Oilfield chemicals: Opportunities for Venezuela

Chemicals of various types are used in every stage of drilling, completion, and production of oil and gas wells. These chemicals include common inorga nic salts, common organic chemical and solvents, water-soluble and oil-solu ble polymers, and surfactants. Venezuela oil production requires high volum es of these substances. The PDVSA expansion production plan will demand eve n more amounts of these chemicals. Production chemicals in the oilfield are a represent the largest application for specialty chemicals nad are less af fected by market volatility. Crude demulsifiers offer manufacturing opportu nities in the country that must be analyzed. Background and some considerat ions are here discussed in order to realize this opportunity.