Venezuela is pressing exports of lubricant base oils in a campaign to capture a major share of the world market.
Maraven SA, a unit of state owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA, plans to export 12,400 b/d of lube bases in 1991. That would make it the second biggest exporter of lube bases after Exxon Corp.
Venezuela's lube base oil exports have grown sharply since last year, and Maraven expects them to remain at about 12,400-12,600 b/d in the near term, says Alejandro Paquin, Maraven international sales manager for base oils and specialty products.
PROCESSING ARRANGEMENTS
In addition to exporting more than 2,000 b/d of lube bases produced from its Cardon refinery in western Venezuela, Maraven markets 8,000 b/d of lube bases produced at the Isla refinery in Curacao leased by Pdvsa-and 1,800-2,000 b/d at Trinidad and Tobago's Trintoc refinery at Point-a-Pierre.
Late last year Maraven and Trintoc signed an agreement under which Maraven supplies Trintoc paraffinic crudes and markets most of its lube base production overseas. Trintoc then started up the lube line at Point-a-Pierre, shut down since 1983.
About 94% of Venezuela's domestically produced lube bases come from paraffinic crudes. Isla, however, has two 4,000 b/d base lube trainsone fed by paraffinic crude, one by naphthenic crude.
Maraven and Pdvsa affiliate Lagoven are the only oil companies in Venezuela with lubricant lines. Maraven has 5,700 b/d of paraffinic base oil capacity at Cardon. Lagoven has base oil capacity of 2,100 b/d at its Amuay refinery, fed mostly by paraffinic crudes and a small volume of naphthenic crudes. Venezuela has four lubricant blending/packaging plants with combined capacity of 10,700 b/d.
MARKETING EFFORTS
Lagoven and Maraven formulate and market marine lubricants in association with foreign companies.
Lagoven sells marine lubes under the Castrol brand, Maraven through a venture with Ste. Nationale Elf Aquitaine. Maraven is trying to expand lubricants marketing in Colombia, Ecuador, and the Caribbean under the Elf-Maraven brand. It also sells lubes under its own logo in Chile.
Synthetic lubes are unlikely to play a major role in Venezuela's markets, given its large reserves and paraffinic and naphthenic crudes and very low prices for refined products.
Synlubes will find a limited role in the region in special applications but have a tough time competing at a retail price of about 93/l. for SG multigrade motor oil vs. about 55/l. of SF single grade motor oil.
Copyright 1991 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
