Venezuela bristles over Guyana block

摘要

Guyana has told ExxonMobil and Shell to continue seismic work in the offshore Stabroek block, despite neighbouring Venezuela's claims over the area. Guyana oil minister Robert Persaud says Venezuelan objections stem from domestic politics related to October's presidential election. But the government of President Hugo Chavez and the opposition are united in complaining about Stabroek. Guyana awarded the 6mn hectare (60,000km2) block to ExxonMobil in 1999, but the firm halted exploration in 2000 after Venezuela claimed that the block was in its territory.