Venezuela oilfield hiring picks up as first wave of investment builds
WFRD•Weatherford, Baker Hughes, SLB and Halliburton are advertising dozens of jobs in Venezuela as oilfield service companies begin to return. The country currently produces about 1.2 million barrels per day, with output projected by one consultancy to reach 1.5 million by late 2027.
1. Companies add Venezuela jobs
Weatherford has at least 20 open positions, Baker Hughes has a dozen, and SLB has 35 vacancies in Venezuela. Halliburton said in early October it was seeking to expand its talent network in the country. The hiring comes as international service firms begin taking steps to put workers, rigs and equipment on the ground, after many companies cut operations following US sanctions in 2019.
2. Equipment starts returning
Only two drilling rigs were active in Venezuela this month, according to Baker Hughes data. North American Blue Energy Partners said it received two drilling units last week, and Chevron is expected to soon activate four. Patterson-UTI said it is shipping components for 10 older rigs.
3. Output outlook
Welligence Energy Analytics expects deployments through the end of next year to focus mostly on workover rigs to reopen and repair wells at mature fields. It said that approach, combined with major oil firms’ expansion plans, could lift crude output to about 1.5 million barrels per day by late 2027, from about 1.2 million now. “In reality, this will take time,” said Welligence’s head for Latin America, Andres Armijos.
