Buzz-Halliburton rises on WSJ report of Venezuela expansion talks

** Shares of oilfield services firm Halliburton HAL.N were up 1.4% at $36.

** Halliburton is in talks to expand its presence in Venezuela as U.S. energy companies move closer to investment deals in the country's oil sector, the Wall Street Journal reports.

** The company is discussing bringing its oilfield equipment and services to producers in Venezuela, the report says.

** Additionally, Chevron CVX.N is nearing a deal to expand its operations in Venezuela and could add two heavy-oil fields to its portfolio, the report says.

** Potential agreements could lead to billions of dollars of investment in Venezuela's oil industry, the WSJ said.

** Including the session's move, HAL was up 28.9% year to date.