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    Syncrude production starts up from Sincor project in Venezuela

    March 20, 2002
    First production of "Zuata Sweet" syncrude has been reached from the $4.2 billion Sincor project in Venezuela, reported TotalFinaElf SA, a main shareholder in the project.

    By the OGJ Online Staff
    HOUSTON, Mar. 20 -- First production of "Zuata Sweet" syncrude has been reached from the $4.2 billion Sincor project in Venezuela, reported TotalFinaElf SA, a main shareholder in the project.

    Sincor—formerly known as Sincrudos de Oriente Sincor CA—operates the project, which produces 8.5° gravity crude, transporting it by a 200 km pipeline to Jose, and there upgrading it to a 32° gravity crude for export (OGJ, Oct. 29, 2001, p. 47). Sincor is one of the four world-class integrated heavy oil projects in Venezuela's Orinoco oil belt.

    At peak production, the project is expected to produce 200,000 b/d of heavy crude, which in turn will be upgraded into 180,000 b/d of syncrude.

    TotalFinaElf holds 47% interest in Sincor; other partners are Venezuela's Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) 38% and Norway's Statoil 15%.

    First shipments of Zuata Sweet are slated for the end of March from Jose terminal on the Caribbean coast to TotalFinaElf's Port Arthur, Tex., refinery. More regular deliveries, said TotalFinaElf, will begin in April and will increase over time.

    Other projects
    Sincor will have the highest-gravity syncrude for sale among its Orinoco oil belt peer group. Petrozuata, a JV of Conoco Inc. and PDVSA, will be selling a 19-25° gravity crude; Cerro Negro, a JV of ExxonMobil Corp., PDVSA, and Veba Oel AG, will be marketing a 16.5° gravity crude; and Ameriven Hamaca, a JV of Phillips Petroleum Co., PDVSA, and Texaco Inc., plans to sell a 26° gravity crude (OGJ, July 16, 2001, p. 52).

    Petrozuata started up its $3 billion upgrading plant in eastern Venezuela early last year (OGJ, Feb. 26, 2001, Newsletter, p. 9).

    Production began from Hamaca field late last year, said ChevronTexaco (OGJ, Nov. 26, 2001, Newsletter, p. 9). The $1 billion development project includes a crude upgrader, which is under construction at the Jose industrial complex. The upgrader is due to come on stream in early 2004.

    And first shipments of crude from the $790 million Cerro Negro extra-heavy crude oil upgrader complex in eastern Venezuela left port bound for the 182,500 b/d Chalmette, La., refinery in August 2001, said ExxonMobil (OGJ, Sept. 3, 2001, Newsletter, p. 9).

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