By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Apr. 29 -- Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) has distributed bid data for Phase I of its planned Rafael Urdaneta natural gas development project in the Gulf of Venezuela and northeastern Falcón state. PDVSA expects to award 25-year licenses for five shallow-water blocks by September.
The overall Rafael Urdaneta project consists of 29 blocks totaling an aggregate 30,000 sq km, with 18 blocks in the Gulf of Venezuela and 11 in northeastern Falcón.
Representatives of 37 national and international corporations attended the prebid meeting Apr. 4 in Los Taques, Falcón. Selected companies will have 6 months to submit reservoir development offers.
Rafael Ramírez, minister of energy and petroleum and PDVSA president, said Venezuela's interest in the blocks would be a maximum of 35% once commerciality is established.
PDVSA said produced gas would be used domestically, with any surplus gas exported via an expansion of the Trans-Guajira gas pipeline, which would deliver gas to Colombia and Central America.
