Venezuelan Oil Flow Recedes

(Argus, 8.Apr.2021) — Venezuelan crude production fell back in early April after state-owned PdV diverted limited diluent and light crude from Orinoco heavy oil operations to its recovering refining sector. Output from the Orinoco heavy oil belt declined from around 360,000 b/d in late March to less than 200,000 b/d […]

Venezuela’s Maduro accuses US president Donald Trump of backing attacks on CRP

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (Piero Stewart, Energy Analytics Institute, 15.Jan.2021, Words: 169) — Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro reiterated earlier claims that US President Donald Trump ordered the sabotage of the OPEC country’s Amuay and Cardón refineries in Punto Fijo. “Dozens of Venezuelan and Colombian mercenaries have been captured planning conspiracies against our […]

Venezuela Briefs: Amuay Explosion; Cardon Gasoline

(Energy Analytics Institute, 27.Oct.2020) — Refinery briefs from Venezuela on another explosion at Petróleos de Venezuela’s Amuay refinery and the restart of gasoline production at its Cardon refinery. Both refineries are located in Punto Fijo, Venezuela. Explosion At PDVSA’s Amuay Refinery An explosion at PDVSA’s Amuay refinery impacted the the […]

PDVSA’s Cardon Refinery Halts Operations

(Energy Analytics Institute, 20.Oct.2020) — Petróleos de Venezuela’s Cardon refinery in Punto Fijo has once again halted operations. The stoppage impacts the recently restarted production of gasoline. “Refinery conditions are very worrying and the risk of accidents is very high,” oil union official Ivan Freites said 20 October 2020 in […]

PdV Pins Gasoline Hopes On CRP Complex

(Argus, 6.Oct.2020) — Venezuelan state-owned PdV is focusing on repairs to its 940,000 b/d CRP refining complex to address a severe gasoline shortage that has been temporarily alleviated by Iranian imports. The 305,000 b/d Cardon refinery, which together with the nearby 635,000 b/d Amuay refinery makes up the CRP, is […]

Faulty Heat Exchangers Spill Venezuelan Oil

(Argus, 26.Aug.2020) — An estimated 25,000 bl of oil spilled along western Venezuela’s coastline in recent weeks came from faulty heat exchangers at state-owned PdV’s El Palito refinery, three officials at the plant told Argus. Heat exchanger systems that use seawater as coolant for crude processing units were contaminated with […]

PDVSA’s Planned Shutdown of Cardon FCC Unit

(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 11.Aug.2015) – The Paraguana Refining Center (CRP) will initiate a preventive shutdown of the Cardon Refinery’s Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit on August 13, 2015, according to a statement posted to PDVSA’s website. Mechanical work will be performed on the equipment that is part of […]