ConocoPhillips To Get 13 Loads Of Venezuela Oil Thru Jun

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Monday, April 21, 2003 02:26 PM ET  Printer-friendly version   CARACAS (Dow Jones)--Venezuela will send 13 shipments of Merey crude oil to ConocoPhillips(COP, news) by June, adding to two shipments totaling 1.12 million barrels in April, Venezuela's state-run Venpres news agency reported Monday.

In April, the B/T Constitution and the Pioner shipped 550,000 barrels and 571, 000 barrels respectively, according to Venpres, which didn't specify total volume expected to be shipped through June.

Shipping agents couldn't be reached to verify the ships' names which are often mispelled by Venpres.

Venezuela's government claims crude oil output has now topped 3.1 million barrels per day after being down as low as 150,000 b/d during the strike that began Dec. 2.

The government has said it lost about $7 billion due to the strike.

Former managers at state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA have put production at closer to 2.6 million b/d.

Venezuela normally provides about 15% of U.S. crude oil and refined product imports.

-By Jehan Senaratna; Dow Jones Newswires; 58212 564 1339; jehan.senaratna@ dowjones.com