OREANDA-NEWS. September 11, 2012. PDVSA Intevep, the research and technology subsidiary of the state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, and three entities that belongs to the People’s Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation signed 12 specific cooperation agreements. In a period of about two years, a series of research projects aimed to provided scientific and technological solutions for the Orinoco Oil Belt (FPO) will be implemented.

The development of proprietary technology to deal with the needs of areas such as Refining, Environment, Quality Products, Valuation of Flows and Coal Chemistry, Production, Oil Development Plans and Heavy Crude Transportation are among the priorities of the national oil industry.

Miguel Ford, the president of PDVSA Intevep, said that most of the activities are focused on process and research development in the area of heavy and extra heavy crude oils, specifically those related to oil extraction in the FPO.

"We need specific and quick responses to each of the approaches that have been included in these research agreements, because we are committed to increase production in the FPO and to do that we can not use conventional methods but new technologies, and procedures,"Ford said.

Guillermo Barreto, Vice Minister for the Strengthening of Science and Technology, said that the goal is to enhance the relationship between the two institutions to promote research aimed at improving and streamlining our domestic oil industry. "This will lead to import substitution and to the independence of all processes related to this important industry. We are fighting for technological Independence,"he said.

The main objective of the link between these two State institutions is to boost available resources and achieve the optimization of installed capacity, both in PDVSA Intevep and the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC). It is important to stress that most of the projects included in the agreements have been implemented for several years.

Nine of the agreements were signed with the IVIC, two with the National Center of Chemical Technology (CNTQ), and one with the Engineering Institute Foundation (FII).

The manufacturing of technological products for PDVSA, which later should be industrialized by Venezuelan companies, would create new jobs, particularly in the FPO. As a result, a further step has been taken to enhance national development.