REYES THEIS | EL UNIVERSAL
Monday September 30, 2013 12:46 PM
Guyana gets ready for drilling in one of the oil blocks awarded in the projection of Venezuelan delta, as appears from the remarks of Guyana's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Robert Persaud.
The minister last week told journalists in Georgetown that transnational companies Esso and Anadarko "are taking active part" in oil drilling in the sea area. He revealed that one of the companies is well advanced, to such an extent that "it is almost to make a decision on the movement of a drilling rig" to start up, Guyana's news agency Gina quoted.
The minister last week told journalists in Georgetown that transnational companies Esso and Anadarko "are taking active part" in oil drilling in the sea area. He revealed that one of the companies is well advanced, to such an extent that "it is almost to make a decision on the movement of a drilling rig" to start up, Guyana's news agency Gina quoted.
The two only concessions of Esso and Anadarko viewed by Guayana of its own are those which coincide with a portion of the Venezuelan Atlantic front and another with the projection of the disputed area. Esso works in partnership with Shell in Block Stabroek, whereas Anadarko is responsible for Block Roraima.
Stabroek is certainly ready for drilling. Preliminary assessment has been conducted since 2008 and 2D and 3D seismic surveys are done.
Last January, Guyana's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued a communiquÉ reporting on contracting by Esso and Shell of company CGG Veritas "to conduct an offshore 3D seismic survey in Guyana." The works must have been completed in mid March.
No answer from the Venezuelan government
Every time journalists query Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs ElÍas Jaua about the exploration, he replicates President NicolÁs Maduro's answer, that is: any disagreement between the countries will be managed through the Good Offices of the UN Secretary General for the dispute settlement.
Thus, no formal protest has been produced for such actions, even though Guyana is using the borderline in an arbitrary manner for the concessions, as the sea area has not been delimited.
Furthermore, Guyana's government craving for marine and submarine areas near the Venezuelan delta could constrain Venezuela's exit to the Atlantic to a narrow space.
In a recent visit of President Maduro to Georgetown, he promised economic and social support to Guyana, yet sovereignty matters were not included in the agenda.
rtheis@eluniversal.com
Translated by Conchita Delgado