Oil workers in an oil field at sunset. Photo: File photo.
Venezuela’s oil production grew 2.2% in March, according to official figures released this Monday by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). These figures show that Venezuela produced an average of 1,048,000 barrels per day (bpd), up 23,000 from 1,025,000 bpd in February.
Venezuela, the nation with the largest proven crude oil reserves—which in January surpassed one million bpd for the first time since June 2019—recorded an average of 1,035,000 barrels per day in the first three months, a 5.3% increase compared to the fourth quarter of last year, when it closed at an average of 982,000, according to official figures compiled in an OPEC report.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy RodrĂguez said last Thursday, April 10, that despite the economic war, illegal US sanctions, and trade blockade against the country, Venezuela’s oil and gas production is continuing and recovering through the nation’s own efforts.
PDVSA builds large-scale equipment to improve oil production
Hundreds of men and women attached to the joint venture metalworking company Venezuelan Heavy Industries, CA (Vhicoa), a subsidiary of the publicly owned petroleum company PetrĂłleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), are contributing to strengthening metalworking development nationwide after using Venezuelan hands to build two gigantic crude oil desalination plants. These are essential processing units in oil refineries to remove salt, water, and other solid contaminants from crude oil extracted from the fields.
According to information published on the PDVSA website, these two large-tonnage pieces of equipment were successfully transported from BolĂvar state to Anzoátegui state, not only to support the increase in oil production in the Hugo Chávez Orinoco Oil Belt, located north of the Orinoco River, but also to complete the Petromonagas Early Production Facility Center.
This project was designed to boost crude oil production quickly and efficiently and is currently approximately 65% complete within the Hugo Chávez Orinoco Oil Belt, specifically in the Carabobo division. Schlumberger, a US provider of services and technology for the oil and gas industry, is participating in this project, among other partners.
The press release highlighted that the crude oil desalters have been duly certified by American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) inspectors from Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil, who confirmed the excellence of the welds, necessary to guarantee the union of 22-millimeter-thick steel sheets capable of withstanding very high pressures and temperatures.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL
