abarrelfull wrote on 02 Apr 2012 05:43
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12th May 2010
Repsol Chairman Antonio Brufau and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed in Caracas the agreement to create the PetroCarabobo S.A. joint venture that will develop oil reserves in Venezuela’s Orinoco Oil Belt, one of the world’s largest undeveloped hydrocarbon deposits.
The Carabobo area is located in the eastern part of the Orinoco Oil Belt, which may hold up to 513 billion barrels of oil according to the latest US Geological Survey.
Repsol, with an 11% stake, will act as co-ordinator for the consortium that in February won the rights to develop blocks Carabobo 1 Norte and Centro. Repsol is partnered by India Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (11%), Petronas (11%), Oil India Limited (3.5%) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (3.5%). PDVSA, according to Venezuelan legislation, owns the remaining 60% of the joint venture.
The project will allow Repsol to boost its net reserves by an estimated 134 million barrels of oil through 2014, with an expected total net investment in the period of $750 million. A further 134 million barrels can be added in the period 2015-2019.
The development of the heavy crude oil project includes a commercial agreement that will allow Repsol’s Spanish refineries to process 165,000 barrels of oil a day. This contract generates a significant competitive advantage over rivals thanks to Repsol’s experience in the use of advanced oil conversion technology at its refineries.
The joint venture will also build the crude production and upgrading installations as well as the processing and transport infrastructure. This contract has a duration of 25 years, extensible by a further 15.
The government of Venezuela in January tendered seven blocks in the Carabobo region, with a total estimated 128 billion barrels of oil in place. The blocks are grouped in three projects, each of which could reach a maximum production of 400,000 barrels of oil/day for 40 years. Each of the projects includes the construction of a crude upgrader.
Perla, one of the world’s top five discoveries in 2009
Repsol maintains a historic presence in Venezuela, where it is one of the largest foreign operators. Especially significant is the company’s participation in the Cardon IV bock, where the Perla gas field lies. This discovery was rated one of the world’s top five finds in 2009 by HIS, and is the largest discovery ever made in Venezuela.
In April, Repsol raised by 30% its resources estimate for Perla, following a new discovery in the Perla 2X well. The field is estimated to hold between 1.6 and 1.85 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
In Venezuela, the company’s net annual production of oil and liquids separated from natural gas stood at 2.3 Mbbl and net annual gas production was 60.7 bscf, with a total equivalent of 13.1 Mbep (35,880 bepd), mainly from the Quiriquire, Mene Grande, Yucal Placer and Barrancas blocks. Proved net liquid and natural gas reserves in Venezuela at year-end were estimated at 115.8 Mbep.
