Orinoco Belt

Orinoco Petroleum Belt
Orinoco oil belt assessment unit, USGS
CountryVenezuela
LocationGuárico, Anzoátegui, Monagas, Delta Amacuro
Offshore/onshoreOnshore
OperatorPetróleos de Venezuela S.A.
PartnersPetróleos de Venezuela S.A., Chevron Corporation, Repsol YPF, Mitsubishi Corporation, Inpex, Suelopetrol CA, Eni, PetroVietnam, Petronas, Petropar, ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation, Oil India, CNPC, Rosneft, Gazprom Neft, Lukoil, TNK-BP, Surgutneftegaz
Field history
Start of production2013 (expected)
Production
Estimated oil in place1,300,000 million barrels (~1.8×10^11 t)

The Orinoco Belt is a territory in the southern strip of the eastern Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela which overlies the world's largest deposits of petroleum. Its local Spanish name is Faja Petrolífera del Orinoco (Orinoco Petroleum Belt).

The Orinoco Belt is located in Guárico and south of the Anzoátegui, Monagas, and Delta Amacuro states, and it follows the line of the river. It is approximately 600 kilometres (370 mi) from east to west, and 70 kilometres (43 mi) from north to south, with an area about 55,314 square kilometres (21,357 sq mi).