By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Mar. 23�Petroleos de Venezuela SA has signed a 3-year contract to supply heavy crude to Orion Refining Corp., Norco, La., OPECNA wire services reported Friday.
The contract calls for deliveries of at least 50,000 b/d, which could be increased to 110,000 b/d of heavy 16�-gravity crude. The crude types to be supplied include Zuata, Merey, Maralago, and Pedernales.
PDVSA has supplied heavy crude to Orion Refining since May 1998. Average sales have been 45,000 b/d during the last 2 years.
Orion completed the construction of its main processing units in mid-2000. It has a catalytic cracking unit with a processing capacity of 85,000 b/d and a 60,000 b/d coking unit, which will process the heavy crude.
