Cabrutica.- "The goal is to reach the end of 2012, with  522,000 barrels (bpd) of oil in the Orinoco Oil Belt (FPO), where 160 (MBD) will be the new partners, to further support the early production and full development of the national territory” said The People's Minister for Petroleum and Mining and President of Petróleos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA), Rafael Ramirez, at the conclusion of the meeting of the Higher Follow-Up Organism of the Special Plan of the Orinoco Oil Belt.

The event was attended by members of the Board of Petróleos de Venezuela and representatives of the New Business and was conducted at the facilities of District Cabrutica PDVSA, located in San Diego Cabrutica in Anzoátegui State.

Ramirez said the number of drills that are operating in the Oil Belt is 117, while the end of the year will reach 202 for the provisions of the Plan for Accelerated Increase Production.

"In this important area of reserves there are 4.600 wells drilled and we must increase production by 25% to reach 1.  200 wells drilled," he said.

During the day a tour of the facilities was made of the new gas compression plant in Cabrutica District, which will open in late April, it will carry 60 million cubic feet per day of compressed gas to new power plants which are  located in the town.

Ramirez praised the achievements in oil within the various blocks that make up the Orinoco Oil Belt, which will contribute to the momentum of individual projects led by President Chavez together with the oil industry and its workers.