Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Venezuela to create oil services company, 'our own Halliburton'

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela is creating its own oil-field services company to reduce dependence on foreign contractors.

The nation's top energy official, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez, said today that the state-run oil company is starting its own version of Houston-based oil-field services company Halliburton to provide services within the oil-producing country.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez aims to make the nation's oil industry self-sufficient as he advances what he's labeled his "Bolivarian Revolution." That's a nationalist movement named after South American independence hero Simon Bolivar.

Venezuela's state-owned oil company now depends on foreign companies, including Halliburton and Houston-based Schlumberger (shluhm-bur-ZHAY') to maintain petroleum production.

No comments: