil & Gas, Petrobras, Japanese firm Teikoku, Eni and Repsol YPF.
With these offshore developments as well as onshore activities, PDVSA gas production could grow to 8 bcf/d by the end of 2006 from its current 6.5 bcf/d. By 2012 offshore gas production alone is expected to be approximately 2bcf/d, or 17% of Venezuela's total gas production.
Further plans include export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to North America, once domestic demand in the form of thermal generation, refining and petrochemical production are met.
11/22/2005
