PDVSA EYES BIGGER FLOW HIKE

Venezuela's state owned Petroleos de Venezuela is studying a proposal to jump the country's crude productive capacity to 4.2 million b/d by 1996 vs. the 3.5-3.65 million target currently planned. That would allow production to reach a level of 3.7 million b/d in 1996. It would include an accelerated program to increase production of extra heavy crude to support greater output of Orimulsion, the extra heavy crude/water/surfactant mix meant to compete with coal in power plants.

Dec. 3, 1990

Venezuela's state owned Petroleos de Venezuela is studying a proposal to jump the country's crude productive capacity to 4.2 million b/d by 1996 vs. the 3.5-3.65 million target currently planned.

That would allow production to reach a level of 3.7 million b/d in 1996.

It would include an accelerated program to increase production of extra heavy crude to support greater output of Orimulsion, the extra heavy crude/water/surfactant mix meant to compete with coal in power plants.

The plan, being considered by Pdvsa's board and Venezuela's energy minister this month, would mean major changes in Pdvsa's 5 year plan if approved. Pdvsa earlier this year unveiled a $16 billion program to hike productive capacity to 3.5 million b/d by 1995 from 2.775 million b/d then projected for 1990 (OGJ, Mar. 12, p. 18).