PDVSA hopes pipeline project will breathe new life into Maracaibo

Venezuela: PDVSA is pressing ahead with a pipeline replacement project

SCANPIX/REUTERS/Jorge Silva

By Tom Darin Liskey Houston

 31 May 2012 22:59 GMT

VENEZUELAN state oil company PDVSA is pressing ahead with a major pipeline replacement project as it seeks to revitalise the country’s economically important Lake Maracaibo play, writes Tom Darin Liskey.

Industry sources said PDVSA is looking to replace up to 1500 kilometres of fixed pipelines with flexible pipes rated between 3 inches and and 16 inches.

About 500 kilometres will be replaced this year as part of the strategy to pump an additional 60,000 barrels per day in the western part of the country.

Much of that oil remains locked under the lake bed because of constraints in infrastructure.

Plans by PDVSA to strengthen its oil-related field hardware, comes after talk that the company wants to expand drilling and development infrastructure in the region.

Some…

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