By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 25 -- ChevronTexaco Corp. announced completion of a multi-billion dollar facility upgrade at the Jose Industrial Complex to process extra-heavy crude from Venezuela's eastern Orinoco belt (OGJ Online, Aug. 9, 2004).
During the fourth quarter, production is expected to reach 120,000 b/d. The Hamaca crude upgrader has the capacity to process 190,000 b/d of extra-heavy crude and transform it into 180,000 b/d of high-quality synthetic crude.
This is a project milestone because the facility constitutes the core infrastructure of the $3.8 billion Hamaca project investment, ChevronTexaco said.
ChevronTexaco has 30% interest in the Hamaca heavy crude upgrade project. ConocoPhillips owns 40% interest, and Venezuela's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA owns 30% interest.