In the vast and diverse geographical spectrum of South America, that is Orinoco heavy crude oil belt It stands out not only for being one of the largest oil reserves in the world, but also for its crucial role in the Venezuelan economy. This region is rich in biodiversity and natural resources and is on the threshold of an era marked by the search for a balance between energy use and environmental sustainability.
The Orinoco heavy crude oil belt, It is located in northern Venezuela and stretches over 600 kilometers from the state of Guárico to the Amacuro Delta Orinoco River. This vast area is home to one of the world's largest crude oil reserves, estimated at 300,878 million barrels of crude oil, according to the state-owned company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).
The Orinoco oil belt includes the states of Guárico, Anzoátegui, Monagas and Delta Amacuro. Photo: Geoactivisms
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Where is the Orinoco oil belt?
The Orinoco heavy crude oil belt It crosses the heart of Venezuela and includes four states: Guárico, Anzoategui, Monagas and Delta Amacuro. Its strategic location makes it a central location for national and international investments as it can influence global energy markets.
Its exploitation dates back to 1936; However, it took until the mandate of Hugo Chavez that the Orinoco Belt received its reservation and nationalization certification in 2007. On this basis, international companies such as Eni, Chevron, Repsol, Rosneft and others have worked together to improve the various facilities.
Experts agree that the Orinoco oil belt is not fully exploited due to a lack of modern technology. Photo: PDVSA
How much oil is there in the Orinoco oil belt?
The Orinoco oil belt's reserves are impressive, estimated to exceed 300,878 million barrels of crude oil, according to state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). This monumental reserve not only secures the lowland state a notable place among the countries with the largest oil resources, but also represents an important part of the global energy landscape.
“The Orinoco oil belt is considered the largest oil accumulation in the world, with in-situ volume estimated at around 1.2 trillion barrels. Of this, around 270,000 million barrels are considered recoverable. “It is a gigantic accumulation at an average depth of 500 m, about 600 meters below the surface, extends about 600 kilometers in a west-east direction and is about 70 kilometers wide,” he stated. Jorge NavarroVice President of AGGEP (Association of Spanish Petroleum Geologists and Geophysicists), told the media “el Economista.es”.
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The Orinoco oil belt: a disputed territory
The exploitation of the Orinoco heavy crude oil belt It is not without controversy. These range from its impact on the environment, as it threatens to significantly impact the biodiversity in which everything from birds to reptiles live. The biologist made this statement in statements to the “Chinese Dialogue” blog Antonio Machado Allison He pointed out that it is “a terrestrial ecosystem that is one of the largest wetlands on the South American continent and can be compared to the Brazilian Pantanal.”
In addition, the oil is not fully exploited economically due to the fluctuations in global oil prices and the international sanctions imposed on Venezuela. Adding to this series of complications is the lack of implementation of advanced technology to improve extraction. In fact, this problem prevents the production of three million barrels per day.